'You've affected change in Ireland' - Tears as Late Late Show talks to Joe Duffy about retiring

Joe Duffy appeared on the Late Late Show on Friday night following his shock announcement on Thursday that he was retiring after 37 years with RTÉ and over 27 years presenting Liveline. 

The iconic broadcaster joined Patrick Kielty in studio on Friday on the Late Late Show finale to reflect on his career and the moments that defined his time behind the helm on Liveline. 

There was plenty of laughs and also some tears on the show on Friday as Joe spoke about his decades-long career and some past Liveline guests even appeared in the audience.

Joe told Patrick: "I don't regret a single day and I love getting the calls." He praised the power of radio and the nature of live radio in particular, saying: "I've no idea where it's going to end."

However, he also made a point of saying how important the show is for creating a "national conversation" and allowing a space for people to talk who may not have anyone to talk to. Joe spoke a lot about loneliness and told a sad story of how one woman told him that she used to post a letter every week to herself so that a post man would call to her door. For Joe, this was a major aspect of the role. 

One powerful part of the interview was when Patrick introduced the daughter of a woman who had been abused at a Magdalene Laundry that Joe had helped in 2003. Margaret Boland had died at the age of 51 from Goodpasture's Syndrome - her daughters found this out on Liveline. Samantha, Margaret's daughter, told Joe that he "affected change in Ireland" and thanked him for what he did for her and her twin sister. 

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When Joe started to talk about his mother Mable, that's when the tears started to flow. He said it was her who always kept him humble. He also acknowledged that although people can say Liveline is negative, when looking at what she grew up in, the country has "come so far."

Many people have taken to social media to praise the broadcasting legend following the interview. One person shared: "Joe Duffy your radio voice played a big part in the daily Irish way of life, wishing you every success in retirement."

Another said: "Joe Duffy is and always will be a national treasure and a relentless advocate for ordinary people." Someone else simply said: "A great man will be missed by many people."

However, there has been more mixed reactions since the announcement of his retirement. For many people, the amount of money the radio host has earned through the years is a cause of serious frustration. According to figures from RTÉ, he earned around €380,000 a year. 

Among the comments on social media after the interview were: "A national treasure? More of a national cost to the tax payers!"

Another comment read: "3.8 million in ten years....was he worth that?"