She’s a TV and podcast star – but Muireann’s career started out quite differently
Muireann O’Connell of Ireland AM(Image: Brian McEvoy)
Muireann O’Connell is the much loved anchor of Ireland AM and new host of RIP.ie ‘s latest podcast – but the Limerick lass didn’t set out to be a well known TV presenter.
“It just happened. I got home from Australia. My dad was leaving applications for the H-Dip all over the house. I had done an arts degree in NUI Galway. I had one plan in life. It was to go to college in Galway and then go to Australia.” Muireann explained, in the latest issue of RSVP Magazine, that her father was keen for her to get a job and when her friend told her that Limerick Live were looking for promotion drivers she went for the gig.
“I went down and I did the interview to drive a Jeep and hand out milk, essentially, around Limerick. And I arrived dressed like I was going for a job in a law firm. Like, I don’t know what I was doing. Everyone just turned around, they were all just wearing their runners and jeans being like, who the hell is your one? But I got the job, I got the job to drive a jeep and I had the best year of my life, great craic. I worked with Jacqui Hurley”
But after Cork‘s Jacqui got a job with RTÉ and encouraged Muireann to apply for Spin South West, the ball started rolling and she swiftly climbed the ladder. “I bounced around on the radio a lot, yes. I was on Spin, then an indie station called Phantom FM, which I loved. That was my first year in Dublin. Then 98FM and Today FM, I did all the Communicorp [now Bauer Media] stations.”
Jacqui Hurley on Up For The Match(Image: Instagram/rteone)
But for now, TV seems to be her true passion despite radio being her first love. Muireann recently hosted a very successful series of The Assembly, which sees a panel of autistic and neurodivergent people interview high-profile celebrities.
“Blink and you would miss me, because it’s not about me, it is about the Assembly themselves, 34 amazing people who are autistic and neurodivergent. It was an amazing show to be a part of, to see a group of people who don’t normally get to see themselves on television or social media unless you are following a certain account. It was a profound experience and it’s kind of changed how I view life.” she explained.
Continuing she said ” It originated in France and has been on the go for eight years before being aired here. There’s an episode with Emmanuel Macron. I think it’s probably the best television episode I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s unbelievable. I love that they brought it to Ireland because it’s not an easy thing to do, to find people who want to expose themselves, because that’s what this is these days. You expose yourself. You open yourself up to ridicule, to hate, essentially. This group of people were really wonderful. I was working with them before we started filming just to get to know them.”