Doireann Ni Bhriain

Doireann Ní Bhriain
Born	Dublin, Ireland
Residence	Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Education	University College Dublin (UCD)
Occupation	Radio producer; voice and presentation trainer, voiceover artist
Employer	RTÉ (1972–1993)
Known for	Radio and TV journalism and affiliation with RTÉ Radio 1

Doireann Ní Bhriain (pronounced [ˈdˠərʲiːn nʲiː ˈvrʲiːənʲ], born 1952) is an Irish independent radio producer. She began her career as a radio and television journalist, and started out reading children's stories on television. From those beginnings, she went on to work for RTÉ for over 20 years before moving on in 1993. She is best known for her work and affiliation with RTÉ Radio 1.

She was a long-running reporter on the radio current affairs programme Women Today, for which she is well known. She was the presenter of the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, held in Dublin. In 1993, she won a Jacob's Award for her work on RTÉ Radio.

Ní Bhriain was the first of three children born in Dublin in 1952, to Neasa Ní Annracháin, an actress, and Seán Ó Briain, a civil servant. She made her broadcasting debut at the age of eight, in a radio play with her mother, who was part of the Radio Éireann Players. Bilingual in Irish and English, she studied at the University College Dublin and graduated in French and Spanish.

Ní Bhriain started her career with RTÉ in 1972, as a presenter of children's programmes. She then went on to co-present the magazine show Tangents and became one of the first Irish female broadcasters to break into the current affairs arena. She worked as a presenter of the flagship Irish language programme, Féach. She took a break from journalism in 1976 and spent a year in Kenya, teaching in a rural school, and later in Nairobi.

In 1979, she started a job as reporter on the landmark radio current affairs programme Women Today, which was hosted at that time by Marian Finucane. She subsequently became presenter of the programme after Marian's departure.

Outside Ireland, Ní Bhriain is best known for being the solo presenter of the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest. The dress she wore for the occasion was designed by Richard Lewis, while the gold jewellery was designed by Mary Grey.

In a 2004 interview with the Sunday Times (Irish edition), she said of the experience, "I did it for a laugh... it was offered me because I was quite well known, and because I spoke French and Irish with some ease... I always tell people that there was no autocue in those days: I had to learn it all off."

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