Former RTÉ Northern Editor David Davin-Power Dies at 72

Tributes have been led by the taoiseach (Irish PM) following the death of veteran Irish journalist and broadcaster David Davin-Power, who passed away at the age of 72. Mr. Davin-Power commenced his career with the Irish public service broadcaster RTÉ in the 1980s, where he was instrumental in launching its prominent weekday radio program, Morning Ireland. In the early 1990s, he was assigned to Belfast, taking on the role of RTÉ’s Northern Editor. For several years, he reported on the evolving peace process, which culminated in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Taoiseach Simon Harris conveyed his “profound sadness” at Mr. Davin-Power’s passing, characterizing him as “a consummate professional, a thorough journalist and a gentleman”. Mr. Harris further stated that Mr. Davin-Power was recognized as a “trusted name” and an accomplished editor, whose reporting from Northern Ireland occurred during “a key moment in history”. The Tánaiste (Irish Deputy PM), Micheál Martin, remarked that Mr. Davin-Power’s journalistic input was “immense” and that his career was devoted to public service broadcasting. Mr. Martin noted, “Over four decades, David covered many of the stories that shaped modern Ireland.” He added, “He had an outstanding ability to explain even the most complicated of stories, making the news accessible to all.” Following his assignment in Belfast, Mr. Davin-Power relocated to Dublin, where he served as an RTÉ political correspondent for 16 years prior to his retirement in 2017. Beyond his responsibilities at RTÉ, Mr. Davin-Power also contributed to commercial broadcasting outlets such as Century Radio, Newstalk, and Virgin Media. Additionally, he held a position as a columnist for the Times Ireland Edition. He is survived by his wife and five children.