Richard Chambers (journalist)

Chambers was born in Belfast. He grew up in Lahinch, County Clare before moving to Rush, County Dublin,{{Cite web|date=2021-11-30|title=Clashes, lockdowns and a state of fear in Richard's raw account of pandemic|url=https://clarechampion.ie/clashes-lockdowns-and-a-state-of-fear-in-richards-raw-account-of-pandemic/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=The Clare Champion|language=en-GB}} where he attended St. Joseph's Secondary School.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-16 |title=Successful College Awareness Week |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/fingal/successful-college-awareness-week/34353293.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Independent.ie |language=en}} Chambers has one older brother, Jeffrey.

Chambers studied law at University College Dublin, which he stated he didn't enjoy due to the long commute. He joined the College Tribune, the university's student newspaper, where he began covering sports by his final year.{{Cite web |last=Notaro |first=Vicki |date=2024-01-14 |title=Virgin Media’s Richard Chambers: Running has changed my life |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/richard-chambers-ive-met-so-many-interesting-people-through-running-2rsh23rxr |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=The Times |language=}} He later received a master's degree in journalism from Dublin City University.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-10|title=Meet the media|url=https://www.eolasmagazine.ie/meet-the-media-4/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Eolas Magazine|language=en-GB}}

Chambers started his career with an internship at Today FM. After working for the Irish Daily Star for a short spell, Chambers returned to Today FM, before joining Newstalk. Chambers was a news reporter for Newstalk from 2013 before joining Virgin Media in August 2018.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=Virgin Media News promotion for Clare's Richard Chambers|url=https://www.clareecho.ie/virgin-media-news-promotion-for-clares-richard-chambers/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Clare Echo|language=en-GB}} In 2021, he was promoted to news correspondent.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-10|title=Virgin Media Viewers Shocked At Richard Chambers' New Role|url=https://extra.ie/2021/08/10/entertainment/movies-tv/delighted-to-be-let-in-the-door-viewers-delight-at-richard-chambers-new-role|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Extra.ie|language=en-GB}} Chambers was ranked the 8th most influential journalist in Ireland by PR consultants Murray in 2021.{{Cite news|last=Slattery|first=Laura|title=Virgin Media News's next task is to hold on to its younger viewers|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/virgin-media-news-s-next-task-is-to-hold-on-to-its-younger-viewers-1.4279755|access-date=2021-12-13|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

Chambers was involved in the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting on the daily case figures, vaccination uptake and announcements of government restrictions on his Twitter account.{{Cite web|last=Grimes|first=Gary|date=23 April 2021|title=Who Is Richard Chambers And Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With Him?|url=https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/trending-who-is-richard-chambers-and-why-is-everyone-so-obsessed-with-him-20210423|website=LADBible}}{{Cite web|title=Virgin Media reporter inundated with hilarious restrictions questions|url=https://www.msn.com/en-ie/entertainment/celebrity/virgin-media-reporter-inundated-with-hilarious-restrictions-questions/ar-AAPKCzv?li=BBr5RWH|access-date=2021-12-13|website=www.msn.com}} He wrote A State Of Emergency: The Story of Ireland's Covid Crisis, a book about the pandemic and Ireland's response in 2021.{{Cite web|title=Richard Chambers' A State of Emergency turns Ireland's Covid story into a pacey page-turner|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/book-reviews/a-state-of-emergency-richard-chambers-turns-irelands-covid-story-into-a-pacey-page-turner-41019092.html|access-date=2021-12-13|website=independent|language=en}} His book was nominated for the 2021 Irish Book Awards,{{Cite web|last=O’Donoghue|first=Denise|date=2021-10-21|title=Sally Rooney, Dónal Ryan and Richard Chambers among nominees for Irish Book Awards|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40726380.html|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}} and was described by RTÉ's Sinéad Crowley as one of her "books of the year".{{Cite web|last=Crowley|first=Sinéad|date=2021-12-13|title=Sinead Crowley's Books Of The Year|website=RTÉ.ie |url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2021/1210/1266025-sinead-crowleys-books-of-the-year/|language=en}} Health minister Stephen Donnelly was interviewed about the book on Prime Time in November 2021, with Donnelly saying he "wouldn't be reading" the book and that it didn't "marry" Donnelly "with [his] experience".{{Cite web|last=Moloney|first=Marita|date=2021-11-02|title=Prime Time viewers react as Stephen Donnelly 'throws shade' at Richard Chambers|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/rte-prime-time-viewers-shocked-25363529|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Irish Mirror|language=en}}

Chambers was previously in a relationship with author Louise O'Neill,{{Cite web|last=Carter|first=Erica|date=2021-10-25|title=Virgin Media's Richard Chambers opens up on relationship with Louise O'Neill|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/virgin-media-reporter-richard-chambers-25290334|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Irish Mirror|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Ganatra|first=Shilpa|title='I'm looking forward to being around family and not being as worried as we were last year'|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/i-m-looking-forward-to-being-around-family-and-not-being-as-worried-as-we-were-last-year-1.4710188|access-date=2021-12-13|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} who he met in 2018.{{Cite web|title=How They Met: Richard Chambers And Louise O'Neill's 'Modern' Set Up|url=https://evoke.ie/2021/10/25/entertainment/how-they-met-richard-chambers-and-author-louise-oneill-have-a-very-modern-love-story|access-date=2021-12-13|language=en-GB}} He previously lived in a house-share in Castleknock with fellow Virgin Media News correspondent Zara King.{{Cite web|title=Richard Chambers on Covid — 'I don't think the public knows how close we were to this being an unmitigated catastrophe'|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/richard-chambers-on-covid-i-dont-think-the-public-knows-how-close-we-were-to-this-being-an-unmitigated-catastrophe-40963862.html|access-date=2021-12-13|website=independent|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-12-12|title=Zara King: I share a house with Richard Chambers, we don't really switch off|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40186884.html|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=O'Loughlin |first=Mikie |date=2022-09-03 |title=Richard Chambers praises girlfriend Louise O'Neill 'She has been brilliant' |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/virgin-medias-richard-chambers-praises-27887971 |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=RSVP Live |language=en}}

Chambers was involved in an online feud with Westlife's Brian McFadden, with McFadden describing him as a "knobhead".{{Cite web|last=Walsh|first=Kayla|date=2021-10-31|title=Richard Chambers says Brian McFadden called him a 'knobhead' in public feud|url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/virgin-medias-richard-chambers-says-25340028|access-date=2021-12-13|website=RSVP Live|language=en}}

He is a supporter of Bohemian F.C.{{Cite web|title=Episode 19 - Richard Chambers|url=https://punditarena.com/podcasts/episode-19-richard-chambers/|access-date=2021-12-13|website=Pundit Arena|language=en-GB}}

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Category:Alumni of University College Dublin

Category:Alumni of Dublin City University

Category:Living people

Category:1989 births