RTÉ News presenter Eileen Dunne has retired after 42 years on air.
Ms Dunne announced her final bulletin on last night’s Nine O’Clock News programme, much to the surprise of viewers.
She paid tribute to her family, RTÉ colleagues and the public at the end of tonight’s programme.
After over 40 years on air at RTÉ, senior newscaster Eileen Dunne has retired. The Nine O'Clock News presenter signed off from her final broadcast tonight, saying it has been ‘an honour and a privilege’ | Read: https://t.co/O5oDCeIT7D pic.twitter.com/hZctXi6KOb
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 18, 2022
She said: “This is my final bulletin after 42 years working for this wonderful organisation and I’ve only ever been as good as the people behind me.
“So, a few thank yous to my family and early mentors who got me here and sustained me. To my wonderful newsroom colleagues both in front of and behind the cameras. Not to mention wardrobe and makeup.
“And finally to you, the viewers, thank you for your support especially during those turbulent Covid years. It has been an honour and a privilege. See you on the other side.”
The bulletin ended with a montage of some of Ms Dunne’s work and interviews on the news over the years, to the soundtrack of The Doors, Don’t You Love Her Madly.
The broadcaster joined RTÉ in 1980 as a radio continuity announcer and moved to the newsroom in 1984.
Eileen has anchored all the main Irish TV news programmes during her career, including the One O’Clock News, Six One News and in most recent years, the Nine O’Clock News, as well as radio news bulletins on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ Lyric FM.
