Donal Kelly (1938 – 3 January 2025) was an Irish journalist and broadcaster, best known for his work with

RTÉ News RTÉ News and Current Affairs (), also known simply as RTÉ News (''Nuacht RTÉ''), is the national news service provided by Irish public broadcaster (RTÉ). Its services include local, national, European and international news, investigative ...

Life and career

Kelly began his journalism career with the ''Donegal People's Press'' before later joining the ''

Irish Press ''The Irish Press'' ( Irish: ''Scéala Éireann'') was an Irish national daily newspaper published by Irish Press plc between 5 September 1931 and 25 May 1995. History Foundation The paper's first issue was published on the eve of the 1931 ...

''. He joined

RTÉ (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...

in 1968. During his career, Kelly covered the conflict in Northern Ireland throughout the 1970s and 1980s as well as various international events. He succeeded Seán Duignan as RTÉ's political correspondent in 1988, later becoming political editor. In this role, Kelly covered several general election campaigns, as well as state visits by

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...

and

Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country's dissolution in 1991. He served a ...

. He was one of the first presenters of '' The Week in Politics''. Kelly retired in 2002. Kelly died on 3 January 2025, at the age of 86.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Donal 1938 births 2025 deaths The Irish Press people RTÉ newsreaders and journalists Broadcasters from County Donegal People from Buncrana