Trόcaire pays tribute to ‘incredible’ broadcaster Rodney Rice

Rodney Rice is best known as the presenter of RTE Radio 1’s ‘Saturday View’ programme which he hosted for over 25 years. But it was with his ‘Worlds Apart’ programme that he made a huge contribution to development issues. Over 23 years he travelled to many countries, highlighting the reality of life for people affected by poverty and injustice, and making the links back to the structural causes of such injustice, including global politics and systemic inequality.

Trόcaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra said, “Rodney Rice was an incredible broadcasting pioneer who brought the voices of the world’s poorest and most marginalised to people here in Ireland through his reporting in the ‘Worlds Apart’ series. He covered a wide range of topics, from female genital mutilation in Africa to resource rights and climate issues in Latin America. He never shied away from the most difficult of issues. His astute and compassionate reporting helped shape our world view as a nation.’’

Rodney and his wife Margo were leading lights in Ireland’s anti-apartheid movement. President Higgins has called him ’one of the earliest, bravest and most consistent voices in opposing apartheid in South Africa’. He was banned from South Africa for 10 years by the apartheid regime in 1981, after a programme he made on that regime was aired.

De Barra said: “Rodney Rice was a staunch supporter of Trόcaire. Margo worked with us for many years and his son Eoghan worked with us for 10 years until recently taking up a role with Irish Aid. Our thoughts and prayers are with Margo, Eoghan and the entire Rice family at this difficult time.”