LAST UPDATE | 10 Oct

NEWSTALK’S KIERAN CUDDIHY is leaving the station and taking the mic at RTÉ’s Liveline.

The Journal understands that Newstalk staff were informed yesterday that Cuddihy, who hosts the afternoon Hard Shoulder programme, was moving to RTÉ.

Today RTÉ confirmed today that Cuddihy will replace Joe Duffy as host of the Radio 1 interview and phone-in show.

The move is part of a major change-up to the weekly schedule on Radio 1, which will also see Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin replace Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra as the hosts of Drivetime.

In other changes, David McCullagh’s new show replacing the departing Claire Byrne will start at the earlier time of 9am and Oliver Callan’s current show will move to 11am and will now run for two hours.

Louise Duffy’s show, which is currently broadcast at 12pm, will instead move to the afternoon slot at 3pm, replacing Ray D’Arcy’s show which it was confirmed yesterday is set to come to an end.

Joe Duffy has said that Cuddihy is a “great choice” and praised his previous work.

“I previously wrote to Kieran Cuddihy admiring his incredible work ethic and forensic interviewing,” Duffy said on social media, adding that he would be “brilliant” in the new role. 

“Remember the first 27 years are the hardest!!” 

I previously wrote to Kieran Cuddihy admiring his incredible work ethic and forensic interviewing Great choice for @rteliveline Cheers …you’ll be brilliant, remember the first 27 years are the hardest!! @RTERadio1 @Independent_ie @IrishTimes @RTELateLateShow @irishdailymail

— JOE DUFFY (@talktojoeduffy) October 10, 2025

40 years

At Newstalk, Cuddihy previously worked with Patricia Monahan who is now the Director of Audio at RTÉ.

In a statement today, the national broadcaster said: “As Liveline celebrates 40 years on air, Kieran Cuddihy will take the helm each day from 1.45 pm, getting to the heart of the discussions that truly matter to the people of Ireland.”

“Liveline has become a significant part of Irish life and Kieran will now take the driving seat and continue the evolution of this iconic Irish institution.”

Duffy retired during the summer after 27 years on Liveline, and the broadcaster had been searching for a permanent replacement.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One today, Monahan said Cuddihy had applied “like everybody else, and went through a very robust process”.

Asked why the national broadcaster had gone outside the organisation to recruit Duffy’s replacement, Monahan said it was “less a decision to go outside than to identify the right candidate for the job”.

She was also asked is Cuddihy would continue to work for Virgin Media, to which she replied, “not in the long term, no”.

“He’ll obviously have a notice period to work out, and we’re happy for him to do so. But in the long term, no, he’ll be focused on Liveline.”

The popular show has been on air since 1998, voicing the concerns, victories and everything in between of listeners who called in.

It has been involved in several controversies, including the 2022 comments from Duffy on trans people which were described as “unacceptable and extremely harmful” by Dublin Pride.

Cuddihy, who is from Co Kilkenny, recently took on the role of host of Virgin Media’s The Tonight Show as well, it’s not yet clear if he will be able to continue this while hosting a show at a rival station.

He presented The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk since 2020 when he took over from Ivan Yates.

Cuddihy first worked with the company on a work placement after completing his undergraduate law degree at University College Cork and a masters in journalism from Dublin City University.

He began as a research on Newstalk’s Breakfast Show, then progressed to a station reporter and then a presenter on The Hard Shoulder.