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RTÉ IS TO offer audition opportunities to around 150 people in a bid to fill gaps in the 2FM line-up.
Director general Kevin Bakhurst confirmed the move in an interview with the PA news agency, denying suggestions that the station had run out of ideas.
There have been a number of recent high-profile departures from the station, including Jennifer Zamparelli, The 2 Johnnies and Doireann Garrihy, leading to a reshuffle of hosts.
After major financial and governance scandals across RTÉ, the organisation introduced a plan to cut presenter wages, restrict external activities and develop a register of interests.
Earlier this month, the national broadcaster issued a callout on its website for new recruits, saying that RTÉ 2FM “has presenting roles available”.
“We are creating a long list of presenters – refreshed every two years – who would appeal to a 15–34-year-old audience,” RTÉ said.
In an interview with the PA news agency, RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst said the reaction to the callout was “fantastic” and denied suggestions that 2FM had run out of ideas, adding: “Far from it.”
“We had over 500 applications from a range of people, from existing radio presenters, members of staff, podcasters, social media people, some great young Irish-language journalists,” he said.
“There’s a whole range of people and I know that Dan Healy and his team are actually very excited by the number of people.
“They were very excited by some of the people that we’ve come across that we wouldn’t have come across otherwise.
“They had 500. I think we’re going to give an audition opportunity to around 150.”
Last month, Donncha O’Callaghan became the latest presenter to announce that he was leaving 2FM.
The 2 Johnnies announced that they were giving up their slot on 2FM at the end of May, while Doireann Garrihy presented her final show on the station on 31 May.
Jennifer Zamparelli also recently left after more than a decade at the station, saying it was “time for me to move on”.
Chief executive of 2fm Dan Healy has faced questions about whether the departures are linked to new rules at RTÉ aimed at identifying conflicts of interest, including work done by presenters by other brands or organisations and any payment received for external activities.
However, Healy told Today with Claire Byrne in May that the departures could not be attributed to a “single thing”.
“But you’re attributing it to single thing and what I’m saying is, it’s not that it’s nuanced, it is genuinely nuanced,” he said.
All of the presenters that have left the station have high profiles and significant media careers outside of 2FM.
With reporting from Press Association
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The issue was the response before the storm.
There is no shame in going to the EU for assistance before the event, not running around like headless chickens after.
Billy Dooley was the best they could roll out on tv last night to defend the response.
Shameful
Perhaps they should also discuss a national plan to put power lines underground in areas where it is still possible.
@Tony Doran: Hard to know how much that could end up costing in the long run Tony. The last time an underground cable was discovered during a project it cost an extra €250,000…
@Tony Doran: There are 150,000 kilometres of overhead in this country,on a par with other European countries…..do you suggest putting 150,000 more cables underground?….Countries the world over that have way worse storms and more frequently still use overheads…..the cost would be astronomical……but this nonsense suggestion is wheeled out every time.
too late. PR stunt.
ask also yourself why it’s the same scenario every time and why so many trees were on the road and cutting electricity where they could have been maintained and cut before it happened. no retributions will be made. loosers.
I tend to keep about 20 grand in an account for emergencies, I wasn’t affected by the storm so i’ll spend it on holidays again this year.
@brian o’leary: Are you not going to list your 7 holidays like you normally do? Everyone loves a bragger/blagger as you know Brian. Especially those who can’t afford holidays. They live vicariously through your waffles
@Harry Paisley: You haven’t a washer anyway we know that, mammy is bringing you to butlins again, she loves the rides
@Freda Peeple: with the two ski trips this year it’ll only be 6 holidays I’m afraid, nothing like Zermatt to eat into the budget, 40 euro for a pizza for christ sake!
@brian o’leary: stop taking up space here!!!!
@Helena Camella , no I’ll continue to take advantage of the cheap entertainment while saving for my next trip, scuba diving in Thailand in a few months.
A proper tree management system is needed urgently. Councils throughout the country should be responsible for this. Trees on private property should also have a height limit. I know tree huggers won’t like this but tough!!!
Lol! gonna have a chat about the weather… Dilldy iiie
Live in towns, you’ll be sorted sooner.
@brian o’leary: ya have more of a chance of surviving in the country side than the built up areas if something worse happens like a major sunstorm that overloads and destroys all electrical and electronic stuff. We can get water, grow food and heat and cook with wood or turf what could you do?, go crying to the government for food and water and hold your hand along with all the other city slickers.
@brendan C5: but it’s you lot that are off the grid now,not us..cry harder,we can’t hear you country boy.
@brendan C5: I’d probably just move down to my cottage in wexford, its on a few arces of woodland near the sea, grow a few veg, catch a few fish, plenty of firewood.
Trees should be banned. Wind should be banned!
have your say