'An RTE kingpin': Tributes paid after death of former broadcaster David Davin-Power

The late David Davin Power, who retired from RTÉ in 2017 | PICTURE: RTÉ

placeholder image — The late David Davin Power, who retired from RTÉ in 2017 | PICTURE: RTÉ

Late broadcaster remembered as 'a gent' and a 'true friend' by politicians and journalists

Politicians and journalists have paid tribute to the memory of former RTÉ broadcaster David Davin Power, who has died aged 72.

One of the first presenters of Morning Ireland, the Dublin-born journalist began working with RTE News in 1978.

David later served as Northern Ireland editor during the 90s, thorough some of the most notable events in the region such as the peace process and the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, before working as a political correspondent in Dublin and Leinster House until his retirement in 2017.

His nephew Manus Carlisle, a speechwriter for the European Commission, shared that his "one and only uncle" passed away on Thursday, October 31, "peacefully, surrounded by family".

"A giant of Irish journalism and politics, he was at the centre of every major Irish political story as long as I can remember. For me, he was also a great political sparring partner," he shared on social media.

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to the former politcal correspondent, hailing David as a "consummate broadcaster and communicator” who provided “decades of incisive analysis” across his roles at RTE.

"May I send my condolences to David’s wife Dearbhla, and to his children Nick, Julia, Caroline, Ben and Emily, to his colleagues in RTÉ and beyond, and to all of his family and friends."

“He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, his colleagues in the media, across the Oireachtas and by the public who were so informed by his work,” President Higgins said.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that David had dedicated himself to public service broadcasting and that "over four decades, David covered many of the stories that shaped modern Ireland", while Taoiseach Simon Harris remembered him as "a trusted name who was welcomed into homes across the country throughout his long career."

PICTURE: RTÉ

Many of the late broadcaster's former RTÉ colleagues and fellow journalists have also paid tribute.

Retired RTÉ journalist, Bryan Dobson, said David would not have retired from RTÉ at age 65 if he had not had to, which he recalled him describing as "redundancy by age," and that he would have "very happily gone on."

He said the death of his former colleague and friend was "shocking news to hear" and "very sad", and that he would remember him "first of all as a great friend," and a "consummate broadcaster".

RTÉ political reporter Sandra Hurley shared that David was "a gent, a fountain of knowledge" with "an endlessly original turn of phrase".

The editor of the Sunday Independent Alan English, remembered him as a "superb broadcast journalist for so many years".

"Just this year DDP had become a terrific columnist for the Sunday Independent," he continued. "He was an absolute natural at that, too. Terribly sad news."

Director General of RTÉ Kevin Bakhurst said Davin-Power “possessed one of the most incisive political brains at RTÉ and indeed in Ireland”.

“For many years, he was familiar to audiences, colleagues and politicians as insightful, eloquent and scrupulously fair. Off-screen, he was also funny, a great storyteller and was hugely loyal to colleagues, friends and to RTÉ itself,” he added.