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RTÉ RADIO 1 has announced a shake-up in its weekday schedule.
The refreshed line-up comes following Joe Duffy’s retirement, Claire Byrne’s confirmed move to Newstalk and the sudden departure of Ray D’Arcy yesterday.
Following speculation in the media this morning, RTÉ confirmed that Kieran Cuddihy was leaving Newstalk to take the mic at Liveline from 1.45pm Monday to Friday.
“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,” RTÉ said.
But that wasn’t the only change announced at the radio station, with new programmes and revised time slots also included in the new schedule.
The new weekday schedule will launch later this year.
Morning Ireland will continue to air at 7am each morning. However, following the departures of Áine Lawlor and Mary Wilson last month, RTÉ said two new presenters will join Audrey Carville and Gavin Jennings. They will be announced in the coming weeks.
The new Today with David McCullagh programme will follow Morning Ireland each day at 9am, an hour earlier than in its current format with Claire Byrne.
Byrne will leave in early 2026 to present a new mid-morning news programme on Newstalk, taking over from veteran broadcaster Pat Kenny.
Oliver Callan, who currently occupies the 9am slot for one hour, has been moved to 11am and extended, “delivering two hours of entertainment that blends insightful commentary with Oliver’s unique humorous flair,” RTÉ said.
Rachael English will continue to present news programme News at One every lunchtime. She took over the role from Bryan Dobson, who left last year,
The Louise Duffy Show has been moved from the 12pm slot to 3pm, after Liveline. RTÉ said Duffy’s one-hour music show “will feature more live performances, exclusive chats and plenty of surprises along the way”.
Drivetime, which is currently presented by Sarah McInerney and Cormac Ó hEadhra from 4.30pm every day, will see some big changes take place.
The evening current affairs programme will now be broadcast from the earlier time of 4pm, with new presenters Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin at the helm.
RTÉ’s director of audio Patricia Monahan confirmed that McInerney and Ó hEadhra “will continue to be a regular presence on RTÉ and Radio 1″.
“We look forward to sharing news of their new roles in the coming weeks.”
A new early-evening sports news programme will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 from 6pm. The broadcaster said it will feature “previews and reviews of current national and international sporting events along with interviews and breaking sport stories of the day”.
Monahan said the new schedule “marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for RTÉ Radio 1″.
She said it has been designed “to meet the changing listening habits of audiences” and give them the content they need across the day, including breaking news, analysis, music, chat and entertainment.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One today, Monahan said she would be meeting with producers and researchers in the coming weeks to talk about “optimising” the content of the radio shows.
Tara Campbell, the head of RTÉ Radio 1, said the new schedule “introduces some new and younger voices while seeing many of our award-winning presenters move into new presenting duties”.
“RTÉ Radio 1 is Ireland’s number one radio service and we look forward to this significantly revised schedule bringing our over a million listeners the very best mix across the day for many years to come.”
Monahan was also asked today about the surprise departure of Ray Darcy, whose contract was not set to be renewed.
“That’s never an easy thing or communication to have with somebody,” she said.
“But like I said, we wish him very well.”
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