Mary Kennedy

Mary Kennedy (; born 4 October 1954) is an Irish television personality and former newscaster, and writer. She presented the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 from the Point Theatre in Dublin. She has also presented her own Saturday night chat show called Kennedy, a precursor to Saturday Night with Miriam. Kennedy was co-presenter of the magazine programme Open House with Marty Whelan. She has previously presented Up for the Match and the People of the Year Awards. She was co-presenter of Nationwide with Anne Cassin until 2019, having been so for a time with Michael Ryan. Early life Born in Clondalkin, Dublin, Kennedy was educated at Coláiste Bhríde in Clondalkin and University College Dublin, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. She taught English in Brittany, France, before returning to her alma mater to teach Irish and English. Broadcasting Kennedy's broadcasting career started in 1978 when she applied for a job as continuity announcer at RTÉ. She went on to join the RTÉ News team, becoming a newscaster. She has also presented Eurovision Song Contest 1995, a Saturday night chat show called Kennedy, and was co-presenter with Marty Whelan on the magazine programme Open House. She presented Up for the Match and the People of the Year Awards, until RTÉ replaced her in both jobs with a younger presenter, Gráinne Seoige. Kennedy began working as Michael Ryan's co-presenter on the RTÉ local affairs show Nationwide.