News

RTÉ flagship Six One News sees Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry appointed as first all-female presenting team

Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry RTÉ Six One News presenters from January 2018
Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry RTÉ Six One News presenters from January 2018 Keelin Shanley and Caitriona Perry RTÉ Six One News presenters from January 2018

RTÉ News has unveiled its first all-female line-up to present its flagship Six One News programme.

Broadcaster Keelin Shanley, currently presenting News at One on RTÉ Radio 1 and Crimecall on RTÉ One, will be joined by the broadcaster's Washington Correspondent Caitriona Perry.

RTÉ confirmed it is the first time there was been two permanent female presenters on the programme.

The full-time roles were most recently held by Bryan Dobson and Sharon Ní Bheolain, with the former signing off his final show on Wednesday.

Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs Jon Williams, who confirmed the presenters will take up their posts in January, said it was an exciting time for the show.

"For over a decade, Bryan and Sharon have set the standard for TV News in Ireland and I couldn't be more grateful and more excited as each embarks on new challenges for RTÉ News," he said.

I’m thrilled that Keelin and Caitriona will bring their intellect, competitive drive, and focus on storytelling to RTÉ's Six One News.

"In a news environment where we are bombarded by opinions and half-truths all day long, there’s no bigger challenge than to make sense of it all on Six One - and no better new presenting team to do so."

Dobson is joining Morning Ireland radio team from November 1 and Ní Bheolain will present the Nine O'Clock News on rotation with Eileen Dunne and continue to present of Leaders Questions, as well as taking over the new presenter of Crimecall on RTÉ One.

Shanley, who originally studied biochemistry in Trinity College before switching to journalism, has presented a number of science and technology shows and worked as a reporter and presenter with current affairs television programme, Prime Time for 10 years.

An award-winning documentary maker she also presented special budget and election coverage, Morning Edition.

As well as RTÉ she has worked as a news reporter for Radio France International and CNN World Report.

Multi-award-winning journalist Caitríona Perry, who has been with the broadcaster since 2007, was appointed Washington Correspondent in 2013.

A Today FM and Newstalk veteran, she has presented and produced several special Nationwide programmes for RTÉ and was an editor and reporter on its News at One radio programme. Previous roles include work for for Radio 1, 2FM and lyric fm, and Business News on Morning Ireland.

She came to wider attention this summer when Donald Trump was filmed beckoning her in the Oval Office while he was speaking to newly elected Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.

"One minute we were outside the window, and the next minute I'm meeting the President of the United States," she said of the bizarre encounter.

"Usually we would shoot from outside the window of the White House and that's what we were expecting today. But instead we were invited inside to witness the president's call to the taoiseach."

President Trump remarked to Mr Varadkar: "Well, we have a lot of your Irish press watching us. They're just now leaving the room."

He beckoned Perry asking: "And where are you from? Go ahead, come here. Where are you from? We have all of this beautiful Irish press. Where are you from?" before telling the taoiseach she had a "beautiful smile on her face", adding: "I bet she treats you well."

She has written a book on the rise of President Trump.

The appointments follow controversy over a gender pay gap for the broadcaster during the summer when it emerged Ní Bheoláin was being paid between €60,000 and €80,000 less than her co-host.

When approached about the disparity, Ni Bheolain said the gap had "narrowed" in the past three years.

"I can confirm the 2014 pay disparity was accurate... In return for a pay rise, I have also undertaken extra duties. I believe that I am being well remunerated, but for the record, my pay is still considerably less than that of Bryan's."

In this week's RTÉ Guide, Dobson, ninth top earner with the broadcaster, said he "didn't know what Sharon earned until it was published and I certainly don't see any justification for the disparity between what we earn".

He revealed he had been offered an early retirement package, but "put it in the trash can" because he had already agreed to take on the radio job.