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TWO YEARS AFTER a planned return to RTÉ was cancelled in the wake of the Golfgate controversy, broadcaster Sean O’Rourke has been confirmed as the host of a new show on the national broadcaster.
O’Rourke is to present a new programme entitled Two Tribes, which RTÉ says “follows the diverging paths taken by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the post-civil war landscape”.
The programme is part of a range of content RTÉ has announced as in its new season about the Irish Civil War.
O’Rourke narrated a radio documentary last weekend as part of the RTE’s Documentary on One series but today’s announcement is the first time he has fronted a return to TV.
The veteran journalist was a long-time RTÉ employee but retired in May 2020.
He was understood to be in talks to return to the station in the following months when it was revealed that he attended the controversial Oireachtas Golf Society dinner held at a hotel in Clifden, Co Galway in August 2020 amid strict Covid-19 restrictions.
Then-agriculture minister Dara Calleary, who was also at the dinner, resigned from his position in the aftermath and RTÉ subsequently confirmed that it would not be proceeding with future projects with O’Rourke.
O’Rourke was quoted in the RTÉ statement at the time and said it was the “right course” of action as he wanted to “call myself to account”.
Last October, O’Rourke made a return to public life when he interviewed Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the high-profile MacGill Summer School.
Earlier this year two politicians and two hoteliers went on trial for organising the Golfgate dinner and their charges were dismissed in Galway District Court.
In the wake of that decision, the Taoiseach suggested there may be “a way back” for Calleary and he has now been tipped to return to Cabinet following the resignation of Robert Troy.
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Wonderful the way these guys swan out and swan in again.
@François Pignon: It’s official Ireland’s equivalent to Lanigan’s Ball ;-)
@Ernie Gallagher: if anyone contracted and died from covid as a result from his actions, i wonder could he be sued for manslaughter?
@François Pignon: He’s already “called himself to account”, don’t think there is any further legal recourse possible after someone does that.
The Golden circle remains intact I see…
Broadcasters’ times come and go. Why not invest in new presenters?
@alan: Mostly because they are rubbish. Delighted to see him back
@alan: Ask Marty Whelan. Well past his best before date.
@Justin Gillespie: The ultra seriousness is grating.
He is retired on a massive pension-give someone else a chance-tired of same old retired faces popping up again !
@Martin Lynch: who cares how much he earns and how much his pension is? FairPlay to him. Stop begrudging
@Ciaran: eh! License fee payers far a start
Our TV licence fee paying for this… Give someone else a chance who is not tied into the golden circle.. We don’t need another Old Male & Stale broadcaster
@a politicians promise is as good as a lie: Aegist and sexist!!!! I’m shocked and outraged so I am.
RTE the gift that keeps on giving, sign up with the right agent, you can demand and get a very nice six figure salary/fee. Retire on a very generous pension . Then return on an equally generous salary. New talent will not be considered, unless a family member of former or current “stars”.
A documentary about corruption would attract a wider bigger audience and would be of some benefit to the country.
Welcome back Sean. The whole thing was a storm in a teacup.
@Hotirish: I think you’ll find it was a dinner party in a hotel ballroom. When the rest of us were not allowed to do similar.
@Hotirish: A storm in a teacup where European commissioners and government ministers resigned over? He shouldn’t have returned. RTE should have got someone new in rather than bring back the old.
@Hotirish: It became a storm in a teacup because establishment figures were involved. You may cast your mind back to Zappone gate..It took the Attorney General to get Varadkar off the hook.
@Bri Lyons: you could have had a dinner in a ballroom with 49 other guests at this time – I am sorry if you thought the public heath guidelines were different at the time if this. Yes I know there were 81 in attendance and that a partition was in existence between the two areas both of which individually were under the 50 people limit. Yes it was very bad example and ill advised but it is not true to say that the rest of us were not allowed
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: you must be on your lunch break, quick they need you back in the Govt press office.
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: Bots gonna bot
@Bri Lyons: Can’t be having Niall ruining your rant with facts.
@Paul Cunningham: they shouldn’t have resigned. It’s just populist Jump on the bandwagon witch-hunt
@Ciaran: you are sounding like Donald trump
@DK: You sitting beside him?
@Ciaran: Seems it’s only a witch hunt when members of FFG are involved. Eamon Ryan certainly didn’t thinks so regarding the resignation of Troy…The support of Martin and Varadkar dissappear very fast …just in case Ryan pulled the plug…Suppose the Attorney General getting Varadkar off the hook concerning Zappone gate was the result of another witch hunt?
How FF & FG diverged post civil war? Is this timely propaganda in advance of next General Election to ‘highlight differences’ between two parties when they are effectively the same! We laugh at US with Fox News and Russia with RT. But we have RTE.
What is it with RTE. They keep bringing back retiries. Why can’t these guys just stay retired and leave opportunities available for new people.
Ah yes, the political journalist who golfs, dines and parties with the very people he’s supposed to hold to account. All supplemented by the taxpayer of course.
Why is he allowed back. He’s 67 years old now why hasn’t this position gone to a younger person. Another pension. Will the people here ever learn
Why?
I thought he retired ?
@Eddie O’Reilly:
Back as a “ self employed contractor” so will still get his inflated pension
Katie Hannon should do this, or Sarah McInerney.
The good old boys club look after their own. Disgusting
Good day to slip back in !
Will occupational pension be abated seeing that he was a firmer public service employee when he takes up his new position? Curious?
Probably the Best Broadcaster Ever in Rte Give Him The Late late as well
Absolute disgrace the way he was treated. One of the few presenters of note in RTÉ. A pleasure to have him back on the airwaves.
@offtheball: It was August, the silly season, people need to keep their head down when the Dail goes on summer holidays, the press have nothing much to write about.
I thought until now that we were finally rid of O’Rourke, who was always the safest pair of hands in Irish broadcasting. At least he will only be discussing the kind of politics he knows best.
I’m so disguised i think I’ll give back my free television licence
@Noel Donohue: No shame in him at all, — gets a pension from RTE, — tax payers money,– , and now back at the Manager again, sucking up more .
Badly missed on Radio
He was great, a bit tainted now. But what the heck. Are RTE showing LIV golf.
Ah indeed , — getting his snout into the trough again .
Why???
Pure nepotism
He is back because they are desperate for talent .In fairness to him he is good but then where is the competition .R.T.E.is just so dull and humourless Newstalk is way better
have your say