RT Announces Sean O Rourke in key 0-noon slot

RT Announces Sean ORourke in key 10-12noon slot

Jim Jennings, Acting Managing Director of RT Radio, today announced multi-award-winner Sean O'Rourke as presenter of the key 10-12noon slot on Radio 1. Referring to a top-class new daytime line-up for Radio 1, he continued, Radio 1's schedule was already strong. Now, it's even better.

The new schedule is as follows:

7.00-9.00am: Claire Byrne is announced as new co-presenter of Ireland's number one radio show, Morning Ireland, joining Rachael English, Gavin Jennings and Cathal MacCoille.

9.00-10.00am: Miriam O'Callaghan will continue to present the key 9am slot for the autumn.

10.00-12.00pm: Sean O'Rourke has been named as the new presenter of the Today programme.

12.00-1.00pm: Ronan Collins will continue to present Ireland's number one lunchtime music show.

1.00-1.45pm: Richard Crowley and Aine Lawlor are announced as alternating presenters on RT 's flagship lunchtime radio news programme.

1.45-3.00pm: Joe Duffy presents Liveline, Ireland's second most-listened-to radio programme.

3.00-4.30pm: Derek Mooney presents the nation's biggest afternoon radio show

4.30pm-7.00pm: Mary Wilson presents Ireland's number one drivetime radio programme.

***

RT Radio 1 listeners will already be familiar with Sean O'Rourke as presenter of News at One on Radio 1 and The Week in Politics on RT One television. PPI News Broadcaster of the Year for the three years in a row, O'Rourke is widely regarded as one of the finest current affairs broadcasters in Ireland. RT Radio 1 now marries the daily variety of the Today programme with the incisiveness of one of Ireland's foremost current-affairs journalists.

Speaking today, Sean O'Rourke said: It's 40 years ago next month since I began a lifelong love affair with journalism and I can honestly say I am as excited about this move as I was the first day I climbed the stairs in the Connacht Tribune in September 1973. I love radio and I love news. Friends and colleagues however will know me as a huge sports fan and an avid reader. Not only will we break news, drive the debate and analyse the stories of the day, we'll be getting stuck into much more than that. I hope people will come for the news and stay for the craic. Here's to September 2nd.

Claire Byrne joins Morning Ireland as one of the core presenting team, and will continue to present Saturday with Claire Byrne on Radio 1, and Prime Time on RT One television.

Miriam O'Callaghan says she has hugely enjoyed the 9am slot on RT Radio 1. I love radio and I love the 9am slot. I'm delighted to continue in the slot for the autumn and look forward to more really strong human interest stories. In the past weeks Miriam has conducted high-profile interviews with the parents of Donal Walsh, and with Praveen Halappanavar, in the 9am slot. Miriam will also return to her senior presenter role on RT One's Prime Time in September. RT confirmed that John Murray will return in the coming months.

Aine Lawlor and Richard Crowley will alternate as presenters of RT Radio 1's News at One, with Aine Lawlor also hosting The Week in Politics on RT One television. Speaking today, Aine said: I'm swapping breakfast for lunchtime and relishing the challenge of a solo gig. The lunchtime news on radio is the peak of the current-affairs day, and it's an honour to be at the very heart of the Radio 1 schedule.

Richard Crowley welcomed the move to one o'clock: Lunchtime news is a natural appointment to listen for hundreds of thousands of people all over the country. Its one of the most challenging programmes on Irish radio and also one of the most exciting to present.

Jim Jennings, Acting Managing Director of RT Radio, said: This is a hugely strong schedule for RT Radio 1. Sean O'Rourke, multiple winner of PPI News Journalist of Year, is Ireland's foremost news and current affairs presenter. Sharp, insightful and fair, Sean progresses the news agenda like no other presenter. Now listeners will get the Sean they know, and much more. A massive sports fan, a keen reader, Sean will showcase the best of what listeners love about the Today show. We are intent on holding and building listeners in this key slot; with Sean O'Rourke, listeners have an easy choice to make in staying with Radio 1.

We're honoured to have Miriam O'Callaghan continue for the autumn on Radio 1, and we look forward to welcoming John Murray back in due course. Miriam joins Claire Byrne, Rachael English, Mary Wilson and of course Aine Lawlor in the daytime Radio 1 schedule. Truly, the women are on air.

Irish listeners can now be assured of the very finest journalism, and the very best presenters, on Ireland's number one radio station.

ENDS

10th August 2013

Maureen Catterson, Maureen.Catterson@rte.ie, 087 7800737

Joseph Hoban, joseph.hoban@rte.ie, 086 8128662

Images: New presenter images have been issued to picture desks.

Launch: RT Radio 1 will host a meet and greet media event on August 29th

More: Sean O'Rourke will be interviewed by Aine Lawlor on RT Radio 1 at 11am this morning

Notes

RT Radio 1

Latest JNLR: RT Radio 1 weekly reach steady at 37%, 1,325,000

Latest JNLR: RT Radio 1 Weekday Reach steady at 24% with 864,000 listeners

Latest JNLR: RT Radio 1 remains the only station in Ireland with a weekly reach of over 1M

Recent Programme Figures:

Morning Ireland up 7,000 b-o-b to 450,000 and 6,000 y-o-y

The John Murray Show with Miriam up 3,000 to 330,000 b-o-b and 3,000 y-o-y

Today Programme up 3,000 b-o-b to 328,000

Ronan Collins up 4,000 listeners b-o-b to 218,000

Mooney up 1,000 b-o-b to 225,000

News at One up 8,000 listeners year-on-year to 365,000

CLAIRE BYRNE

Claire presented The Daily Show on RT One, having joined

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2013/0810/46742...
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