Ken Early

{{Short description|Irish journalist and broadcaster|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2013}}

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Kenneth Early (born 4 February 1979) is an Irish journalist and broadcaster. As of 2013, he was a director of Second Captains and a host of both Second Captains @ The Irish Times and the television show Second Captains Live on RTÉ 2.{{cite web|last=O'Dwyer|first=Davin|title=Second Captains find a new pitch|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/media/second-captains-find-a-new-pitch-1.1518580|publisher=Irish Times|accessdate=7 September 2013}} He is also a columnist with The Irish Times. He is a Shamrock Rovers fan who started supporting them in the 1980s.

He was chief football correspondent{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} for Newstalk and was a key member of the station's Off The Ball football show.[http://spailpin.blogspot.com/2009/01/domestic-miracle-of-newstalks-off-ball.html Profile of Off the Ball], Newstalk.[http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/the-jokers-in-the-pack-know-that--sports-really-just-daft-1648298.html The Jokers in the Pack Know Sport really is Just Daft], Irish Independent

Early was present on the show from its inception until its cessation in March 2013 following a dispute with radio management.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/off-the-ball-team-leaves-newstalk-pitch-after-row-with-management-1.1317316|title='Off the Ball' team leaves Newstalk pitch after row with management}}

The eldest of four children, Early was raised in Templeogue (by Greenhills Park) and graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 2000. During his time at the university, he served as the editor of TCD Miscellany, and was also a member of the University Philosophical Society. One of his earliest exposures to sport was as a member of the Templeogue Swimming Club.[http://www.teamtsc.net/Newsletter.htm Team TSC Newsletter] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070622042555/http://www.teamtsc.net/Newsletter.htm |date=22 June 2007 }}

In addition to co-presenting Off The Ball for Newstalk, he has also fronted the Arts show Culture Shock on the same radio station. He has also presented the early Saturday morning political programme Saturday Edition.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}