Paddy O'Byrne (8 December 1929 â€" 4 December 2013) was an Irish radio
broadcaster and actor who became one of the best-known radio
personalities in South Africa.O'Byrne was born in Killiney, a suburb
of Dublin, Ireland. He attended St Mary's College, Dublin, Castleknock
College and University College Dublin, where he earned a degree in
Legal and Political Science. In 1952, he was called to the Kings Inns.
In 1954, he abandoned a legal career in favour of the performing arts,
joining the George Mitchell Singers in London but had a "day job"
working for an insurance company. During the summer season in
Llandudno, he met and later married a singer and dancer from Dublin
named Vicky Fitzpatrick. They had three children Jane, John (died
1980) and Dominic.O’Byrne emigrated to South Africa in 1958. In
1961, he won a competition called The Voice of South Africa, thereby
gaining a contract with the South African Broadcasting Corporation and
a new career. As was commonly the case at the time, both among Irish
actors abroad as well as many South Africans in the theatre and
broadcast media, he used Received Pronunciation for his professional
speaking voice.
broadcaster and actor who became one of the best-known radio
personalities in South Africa.O'Byrne was born in Killiney, a suburb
of Dublin, Ireland. He attended St Mary's College, Dublin, Castleknock
College and University College Dublin, where he earned a degree in
Legal and Political Science. In 1952, he was called to the Kings Inns.
In 1954, he abandoned a legal career in favour of the performing arts,
joining the George Mitchell Singers in London but had a "day job"
working for an insurance company. During the summer season in
Llandudno, he met and later married a singer and dancer from Dublin
named Vicky Fitzpatrick. They had three children Jane, John (died
1980) and Dominic.O’Byrne emigrated to South Africa in 1958. In
1961, he won a competition called The Voice of South Africa, thereby
gaining a contract with the South African Broadcasting Corporation and
a new career. As was commonly the case at the time, both among Irish
actors abroad as well as many South Africans in the theatre and
broadcast media, he used Received Pronunciation for his professional
speaking voice.
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