One new presenter says he has “massive shoes” to fill.
RTÉ has announced the new team of news anchors for the Six One and Nine O’Clock News.
The national broadcaster announced that Sharon Tobin and Ray Kennedy will be permanent presenters of the Six One News and Nine O’Clock News respectively.
Tobin, who joined RTÉ News as journalist and TV reporter in 2008, has co-presented RTÉ television’s annual Budget coverage, hosted the current affairs programme Monday Night Live, and presented RTÉ News specials. She has also presented RTÉ Radio 1’s This Week programme.
Tobin said she is “thrilled” to become a permanent member for the Six One News, beginning today, Monday, September 4.
She added: “We’re facing huge issues in this country, people struggling with the cost of living and the most basic of needs, finding affordable housing. All this ahead of a much-anticipated general election campaign. I’m excited to be part of the team that will continue to bring accurate, trustworthy news to our audience, and ask the questions that people want answers to.”
Ray Kennedy filling “massive shoes” after Eileen Dunne’s RTÉ departure.
Ray Kennedy said he is “honoured” to take up the presenting role for the Nine O’Clock News, replacing Eileen Dunne, who retired after 42 years at RTÉ in 2022. He said it is a show he “always hoped one day to anchor.”
With previous experience working for Sky News as Ireland Correspondent and for TV3, Kennedy has worked for the national broadcaster since 2008, as well as spending a stint there earlier in his career.
He has reported extensively from Africa on the humanitarian crisis throughout 2012 and 2013, as well as covering the visits by Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama to Ireland, the terrorist attacks that took place in Manchester, London and Paris, and was shortlisted for Amnesty International Media Awards for reports about poverty in Brazil ahead of the Rio Olympics.
He added: “I will bring my 30 plus years in journalism with me to the coveted seat and do my level best to bring the news from Ireland and around the globe into people’s living rooms around the country and beyond if they are happy to invite me in.
“I am filling massive shoes in taking up a role vacated by the wonderful Eileen Dunne and hope I can be equal to the task. I’m very excited the role also involves presenting special event programmes on RTÉ One as they occur and with my extraordinary colleagues in RTÉ News and Current Affairs, we will now move forward with doing what we do best and deliver for our audience”
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