[1] Cantwell began his broadcasting career at the age of seventeen working in pirate radio in Dublin.
His stint in this role proved controversial and earned him the nickname "Alan Rantwell"; he was dropped from the programme after just a year as presenter.
[4] In May 2011, Cantwell fronted TV3's television coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland.
[5] On 22 November 2012, Cantwell announced that he is to leave TV3 and he subsequently resigned from his position as TV3 news anchor on 4 January 2013.
[10] In May 2016 Cantwell resigned from TV3 again, to take up the post of press advisor to Mary Mitchell O'Connor after the Dún Laoghaire TD was appointed to Cabinet as jobs minister.