RTÉ Announces Major Presenter Shake-Up for Key News Shows

UPDATE: RTÉ has just confirmed a significant shake-up in its news programming, introducing new presenters across several flagship shows that will change the face of news reporting in Ireland. Tommy Meskill will join Sharon Tobin as co-presenter of the Six One News on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, while Sarah McInerney and Justin McCarthy join Gavin Jennings and Audrey Carville as regular presenters of Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1.

These changes come immediately following the launch of RTÉ Radio 1’s new weekday schedule, highlighting RTÉ’s commitment to delivering high-quality journalism. Paul Cunningham, currently a political correspondent, will take the helm of This Week on RTÉ Radio 1 every Sunday at 1 PM. The popular Behind the Story podcast will also see Cunningham join Fran McNulty and others as presenters throughout the week.

In a statement, Deirdre McCarthy, Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs, emphasized the importance of these flagship programmes:

“These flagship news programmes are among our most-watched and listened-to, representing the best of our daily news gathering and trusted public service journalism.”

Tommy Meskill has a decade of experience with RTÉ News, having previously served as the London Correspondent and covered significant political events. Reacting to his new role, Meskill stated,

“It’s a huge honour to take on the role of co-presenter of the Six One News. I’m really looking forward to getting started and being part of a programme that continues to bring accurate, engaging, and trusted news to our audience.”

Sarah McInerney, known for her work on Prime Time, expressed her excitement about joining Morning Ireland, stating,

“It’s a privilege to join such a strong team and to work on a programme with that kind of impact.”

She has a rich background in journalism, including a stint as Political Correspondent for The Sunday Times.

Joining her is Justin McCarthy, who has been with Morning Ireland since 2013. He acknowledged the responsibility that comes with the role, affirming his commitment to delivering the fair and rigorous journalism listeners expect. “I look forward to working with an excellent team,” he said.

Paul Cunningham, a veteran of political reporting, shared his enthusiasm for presenting This Week, one of the top radio programmes in Ireland with over 200,000 listeners weekly. He remarked,

“I’m delighted to get the opportunity to present Ireland’s longest-running radio news programme, which sets the agenda every Sunday.”

This presenter overhaul not only reflects RTÉ’s dedication to evolving its news coverage but also aims to enhance audience engagement across its platforms. As these seasoned journalists step into their new roles, they promise to uphold the standards of integrity and credibility that RTÉ is known for.

Stay tuned for further updates as these changes unfold and impact Ireland’s news landscape. This is a pivotal moment for RTÉ, and the new line-up is set to redefine public service journalism in Ireland.