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Introduction
Frankie Byrne (1922-1993) was an Irish radio broadcaster for RTE, known most for her radio program ‘Dear Frankie’ which ran for 22 years. On the show she gave relationship advice to listeners who sent in letters asking for her help. She was also heavily involved with the Jacobs Award event for television and radio. Frankie had an affair with journalist Frank Hall and had a child with him, which they both had to give up for adoption. Giving up her daughter led Frankie into a state of depression. She became addicted to the prescription drug Valium and had a dependency on alcohol. Alcoholism ran in her family and claimed both the lives of two of her siblings and, also led to her death. Her health condition began to spiral downwards. She was admitted to Vincent’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with dementia which was aggravated by the alcohol abuse. Frankie died in 1993 aged 71.

Early Life
Byrne was born on 27 December 1922 in Dublin. Frankie was the middle child in a family of five. She had two sisters Olive and Esther and two brothers Michael and Bryan. Her father was a racing journalist and broadcaster whom she rarely saw as he mostly lived in the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell street where his job at Radio Eireann was located at the time. She had no real relationship with her parents and was cared for by a maid while growing up. Frankie found refuge in music which gave comfort in her life. At the age of 8 she was sent to a boarding school in Rathfarnham until she was 18 years old. It was here where she discovered her passion for listening to other people’s problems. Frankie took over her sister’s role in the Brazilian embassy, when she was obliged to give up the job after marriage. Frankie became an influential socialite during her time at the embassy and it was her gateway to the world of public relations. The job was well paying and lasted 8 or 9 years. Frankie Byrne had several serious affairs and many admirers. She met a young journalist, Frank Hall, a married man who was a major columnist for the Evening Herald. Frankie became pregnant in her mid-thirties, which at the time being unmarried and pregnant in 1950’s Ireland was not possible. She gave birth to her daughter on 12 July 1956. Frankie wanted to keep the baby but had to give her up to the Poor Clare’s Orphanage in Stamullen. She frequently visited her daughter in the orphanage for 6 months when she eventually signed for her daughter to be adopted. This led to serious depression for Frankie and she was prescribed Valium which she became addicted to for 10 years. She also developed a dependency on alcohol during this time. In 1963 Frankie started her own public relations firm. She coordinated publicity around President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Ireland. Frankie started a questions and answers radio show called ‘Womans Page’, which later became known as ‘Dear Frankie’. Produced by Jimmy McGee in 1963, it involved listeners from all over the country sending in letters asking for relationship advice in which Frankie would respond to on air. Frankie continued to help people with their relationships until the shows end in 1985.