Today with... (RTÉ Radio 1)

Today with Claire Byrne is a current affairs magazine broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on weekdays from 10:00 until 12:00. The Today with... format, originally associated with broadcaster Pat Kenny who presented the show from the 1970s until 2013,[2][1] has also been hosted by Sean O'Rourke (2013–2020) and Sarah McInerney (May–August 2020).[3] Claire Byrne has hosted the show since August 2020.[4]

Today with...
Other namesToday
Today with Pat Kenny
Today with Seán O'Rourke
Today with Claire Byrne
Today with Sarah McInerney
GenreNews and current affairs
Running time120 minutes
Country of originIreland
Language(s)English
Home stationRTÉ Radio 1
Hosted by Pat Kenny (1970s–2013)[1]
Sean O'Rourke (2013–2020)
Sarah McInerney (2020)
Claire Byrne (2020–present)
Recording studioDonnybrook, Dublin
WebsiteOfficial website

Marketed as a "mid-morning current affairs magazine", the programme format covers current news stories, analysis, sports coverage, with some featured and consumer interest stories.[5] As of 2019, the show reportedly had 321,000 average daily listeners.[3]

Presenters

Pat Kenny (1970s–2013)

Originally associated with Pat Kenny, who first presented the programme in the 1970s,[1] it was a replacement for Gay Byrne's similar programme. The Today with Pat Kenny format featured current affairs topics with interviews from journalists, politicians, celebrities and human-interest guests.

The programme (known for a period as The Pat Kenny Show)[6] was named 'Best National Radio Programme' at the Plain English Campaign awards in 2005,[7] and won PPI Radio Awards for 'Current Affairs Programme' in 2008 and 2009.[8][9] As of 2008, the average audience for the show was 291,000.[10] The programme featured weather, sport and news, with Valerie Cox acting as the show's reporter,[11] and Eoghan Corry contributing weekly travel segments.[12]

In January 2012, Pat Kenny was accused of "insulting" residents of a Dublin north inner city community after he referred to "a hovel in Ballybough" during the programme. City councillor Nial Ring was "inundated with calls from annoyed constituents" and responded that there were no "hovels" in Ballybough. Pat Kenny defended his remarks.[13]

In July 2013, Kenny announced his resignation from RTÉ with immediate effect in order to take up a new position presenting a new programme on the rival station Newstalk from September 2013 in the same time slot.[14] In August 2013, RTÉ announced that, following Kenny's departure, Sean O'Rourke would take over the programme.[15]

Seán O'Rourke (2013–2020)

Taking over from Kenny in 2013,[1] Sean O'Rourke presented the programme from September 2013 as Today with Seán O'Rourke.[15] It was one of the most popular programmes on Radio 1 and one of RTÉ's most popular programmes across its radio networks. As of 2018, the programme had 312,000 daily listeners.[16] It retained much of its format, and covered the main stories of the day, with analysis, sports coverage, news bulletins, in-depth features and consumer interest. O'Rourke presented his last show on 8 May 2020, and was succeeded by Sarah McInerney.[17]

Sarah McInerney (2020)

Today with Sarah McInerney was presented, during the summer months of 2020, by Sarah McInerney.[17][18] Launched on 11 May 2020, as the interim successor to Today with Seán O'Rourke, it was broadcast in the same 10:00 to 12:00 timeslot. Claire Byrne took over the timeslot in August 2020, and McInerney moved to presenting Drivetime alongside Cormac Ó Headhra.[19]

Claire Byrne (2020 onwards)

As of 2022, Today with Claire Byrne is RTÉ Radio 1's mid-morning current affairs magazine programme. Byrne has hosted the show since 24 August 2020.[3]

References
  1. "RTÉ Archives - Sean O'Rourke takes over 'Today with Pat Kenny' when Pat Kenny leaves RTÉ". rte.ie. RTÉ. 2013.
  2. "Today With Pat Kenny". RTÉ Radio 1. RTÉ. Archived from the original on 25 July 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  3. Slattery, Laura. "Claire Byrne announced as new host of RTÉ Radio 1 Today programme". The Irish Times.
  4. "Claire Byrne announced as new host of RTÉ 1's Today radio show". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. "Today with Claire Byrne". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  6. "Photographic Archive - Pat Kenny interviews Don Irwin during Eurovision preparations (1995)". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 25 January 2022. Pat Kenny interviews floor manager Don Irwin for his RTÉ Radio 1 morning show 'The Pat Kenny Show' (later 'Today with Pat Kenny'), during preparations for the 40th Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin's Point Theatre on 10 May 1995
  7. Smith, Zoe (16 December 2005). "Plain English Prize for Rusbridger". Press Gazette. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2009. Irish station RTE1 won the Best National Radio award for The Pat Kenny Show
  8. "Empire strikes back in Radio 1 sweep". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  9. "RTÉ sweeps the board at PPI Awards". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 3 October 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
  10. Cullen, Paul (22 August 2008). "RTÉ radio increases share of audience". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  11. "Morning Ireland: Valerie Cox". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  12. "Eoghan Corry on Air". rte.ie. 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008.
  13. O'Keeffe, Alan (28 January 2012). "Defiant Pat won't back down in 'Ballybough hovel' comments row". Evening Herald. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  14. "Pat Kenny to leave RTÉ after 41 years". RTÉ News. 31 July 2013.
  15. "Sean O'Rourke to take over Pat Kenny's RTE radio slot". Irish Independent. 10 August 2013.
  16. Kelly, Aoife (8 February 2018). "JNLRS: RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland sees biggest drop in listeners as weekend Sport sees biggest boost year on year". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  17. Heaney, Mick (9 May 2020). "Sean O'Rourke's final show reminds listeners why he'll be missed". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. "Breaking news from RTE as Sean O'Rourke's replacement announced with Sarah McInerney to take over hot seat temporarily". Dublin Live. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  19. "Sarah McInerney returns in RTÉ Radio One shakeup as broadcaster reveals new autumn schedule". thejournal.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 27 August 2020.
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