RTÉ announces new RTÉ Six One News presenter
RTÉ News today announced that David McCullagh will join Caitriona Perry as the new permanent presenter of the RTÉ Six One News.
Journalist and Broadcaster David who currently presents Prime Time on RTÉ One and This Week on RTÉ Radio 1, will join Caitriona Perry to co-present the flagship programme from September 2020.
Announcing the new appointment, Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs Jon Williams said: “David is one of Ireland’s most formidable journalists. For seven years, at Prime Time, he’s sought answers from scientists to Taoisigh, moderating – with Miriam – our Election 2020 Leaders’ Debate, and helping the programme reach some of the biggest audiences in its history during the Covid-19 lockdown. A former RTÉ Political Correspondent, and acclaimed historian, there could be no-one better equipped to join Caitriona on Six One as Ireland emerges from this emergency facing some difficult challenges, and heads towards the centenary of the foundation of the State.”
Commenting on his appointment, David McCullagh said: “After seven very enjoyable years on Prime Time, I’m really looking forward to joining Caitríona on the Six One News and continuing the work of our much loved colleague Keelin Shanley. Over the last few months the need for accurate information has never been greater, and viewers have turned to RTÉ News and Current Affairs in astonishing numbers. We aim to continue meeting that need, bringing viewers all the news of the day, as well as the big interviews that get to the heart of the issues.”
Dubliner David McCullagh graduated with a PhD in Politics from UCD. He worked at the Evening Press from 1989 until he joined RTÉ in 1993 as reporter for RTÉ News on television and on radio. He went on to be RTÉ News Political Correspondent for 12 years before joining Prime Time in 2013. In 2018 he rejoined the This Week team on RTE Radio 1 as a presenter of Ireland’s longest running current affairs programme. He also presents general, european and presidential election coverage for RTÉ.
David has also researched and presented Behind Closed Doors, on the release of State Papers under the 30 year rule, Declaring the Republic and Election ’18 recreating the results of the 1918 general election. He is author of four books: A Makeshift Majority: the first Inter-party Government (1998) The Reluctant Taoiseach: A biography of John A. Costello (2010), and a two volume biography of Éamon de Valera, Rise (2017) and Rule (2018).
RTÉ Six One News co-presenter Caitriona Perry said: “David brings vast experience as a presenter and as a correspondent to the Six One News. I’m very excited about our new partnership and look forward to working with him and the team to take the programme into the next phase.”
Caitriona Perry has co-anchored RTÉ Six One News since January 2018. Prior to this she was appointed RTÉ Washington Correspondent in late 2013. During her tenure as Washington Correspondent she has reported on major stories such as the Berkeley tragedy and the US Presidential election and Inauguration, and co-presented special RTÉ News US Election coverage from Washington DC. Caitríona has also previously spent time as an editor and reporter on the RTÉ News at One radio programme and as a newscaster for RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2FM and RTÉ lyric fm, and occasional presenter of RTE News Specials, RTÉ Morning Ireland and several special Nationwide programmes on Canada, Australia and the Irish in the White House. Prior to joining RTÉ, Caitríona worked for Today FM and Newstalk. She also holds a degree in journalism and a masters degree in International Relations from DCU and has written two books on American politics.
Notes:
David will continue in his current roles until August 2020. He will be available for media requests closer to September.
Keelin Shanley was the previous appointed co-presenter of the RTÉ Six One News. Keelin sadly died on 8 February 2020.