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RTÉ HAS ANNOUNCED that its political correspondent David McCullagh is to be the new presenter of the station’s flagship current affairs programme Prime Time.
Replacing the departed Pat Kenny, McCullagh will join Miriam O’Callaghan and Claire Byrne to present the programme which is broadcast on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights on RTÉ One.
Dublin-born McCullagh holds a PhD in politics and has worked for RTÉ for 20 years as a reporter for television and radio as well as a reporter and presenter for the This Week programme on RTÉ Radio 1. He has worked as a political correspondent since 2001.
In a statement today, McCullagh said: “I’m really delighted to be taking up this new opportunity. It’s a chance to be part of a fantastic team which has been responsible for producing top class coverage of current affairs.
“After 20 years in the RTÉ Newsroom, 12 of them as Political Correspondent, this is a big change for me, and a huge challenge, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
McCullagh, a keen Bruce Springsteen fan, is also the author of two books, A Makeshift Majority: the first Inter-party Government and The Reluctant Taoiseach: A biography of John A. Costello.
He will take up his role from next week. Prime Time returns to our screens this Thursday. And here’s the new team:
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I like this guy, he always has a cheeky smirk on his face when he is on the news, as if he isn’t wearing pants or just did something dirty to Sharon Ní Bheoláin.
Good for him should do a great job .
Off script he can say eh! 30 times a minute same As our cabinet ministers some of whom were teachers.
Better than Pat keZzzzz.. Jesus his name even puts me to sleep!
I might actually watch now ;)
Good luck to him.. I thought he would get “The week in Politics” job.. he still might.. he’s a very professional competent presenter so any programme he fronts im sure will benefit from his input and knowledge.
Áine Lawlor got that job as far as I know. Was reported back in August.
Must have missed that job on irishjobs.ie
FAS website under Job bridge
He should do a good job, glad it isn’t Miriam O’Callaghan.
Good for him!!
Great decision . The man is a true professional, now I will actually be able to watch the programme without the TV being in danger of having a shoe thrown at it .
A nice guy. Should do a good job. Best of luck Dave.
Well done David.
Another propaganda agent for a corrupt government
Another Gaurdian of the Establishment
New talent ????
Did we need another thejournal.ie article with “Pat Kenny” in the title?
Which one of the club is he related to?
Well done Dr. David and best wishes in new role, I will certainly check in. I have felt for some time that your abilities were underutilised by RTE and I look forward now to seeing the emergence of your undoubted talents and abilities by way of jornalistic advancement from passive roles to very active and incisive roles, rocking boats on the way in order to bring relevant ‘truth’ in its various manifestations to the general public. It seems to me that you may need to ‘dent’ somewhat your nice guy image in order to credibly and successfully lead on difficult discussion and debating circumstances that will be important as you tweak your image going forward. We know the nice guy David, Doctorate, media suitability, liked by RTE public; but this is a step up requiring a more vibrant, cunning, provocative and resilient broadcaster, bringing a degree of ‘edge’ and confrontation to deliberations and exposure of matters that are of high importance to the people of the state. Your lady colleagues will be nice to you, no doubt. Good luck David, do a bit of tree shaking and bring out your strong personality traits in the programme. David, as is said, cut through the manure all the time. Regards, Tom Hourigan, Retired.
‘which is broadcast on Monday, Tuiesday and Thursday nights on RTÉ One.’ Is ‘Tuiesday’ to be considered as part of an eight-day week?
Great not the same old faces in the seat – good luck to him!
Always thought him & Sharon ni Irish word would make a nice couple. :)
Nice to see RTE continue it’s policy of introducing new talent to Irish Television…
Dr David is a nice guy but his role thusfar has been largely passive and non-confrontational. He has the personality and the academic credentials for his new role. However, he will need to throw, a mental switch, thus permitting him to stay tough, incisive, confrontational, insistent and downright demanding in the face of trying to expose on matters that are of significant public concern, political issues, public service issues and others. David can do it I think, but I a looking forward to seeing David ‘the bastard’ take on the many macro issues facing our country. Tom Hourigan, Limerick.
Should be interesting to see how this works out – Anybody but the Plank or Fluffy Miriam.
Will watch out to see how his interrogation techniques present themselves on the usual chancers in public life.
Be still my heart. Couldn’t wait to hear who was going to fill that slot ! Whew. The relief! ?????????????
Pat didn’t present “Prime Time”
It is good to see that ‘Tuiesday’ has now been corrected but it is not nice that my comment pointing out the error has been deleted.
Eh! Erm!! Ahh!! Eh!!!
My comment was not deleted after all.
I hope he learns how to tie a tie and that his wardrobe allowance is extended so he can move up from the suits from Frawleys he’s been wearing this ten years.
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