One of the most recognisable faces and voices of RTE is the one and only Marty Whelan.
He has worked on a number of television and radio favourites, including Winning Streak, the Rose of Tralee and Lyric FM’s Marty in the Morning.
Whelan has also been RTE’s official commentator for the Eurovision song contest over the last two decades, and has said he is "all set" for this evening's Late Late Show which will see Ireland's entry for 2022 selected.
Aside from his career, Whelan has a fulfilling family life. Let’s take a look at his life off air.
Marriage
Whelan met his wife, Maria, back in 1974 at The Grove disco in Clontarf when she was at school and he was working for what later became AXA insurance.
Maria became an air hostess with Aer Lingus before getting married in 1985.
The pair tied the knot on August 13 of that year in the Church of the Holy Child, Whitehall.
In relation to their bond, Whelan said: “Our marriage is about laughter and companionship - as well as love. I am still as mad about her now as when I first met her. And I fell in love with her at first sight, the minute I saw her I fell in love.
“You don’t lose that and, for me, she has always been the one and she still is."
Children
The couple have two children, named Jessica and Thomas.
Jessica is a teacher, while Thomas studied in DBS and now works as a communications professional. In the past, he has worked with 98FM and ESB.
Whelan said about his children: "I love hanging around with them and spending time with them and I tell them I love them and I get great joy out of them.”
He has also said that neither of them seem to have any desire to follow him down the broadcasting route. “They are happy enough to do their own thing which is wonderful."
Alfie
Alfie is 5, birthday boy #Alfie pic.twitter.com/QuQAo5OKTS
— Marty Whelan (@martylyricfm)
Whelan’s fifth family member is his sheepdog Alfie. The family took this adorable pup home in 2017.
Alfie has featured in a number of photoshoots alongside his owners and frequently features on Whelan’s Twitter page.
Alfie sure isn't feeling the cold these days #Alfie pic.twitter.com/Z8NOdcQlFN
— Marty Whelan (@martylyricfm)
Plans for the future
Whelan celebrated his 65th birthday last June but said at the time that he had no plans to step away from his career just yet.
While other high-profile names with staff jobs have been legally obliged to retire at the milestone age, he explained: “I’m a contract player so I’m not going anywhere.”
This meant that when the likes of Winning Streak were off-air due to Covid-19, he wasn’t getting paid.
Whelan also claimed that he was not in a position financially to retire anytime soon.
He said last May: “I can’t afford to retire, I haven’t a penny to my name. I don’t want to stop, and from a financial point of view, I’d rather keep going.
“The bottom line here is it’s for your head – and my head tells me I need to keep going.”
