Marty Morrissey: 'In America the older you get, the more valued you are. In Ireland, at 65 it’s like you have to say adios'

Marty Morrissey put in the hard yards to become one of the country’s most recognisable — and adored — television presenters. And even after three decades front and centre on our screens and radios, his passion and desire remains as powerful as ever

Marty Morrissey has no plans to retire anytime soon. ‘In America the older you get, the more valued you are, especially in broadcasting, whereas in Ireland, at 65 it’s like you have to say adios. I think it should be up to every individual to decide,’ he says. Picture: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Alas, there will be no Marty party. At least not like the one he had envisaged.

Marty Morrissey has emceed a lot of book launches in his time, like the lavish, groundbreaking affair he put on for Ger Loughnane 20 years ago this very week in their native Clare, but the other day he made the call to cancel his own for the third and final time, thanks to that biggest of party-poopers called Covid.