By Des Cryan
The head of RTÉ Radio 1, Eithne Hand, has decided
not to renew her contract with the station when it expires in January,
but has opted to take a one-year sabbatical.
Hand has been
associated with many current affairs and arts programmes over the past
10 years. She has often been credited with modernising the image of
Radio 1 and had been involved in several major changes, some
controversial.
Adrian Moynes, managing director of RTÉ Radio,
said Hand’s commitment to making changes represented the key to the
future of the service.
Recently, however, the station’s ratings
have been falling, although it argued this had been caused by greater
competition and the growth of local radio.
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