The former RTE broadcaster’s dad passed away in 1991 when Bryan was just 30 – he has opened up on still feeling the loss of his father and wishing he had more time with him
Retired RTE newsreader, Bryan Dobson(Image: Kieran Harnett)
Bryan Dobson has opened up about the loss of his father.
The retired RTE broadcaster’s parents have both passed away, as his mum died in 2019 and his dad died in 1991 when Bryan was just 30.
He has said he wished he had more time with him before his passing.
“My mother used to keep all the old news cuttings and interviews I did down the years,” he said of his parents. “She had a huge interest in people and maybe that’s where my curiosity comes from. My father died in 1991 when I was just 30. I never really got a chance to know him as an adult as I’d been living and working in Belfast and then Crea and I were busy starting our own family. It would have been lovely to have had that bit more time with him.”
Speaking to the RTE Guide, he shared the words of wisdom from his mum that have always stuck with him: “My mother used to say to me when I was jumping around as a kid with the other lads, ‘calm down or this will all end in tears. That phrase came me to me during the crazy days of the Celtic Tiger and I thought, If we’d only listened to my mother’s advice.”
Having retired two years ago, he said he has no regrets about his decision.
“I miss the company, but I bump into old colleagues now and again,” he said. “I had some 37 years in RTE and covered so many stories that I didn’t leave anything unfulfilled. I still watch and read a lot of news but my perspective on it has changed. Whereas once l’d look at stories with a professional interest, wondering is there a news angle now I’m just watching and reacting to the news as a citizen.
“My wife says that I’m much more annoying now as I’m always giving out about things. But I’ve always been inquisitive, long before I worked as a journalist. And that’s unlikely to change.”
Many people have been hoping that since his retirement we may see him on Dancing With The Stars, but he said it’s “not for him”.
“A few feelers were made,” he said. “I was in the audience during the last series when my friend and former RTÉ colleague, Anne Cassin, was a contestant.”
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