In The News

Funeral is held of broadcasting legend

Funeral is held of broadcasting legend

The Funeral has taken place of broadcasting legend David Dunseith. 

Mr. Dunseith, who was 78, passed away on Thursday (June 30).

The Funeral Mass was held in the Star of the Sea Church in Strangford.

Cremation then took place at Roselawn later in afternoon. 

Among the many mourners was the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and many former colleagues of Mr. Dunseith.

Before the Funeral many tributes had been paid to Mr. Dunseith who had been a serving police officer in the 1970s before deciding to change careers and enter broadcasting.

He became a news anchorman with UTV before moving to the BBC as a political journalist.

Mr. Dunseith will be best remembered as presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme for almost 20 years. 

The daily programme was credited with providing a forum for debate during some of the darkest periods of the Northern Ireland troubles.

His professionalism won the respect of politicians and listeners from across the political divide. 

Mr. Dunseith’s contribution to broadcasting was recognised in 1993 when he won Local Broadcaster of the Year at the prestigious Sony Awards.

The Talkback show won a Gold Sony Away in 1997 for best phone-in/topical debate.

He retired from the show in 2009 before ending his broadcasting career as the presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s Seven Days show.

Many tributes have been paid to the broadcaster from politicians and former colleagues.

The director general of the BBC, Mark Thompson, led the tributes.

He said: “David Dunseith served BBC audiences in Northern Ireland with distinction throughout some of the most difficult and contentious years of its history.

“He did this with tenacity, an encyclopaedic knowledge and patience. He will be greatly missed by all at the BBC.”

Mr. Dunseith’s wife of more than 25 years, Roisin Walsh, passed away last year.

View the Passedaway.com Notice for Mr. David Dunseith.

 

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