RTE LiveLine

Dublin Calling

Starting tomorrow 30 June 2025, PBH will start his audition for a permanent position to manage the RTE Switch Board.

According to reports there are 5 talent in contention for the job, all existing RTE employees or with dubious contractor status:

• Katie Hannon: Stood in so much she has a free pass into the final selection, Representing North Kerry, currently wandering the corridors, RTE Staff.
• Philip Boucher-Hayes: Representing Kildare, currently presents Countrywide, managed by Lisa Richards https://www.lisarichardsagency.com/corporate/philip-boucher-hayes/
• Colm O’Mongáin: Also Representing Kildare, currently presents Saturday, RTE Staff.
• Sarah McInerney: Representing Galway, currently presents Drive Time, managed by Storied https://www.storied.ie/talent/sarah-mcinerney
• Cormac Ó hEadhra: Also representing Galway, currently presents Drive Time, RTE Staff/NKM (Not publicly listed)

A shootout between Kerry, Kildare and Galway.

Mods: I propose that we have a separate thread for each person who auditions for the job: https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0612/1518163-rte-radio-presenter-call-out/

https://extra.ie/2025/06/29/news/irish-news/test-time-liveline-five

LambshankRedemption

Sarah McInerney would be my choice from that list.

z80CPU

My choice as the best of a bad lot is

Colm O’Mongáin

without the guffawing, impulsivity and we won't be tuning into Kerry FM, Galway FM

Dublin Calling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590102#Comment_123590102

Colm was the hardest to Google where they hail from. I found one report that he is from Naas. KT on the other hand calls herself an exiled Kerry woman on multiple social media accounts.

Genghis

NKM out in the cold.

dxhound2005

The RTE link has just one reference to Liveline, and it is in the the way of a by the by. The piece is about various roles in the station to be filled. I wouldn't take any notice of the other piece, when it uses "Revealed". It reveals nothing, just idle media tittle tattle.

"The move comes as broadcaster Joe Duffy prepares to retire from Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday 27 June."

Dublin Calling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590110#Comment_123590110

PBH is from a well know and connected Dublin 4 family, however his side of the family moved out to Kildare.

Dublin Calling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590117#Comment_123590117

It has been said KT is already the winner. The thread for her presenting LiveLine got closed, as there is no official confirmation. Like RTE we are going through the process, to make it appear to be a fair competition.

NIMAN

Interesting to see the names listed for it.

I think the style of LL going forward will depend a lot on who the host is.

For me, if it was Hannon or PBH, it will stay similar to what it currently is. Often packed with old waffle, subjects from 50yrs ago, ol' wans going on and on and on about little.

I think if it was Sarah, it would be a different show for sure. She doesnt suffer fools, is fond of an argument and not letting people off the hook.

Time will tell.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590165#Comment_123590165

Thats why she would be my pick.

zell12

ex-Newstalk head, now RTE Radio head Patricia Monahan makes the decision. She has stated she wants to make Radio1 more competitive more relevant and highlighted Joe's seat is open to people outside RTE. I suspect it may be a surprise name, complete break with past

homingbird

If Katie Hannon gets it I will be switching it off permanently and the rest lined up aren't much better.

homingbird

Katie couldn't even hang onto her own show with poor ratings.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058418343/rte-liveline-with-philip-boucher-hayes-auditioning

Why the mention of where each one is from? Have you forgotten it's basically been BallyfermotFM for the last 20+ years?

Im from Galway. I listen to drivetime a fair bit. I never got any indication Sarah McInerny was from Galway.

zell12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590419#Comment_123590419

off the top of my head - 'i'm from bearna and' "'oh i know all about the traffic (and names roads and times)' 'i have never noticed __ and i'm from galway' 'myself and cormac are very familiar with camus' 'i remember what __ in galway was like a decade ago' etc etc

Dublin Calling

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590419#Comment_123590419

Caller, with the former host and several of the candidates it a large part of who they are.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590486#Comment_123590486

With the former host, yes I know.

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590112#Comment_123590112

Not true - unless he has left them recently Cormac Ó hEadhra is NKM.

https://x.com/nwl88444048/status/1673354435362447360

Lots of other online sources confirm this from The Irish Times to the Indo.

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058418343/rte-liveline-with-philip-boucher-hayes-auditioning

2 things:

I’m shocked to hear SMcI is from Galway - what part?

COhE is (unless he has left, been jettisoned) NKM.

Genghis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590509#Comment_123590509

The Irish Times you say? From 22 Sep 2024

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590634#Comment_123590634

I didn’t read each and every single link Google produced. I did also say that he may have left or been jettisoned.

Would you have a link to that article? I’d like to read the piece about Tom Dunne that’s been cut short in your photo.

Genghis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590687#Comment_123590687

Here you go.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/09/22/overheard-john-rocha-returns-to-the-auld-sod-after-buying-period-home-in-killiney-for-26m/

dxhound2005

The RTE link says that John Creedon was recruited in a previous campaign to attract outside talent into RTE. John could be good on Liveline, if they decide to stay in house. Or Marty Morrissey. They both exude an air of buffoonery, but they are sharp as a pin.

expectationlost

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590217#Comment_123590217

Would that style not be better used for news rather a call-in show?

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590704#Comment_123590704

Unfortunately it’s behind a paywall, but thanks for the link.

techman1

Yes agreed. Marty morrisey would be a good choice he is very good at the light and interesting story stuff, but probably RTE wanting a hard hitting journo type will go for Katie hannon. I think she has been good and is not the one dimensional journo type, there is a bit of depth to her actually. What ever they do they better steer clear if that PBH he is terrible with no personal charm whatsoever

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590764#Comment_123590764

Marty could continue the influx of GAA matters that Katie brought to the show.

I’m not sure how you’d feel about Katie’s depth if you listened to her Liveline shows. Boring would be a kind assessment.

Genghis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590761#Comment_123590761

Gone, though, is RTÉ's Cormac Ó hEadhra, who seems to have cut his ties with Kelly late last year after the controversy had died down. Tom Dunne, who briefly disappeared from Kelly’s website after some impertinent comments about Tubridy, has also returned. Something obviously happened. (end)

Peter Dragon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590844#Comment_123590844

I’m surprised Dunne is back tbh, seemed quite an acrimonious split at the time.

Thanks for sharing. 👍

zell12

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058418343/rte-liveline-with-philip-boucher-hayes-auditioning

Caller, obviously the best way to pick from a shortlist is a twenty minute Liveline telepoll, no way of skewing the result 😄

amovingstatue

For the sake of boards, I hope PBH gets it. There was a lot of negative energy being dissipated in the old Liveline thread.

Something has to absorb it.