Kathryn Thomas (original) (raw)

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Irish television presenter (born 1979)

Kathryn Thomas
Thomas interviewed at RTÉ's winter season launch in 2015
Born (1979-01-20) 20 January 1979 (age 47)Carlow, Ireland
Education English, Sociology and Information Studies
Alma mater King's Hospital School University College Dublin (UCD)
Occupation Presenter
Employer(s) Q102 & RTÉ
Agent Noel Kelly[1]
Known for Rapid, No Frontiers, Winning Streak, Operation Transformation, The Voice of Ireland
Children 2

Kathryn Thomas (born 20 January 1979)[2] is an Irish television presenter.

Thomas won her first contract with RTÉ to co-present the children's television programme Rapid with Jason Sherlock in the 1990s. From there she went on to present No Frontiers, touring the world to promote various countries on RTÉ Television.

Thomas attended the national school on the Green Road, Carlow and began her secondary school years in St Leo's College, Carlow. In her second year, she moved to The King's Hospital in Dublin as a boarder.[3][4] She studied arts (English, Sociology and Information Studies) at University College Dublin but left before finishing as she won a contract to present the children's television programme Rapid.[_citation needed_] She also took London Guildhall acting exams to Grade 8.[_citation needed_]

Thomas's break into television came when she co-presented Rapid, a youth sports show, with Dublin GAA star Jason Sherlock during the 1990s.[_citation needed_]

Thomas worked on the television series No Frontiers,[5] which included assignment stories about boomeranging in Australia, bungee jumping in New Zealand, child trafficking in Namibia, and American football.

In 2008, Thomas co-presented Winning Streak: Dream Ticket with Aidan Power. From 2009, she co-presented the show with Marty Whelan.[6] She left Winning Streak in December 2011.[7]

In 2011, she became the new presenter of Operation Transformation on RTÉ One.[8] In August 2011, it was announced that she would host The Voice of Ireland, the Irish version of The Voice.[9]

In 2023, it was announced that Thomas would co-host the annual Rose of Tralee festival alongside the festival's regular host Dáithí Ó Sé, marking the first time that a duo would host the event.[10]

Thomas has stepped in for John Murray , Ray Darcy snd Ryan Tubrity on RTÉ Radio 1 and also has hosted a RTÉ Radio 1 quiz show and presented some RTÈ Radio 1 specials like Wish You Were Here and Drving Home for Christmas with Katryn Thomas. She was also a reporter for RTÈ Radio 1 when Opreation Transformation was on each year during its run . Thomas make her RTÈ Radio 1 debut in June of 2010

Since February 2025, Thomas has been the presenter of the weekday breakfast show on Dublin’s Q102 from 7:00AM-10:00AM daily called The Morning Show with Katryn Thomas . Katryn Thomas still does some TV for RTÈ Television but only works on the radio with Q102 as of February 2025

Finger wagging incident

[edit]

In February 2012, Thomas stormed the stage during a performance by Alabama 3 at the 9th Irish Film & Television Awards, and wagged her finger at the rock band after they sang a song with the lyrics "fuck the police". She accused the band of inciting people to violence.[11]

Thomas became a "brand ambassador" for Peugeot in June 2023,[12] a deal arranged by her agent, Noel Kelly of NK Management. This began with her promotion of the Peugeot 308. The deal proved controversial as it coincided with revelations about Ryan Tubridy's extra wages.[1] The deal was publicised further in July 2023 as those revelations continued.[13]

Thomas, had a five-year relationship with Garda Enda Waters, which ended in July 2012.[14] She has been dating businessman Padraig McLoughlin since mid-2013.[15]

In 2017, Thomas announced through Instagram that she and McLoughlin were expecting their first child together.[16] In March 2018, Thomas had her first daughter, Ellie McLoughlin.[17] She announced via Instagram in June 2021 that she and McLoughlin were expecting their second child.[18] She lives in Inchicore.[19]

Thomas revealed in 2015 that a series of shooting stars inked on the inside of her lower left arm were not tattoos but were in fact transfers, as she was scared to get a real tattoo.[20]

In 2005, Thomas won the Travel Extra Irish Travel Writer of the Year.[_citation needed_]

In 2008, she won the Sony Bravia TV Personality of the Year at the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) in Dublin, as well as Best Female Presenter at the TV Now Awards.[_citation needed_]

In February 2012, she came third in a poll to find Ireland's most desirable Valentines.[21]

  1. ^ a b Coyne, Ellen (1 July 2023). "Deals on wheels: The RTÉ stars driving cars worth up to €70,000 thanks to lucrative brand tie-ups". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  2. ^ Gallagher, Katie (7 January 2019). "Operation Transformation star Kathryn Thomas postponing 40th birthday celebrations until show is over". Irish Mirror.
  3. ^ "King's Hospital Past Pupils Union Newsletter featuring Thomas" (PDF). King's Hospital.[_permanent dead link_]
  4. ^ Butler, Laura (8 March 2012). "RTÉ's golden girl Kathy talks sex, booze and why she doesn't believe in God". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Frontier Films"
  6. ^ Dillon, Fiona (27 February 2010). "I'd love a chat show -- Kathryn". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 27 February 2010.{{[cite news](/wiki/Template:Cite%5Fnews "Template:Cite news")}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ "Marty's sadness as Kathryn quits". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Kathryn Thomas". RTÉ Ten. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  9. ^ Sweeney, Ken (26 August 2011). "Kathryn beats off Grainne Seoige to becomes [sic] The Voice presenter". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas team up to host this year's Rose of Tralee". RTE Newsl. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  11. ^ Finn, Melanie (18 February 2012). "How the 'Irish Oscars' lost their Glamour and gloss and descended into chaos". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Peugeot announces Kathryn Thomas as Brand Ambassador". 16 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Peugeot Ireland partners up with popular TV and radio broadcaster Kathryn Thomas". Athlone Advertiser. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Kathryn Thomas and Garda boyfriend split after five years". Irish Independent. 3 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Kathyrn Thomas reveals how she fell for new man while ordering a pint". Irish Independent. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  16. ^ Mulvaney, Amy (11 November 2017). "RTE star Kathryn Thomas pregnant with her first child". evoke.ie.
  17. ^ "Kathryn Thomas shares her baby joy". RTÉ News. 26 March 2018.
  18. ^ O'Loughlin, Ciara (19 June 2021). "'We feel incredibly grateful to share this news'- Kathryn Thomas is pregnant with her second child". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  19. ^ Dwyer, Liz (24 May 2018). "Kathryn Thomas presents a new crib for baby". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  20. ^ "I was 'too chicken' for a real tattoo, says Kathryn Thomas who admits new ink is kiddie transfer". evoke.ie. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Bressie, Georgia top Valentine's Poll". RTÉ Ten. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.