Broadcaster David McCullagh has been announced as the new presenter of Radio 1's Today programme as current presenter Claire Byrne is set to leave RTÉ later this year for Newstalk.
Here's what we know so far about the changes.
1. What presenters are going where and when?
There was a flurry of emails, press releases, and announcements today that marked a headline-grabbing day for both RTÉ and Newstalk.
The story started after 11am when Pat Kenny announced on his programme on Newstalk that he was moving to the weekends in "the spring".
Immediately eyebrows were raised. If Pat Kenny was leaving his daily 9am to midday slot, then the conversation would inevitably turn to the who would 'get the gig' question.
Just as commentators were chewing over that question, lunchtime rolled in and bang, bang, bang - three major developments in the story.
Within minutes of each other, RTÉ announced that Claire Byrne "will leave RTÉ later this year," and that David McCullagh from the Six One News and the podcast Behind the Story is moving to present the Today programme from 3 November in Claire Byrne's place.
Then, one minute later, Bauer Media confirmed that Claire Byrne is joining Newstalk for a "mid morning show" in early 2026.
2. Why is Claire Byrne leaving RTÉ Radio 1 and returning to her former radio home?
We don’t know. The statement from Bauer Media quoted her saying that she was "very excited" to join Newstalk and that it marks a "significant milestone in my career". That is all well and good but it does not shed any light on the reasons she has chosen to move on.
Claire Byrne has had a stellar broadcasting career since she first set out on TV3, before moving to Newstalk where she presented The Breakfast Show with Ivan Yates before joining RTÉ in 2010.
She quickly climbed through the ranks, and was chosen as Sean O’Rourke’s successor for the flagship Today programme when he retired in May 2020. She has completed five very successful years on the programme, and according to the latest JNLR numbers, she leaves the programme with an audience of 354,000.
3. Is the salary cap a factor?
Obviously Claire Byrne’s decision to move is a personal decision for her, but it has inevitably led to speculation that the salary cap at RTÉ might be a factor.
We know that RTÉ has committed to a salary cap, meaning that nobody can earn a higher salary than the Director General, whose salary currently stands at €250,000.
The most recent figures we have for Claire Byrne’s salary is from the RTÉ annual report in 2023, where her salary was listed as €280,000.
With any new contracts, the salary negotiations could only go downwards. Working for the national broadcaster also means that there are stringent restrictions on external activities. All requests for external work must be referred to management and cleared.
It is not too much of a leap to consider that the freedom to pursue external activities of your choice, on your own terms, is undoubtedly an attractive proposition for any presenter.
4. When did David McCullagh first hear about a move to the Today programme?
This afternoon, on the podcast that he co-presents with Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty, Behind the Story, (declaration here - I joined David McCullagh to hear all about it) he shared more details about the move.
He explained on the pod that he was first approached to step in to Claire’s seat the day before he went on holidays in mid summer and that he had decided by "the time I got to the airport to say yes".
David McCullagh is an acclaimed broadcaster, journalist and historian who has published six books, authored and presented historical documentaries and it is clear that he is relishing the opportunity to make his mark on this flagship programme.
He will also continue to also present general, European and presidential election coverage for RTÉ News.
The popular presenter follows a path laid by Sean O’Rourke who made the leap from the RTÉ newsroom to Radio 1 in 2013 when he succeeded Pat Kenny.
The announcement that RTÉ stalwart Pat Kenny was leaving the national broadcaster to go to Newstalk in 2013, caused waves at the time but within a short time of Sean O’Rourke presenting the Today show, all worries were allayed and Sean had a very successful run on the show, before stepped down from the Today programme in May 2020.
Other commentary too today suggested that David McCullagh’s performance on Behind the Story gave RTÉ management a chance to see and hear a different side to the heavyweight current affairs presenter.
5. So Claire Byrne is on the move, David McCullagh is on the move and Pat Kenny is on the move, so what do all these moves tell us about the current radio situation on RTÉ Radio 1 and Newstalk?
This is where the guessing games begin. Next ‘spring’, the national radio line ups will look very different to today.
On Newstalk, presumably Ciara Kelly and Shane Coleman will continue on their breakfast programme but with today’s Newstalk press release stating that Claire Byrne will present a mid morning show on the station, will there be changes there? Could the breakfast show be extended to 10am?
Back on Radio 1, more questions too as my understanding is that Mary Wilson, one of the keystone presenters on Morning Ireland is due to retire soon so there will be changes to the line up of this programme too.
We now know David McCullagh will be on at 10am but there are other gaps on Radio 1 with the question of the next Liveline presenter still up in the air. The heartbreaking loss of Seán Rocks last month, presenter of the nightly Arena programme, has shaken the station too.
And then there is the expression of interest presenter process which was launched by RTÉ in June which offered people the chance to apply for presenting roles. The last time they ran this competition, they unearthed a young John Creedon in 1987. Will they announce any developments and broadcasting treasure from this process which will make it on to the airwaves?
With this process rumbling away in the background, it just adds another intriguing twist to the musical chairs movement in Montrose.
Ultimately, management at both stations will be hoping that all these line up shifts and changes will continue to see their programmes at the heart of the national conversation and that most importantly, live radio endures as a relevant trusted voice in a noisy fractured audio world.
