CountryWide presenter Damien O'Reilly has announced he is leaving RTÉ Radio 1 after 24 years to take up a new role in Brussels.
The broadcaster, who has also presented Liveline, Drivetime and The Brendan O'Connor Show, will host his final CountryWide on Saturday 5 November. He has anchored the award-winning show since it began 13 years ago.
"After 24 fantastic years working in RTÉ, I have decided to move on to a new challenge," he said. "I am moving to Brussels to take up a new position there."
"It has been an absolute pleasure to work for our national broadcaster since May 1998," O'Reilly continued.
"I have conducted interviews on farms in the 32 counties. I believe in being able to travel around the country to record stories from farmers and others, I had the best job in RTÉ. I relished the challenge of turning these interviews into radio-friendly packages and reports to bring to a broad non-farming audience.
"But I believe that now is the perfect time for me to move on to a new career challenge, and I am delighted to be able to do so on a high and happy note, leaving CountryWide in great shape."
The new presenter of CountryWide on RTÉ Radio 1 will be announced in the coming days.
Some news from us here at RTÉ Radio 1. Our @RTECountryWide presenter Damien O'Reilly has announced he’s leaving to take up a new role in Brussels. Best of luck Damien on your new adventure, we'll miss you in the Radio Centre.🎙😔 pic.twitter.com/FwcKjSueQQ
— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) October 18, 2022
The Head of RTÉ Radio 1, Peter Woods, said: "Radio 1 is sorry to lose Damien O'Reilly.
"He first came to my attention as a reporter during the Foot and Mouth crisis. His reporting, use of tape, packaging and analysis were first-class. He has an innate understanding of radio as a form.
"A past winner of Speech Broadcaster of the Year, several awards as an agriculture journalist and - at this year's IMRO Awards - Magazine Programme of the Year for CountryWide, Damien leaves this station at the top of his game.
"We wish him the best in his future endeavours and have no doubt that the high standards, motivation and work ethic he observed in the Radio Centre will stand him in good stead. Damien will be missed."
