Tom McGurk


Tom McGurk is an Irish poet, journalist, radio presenter and sportscaster from Brockagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He attended Portadown College. He studied English and Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast. He was involved in the Civil Rights demonstrations while at Queen's.

Career

TV and Radio

McGurk first joined RTE in 1972, as a news reporter, moving on to present Last House and First House on television.
In 1972 he won a Jacob's Award for his RTÉ Radio documentaries on Ireland's islands. For 20 years was the presenter of RTÉ Sport's rugby coverage, most notable of the Six Nations and Internationals with the panel of George Hook and Brent Pope. McGurk also spent time in the 1980s and 1990s in the UK, working for BBC Radio 4's Start of the Week as a presenter on the regional ITV station for the North West of England, Granada Television. On his return to Ireland he presented the Sunday Show on RTE Radio 1.
He has also guest presented Tonight with Vincent Browne, on TV3. He presented a drive-time radio show on 4FM when it launched in 2009.

Writing

Currently he is a columnist with The Sunday Business Post.
McGurk wrote the script for the TV film Dear Sarah based on the letters form Sarah Conlon, campaigning for the release of her husband, son and Sister Anne Maguire, caught up in the Guildford Four miscarriage of justice.
Among his poems is "Big Ned" about a farmer from Brockagh, Co. Tyrone.

Personal life

While working for 4fm, the Director of the National Women's Council Susan McKay spoke out against an "uncouth and objectionable" interview McGurk conducted with her. The National Women's Council has since refrained from giving interviews to 4fm.
From 1983 to 1996 he was married to the broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan, with whom he has four daughters. In 2003 he married PR consultant Caroline Kennedy.
On 5 December 2017, it was revealed he made a settlement of €76,000 with the Irish Revenue Commissioners for the underpayment of income tax.