RTÉ have announced the names of those joining the team of news anchors for their Six One and Nine O’Clock news programmes.
Journalist Sharon Tobin will join broadcaster David McCullagh as the new presenting team for RTÉ's Six One news from Monday, while broadcaster Ray Kennedy will be presenting the Nine O’Clock news in rotation with Sharon Ní Bheoláin.
Announcing the new appointments, Deirdre McCarthy, director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs, said that the flagship Six One news and Nine O’Clock news are among the team’s most-watched and valued television programmes.
“Sharon and Ray join our dedicated news and current affairs presentation team who strive every hour of every day to tell honestly and clearly, with integrity and credibility, the stories that matter to you, your families and your communities,” Ms McCarthy said.
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She also said that she is delighted two “accomplished journalists” are joining their presentation team.
“Along with Eileen Whelan who will continue to anchor the One O’Clock news, our news and current affairs presentation team is a group of talented presenters who will continue to ask the probing questions, hold those in power to account and represent the public interest.”
Originally from Dublin, Sharon Tobin joined RTÉ News as a journalist and TV reporter in 2008, having been a regular news presenter in studio and for outside broadcasts in Ireland and abroad, including reporting on the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.
Ms Tobin co-presented RTÉ's annual budget coverage, hosted the current affairs programme Monday Night Live, and presented RTÉ News specials, including US president Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland in April. She has also presented RTÉ Radio 1’s This Week programme.
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She previously worked for a number of local independent radio stations and as a reporter and TV news anchor for TV3.
“I’m thrilled to be joining David and the team as the permanent presenter on Six One news. We’re facing huge issues in this country, people struggling with the cost of living and the most basic of needs, finding affordable housing,” Ms Tobin said.
“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 has also worked for RTÉ since 2008 as a journalist and newscaster, having reported extensively from Africa on the humanitarian crisis throughout 2012 and 2013.
Previously he worked as a reporter with the Irish Independent and Irish Press newspaper groups before doing radio and television presenting.
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He also worked as a weekend anchor with both RTÉ and TV3 news, as Ireland correspondent at Sky News International and was previously a political correspondent with Independent Network News (INN).
Mr Kennedy said that he is honoured to be taking up the role of presenting a bulletin that he grew up watching, and hoped one day to anchor.
“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 livingrooms around the country and beyond if they are happy to invite me in,” he said.
“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.”
Caitríona Perry, who previously presented the Six One news, moved to a new role in the US with BBC News earlier this summer.
The Nine O’Clock news was previously presented by Eileen Dunne, who has retired.
