How did Deirdre Purcell die? Novelist and broadcaster cause of death explained

Deirdre Purcell, an author, actor, and journalist passed away on February 13, 2023. Let’s see, how the great author died and Deirdre Purcell cause of death in detail.

How did Deirdre Purcell die?

Deirdre Purcell, a well-known novelist, and RTÉ news presenter passed away on February 13, 2023. She was 77.

This sad news was announced by her family members on social media by releasing a statement on Monday. As soon as a demise news of Purcell broke out, a lot of people shared their condolences on social media.

One of her friend, Patricia Scanlan shared a tribute on Facebook, saying,

Hello m’dears. I took this beautiful photo of my beautiful, beloved friend Deirdre Purcell, a few weeks ago. Deirdre passed away this morning. She was a wonderful writer, journalist, and broadcaster. But her greatest gift was friendship. She was like an older sister to me. I can’t believe she’s gone. May she Rest In Peace. 

For many years, Purcell was a regular on Irish television. Later, she became a presenter on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland show, where she did so until 2018.

Who was Deirdre Purcell?

Deirdre Purcell was an Irish author, born in Dublin. Purcell was born on 1945 and went to school at Gortnor Abbey in County Mayo. She attributed her strong work ethic to the nuns who lived there.

She was a member of the Abbey Theatre’s permanent company before becoming a television journalist.

Purcell was a former Abbey Theatre actress who played Christine in Drama at Inish alongside Donal McCann, Miss Frost in The Ginger Man’s stage adaption, and Pegeen Mike in The Playboy of the Western World.

Purcell was also a former television and newspaper journalist. She received the Cross and Benson & Hedges awards for journalism. She was a resident of West Cork’s Beara Peninsula.

Purcell has been hosting All About the Music on RTÉ Lyric FM since October 2009. She previously hosted “It Says in the Papers” on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland. She was the first female anchor of the Nine O’Clock News

Purcell and her spouse were residents of County Meath. She had two sons. Purcell was a member of the Central Bank of Ireland’s board when the Irish banking sector collapsed in 2008 after her appointment in 2003.

Purcell’s Books:

She published twelve critically praised novels, the most recent of which were Pearl and The Winter Gathering, all of which were bestsellers in Ireland.

Her famous books include The Christmas Voyage (2016), Tell Me Your Secret (2006), The Husband (2016), A Place of Stones (2016), Falling for a Dancer (1993), and Love Like Hate Adore (1997).

Purcell’s other novels include:

• A Place of Stones (1991)
• That Childhood Country (1992)
• Ashes of Roses (1994)
• Francey (1995)
• Roses After Rain (1996)
• Sky (1996)
• Billy and Jesus Are Off to Barcelona (1999)
• Entertaining Ambrose (2001)
• Has Anyone Here Seen Larry? (2002)
• Marble Gardens (2002)
• Last Summer in Arcadia (2003)
• Tell Me Your Secret (2006)
• Somewhere in Between (2007)

Falling for a Dancer, which was adapted into a four-part BBC series in 1998, is Purcell’s best-known book.

Her non-fiction books are: Diamonds and Holes in My Shoes (2006), Follow Me Down to Dublin (2007) and Aengus Finucane: A Life (2015).

Deirdre Purcell cause of death:

Deirdre Purcell suffered a stroke and passed very suddenly on Monday morning.

She is survived by her sons Adrian and Simon Weckler as well as her husband Kevin Healy, whom she met while working at RTÉ.

The Purcell’s family released a statement saying they were “truly grieving the unexpected loss of Deirdre.

Deirdre was just as full of ideas, ambitions, and dreams the day before she passed away. Everywhere she went, Deirdre made friends and will be remembered as a vibrant, clever, and caring companion.

Deirdre Purcell cause of death was a stroke. The statement reads,

“The talent, vivacity, and sharp mind that made her an award-winning journalist, a globally successful fiction writer, and, in her youth, a talented Abbey Theatre actress never left her. She was a force of nature, and we will miss her desperately.”

Tributes to Purcell:

Ken Murray tweeted,

RIP author and former RTE newsreader Deirdre Purcell. Sympathies to Kevin Healy.

Linda Keohane posted,

Sad to hear this. I really liked her novel “Falling for a Dancer”, and feel that she was underrated as a writer.

James Wims posted,

So sorry to hear of the death of author, journalist and RTÉ broadcaster Deirdre Purcell.
Her most famous novel was “Falling for a Dancer’
She also presented ‘It Says in the Papers’ for Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.

John Creedon tweeted,

So sorry to hear of the passing of the remarkable Deirdre Purcell. A brilliant author, actor and journalist, Deirdre was also very kind. She encouraged me on many occasions when I was ‘the new boy’ around the radio centre @rte. Thinking of Kevin and all of those closest to her.

Fred Johnston posted,

The death has been announced of Irish novelist, DEIRDRE PURCELL. My deepest condolences to her family and friends.

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