THE husband of the late RTE presenter Marian Finucane has died.
The news of John Clarke’s death was confirmed this morning by RTE, five years on from Finucane’s death.
![Marian is the story of Marian Finucanes life and career as recounted by John Clarke, her husband and confidant. Raw and eloquent, Clarke takes us behind her public persona, painting an intimate portrait of their 40-year life together. The public was first introduced to John Clarke when he said at her funeral that theyd been [
], , Marian is the story of Marian Finucanes life and career as recounted by John Clarke, her husband and confidant. Raw and eloquent, Clarke takes us behind her public persona, painting an intimate portrait of their 40-year life together., , The public was first introduced to John Clarke when he said at her funeral that theyd been described as two 15-year-old adolescents who were addicted to each other and forgot to grow up. Still dealing with his own loss and despair, Marian is both a love letter and an honest recounting of the highs and lows of their lives. That compelling narrative is interwoven with the highlights of her extraordinary career in journalism and broadcasting., , Marian is directed and produced by Kate OCallaghan and Patrick Farrelly who in 2012 made the award-winning documentary Nuala, a film that about the Irish memoirist and novelist Nuala OFaolain that was presented by Marian Finucane., , RTE Grabs](https://www.thesun.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/Untitled-3jpg-JS628134109.jpg?strip=all&w=944)
![Marian is the story of Marian Finucanes life and career as recounted by John Clarke, her husband and confidant. Raw and eloquent, Clarke takes us behind her public persona, painting an intimate portrait of their 40-year life together. The public was first introduced to John Clarke when he said at her funeral that theyd been [
], , Marian is the story of Marian Finucanes life and career as recounted by John Clarke, her husband and confidant. Raw and eloquent, Clarke takes us behind her public persona, painting an intimate portrait of their 40-year life together., , The public was first introduced to John Clarke when he said at her funeral that theyd been described as two 15-year-old adolescents who were addicted to each other and forgot to grow up. Still dealing with his own loss and despair, Marian is both a love letter and an honest recounting of the highs and lows of their lives. That compelling narrative is interwoven with the highlights of her extraordinary career in journalism and broadcasting., , Marian is directed and produced by Kate OCallaghan and Patrick Farrelly who in 2012 made the award-winning documentary Nuala, a film that about the Irish memoirist and novelist Nuala OFaolain that was presented by Marian Finucane., , RTE Grabs](https://www.thesun.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/Untitled-11jpg-JS628134189.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Clarke passed away aged 87.
Clarke remained mostly in the background through RTE stalwart Finucane’s career.
But after her death in January of 2020, aged 69, he stepped further into the public realm – speaking highly of the woman he “loved for 40 years”.
The paid were together more than 30 years before they wed in 2015.
John revealed in October 2023 that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
He told Miriam O’Callaghan on Sunday with Miriam that he had started treatment and was hopeful.
He said at the time: “I am 87, I’m a walking pill is the only thing I can tell you.
“I have cancer but they tell me I won’t die from it because I’m on some therapy, I can’t tell you what the name for it is, where they use your own immune system. Die with cancer, but not of cancer, but I’m here.
“I never thought I would get to 30, I had a particular lifestyle that was not conducive to longevity, I smoked like a train, still do, and plan on continuing to do so – not a plug for the tobacco companies, but that is what I do.”
John was left devastated in January 2020 when his wife died suddenly at their home in Dublin.
RTE said: “It is with profound sadness that RTÉ announces the death of Marian Finucane. Marian passed away suddenly today, at home.”
The 69-year-old, a qualified architect, first started working for RTE in the 1970s and became a presenter on programmes concerned with social issues, such as on Women Today.
She went onto become a household name hosting Liveline on RTE Radio 1.
