View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 12, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Sky News Ireland signs team from rival stations

By Press Gazette

Pollard: poached journalists for Sky News Ireland from Irish news r

Sky News Ireland announced the full line up for its new evening news service, revealing that it has poached a variety of journalism talent from Irish news rivals.

Presenter Gráinne Seoige will be joined by three correspondents: Ray Kennedy, formerly of RTE, Brian Daly, the current news anchor of TV3’s breakfast programme, and TG4 News/ RTE News’s Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile, who will cover the West of Ireland from Limerick.

Head of Sky News Nick Pollard said: “We’re pleased to welcome the team to Sky News. All are excellent journalists who will work closely with our two correspondents in Northern Ireland, Gary Honeyford and David Blevins, to deliver a strong news output across the country for the Sky News Ireland service.”

Jerome Hughes and Jonathon Healy, who specialise in multiskilled video journalism, have also joined the team and will be charged with filming and editing stories on location. Hughes joins from TV3, where he was a reporter, and Healy is the former head of news and presenter at FM104.

“The calibre of those recruited for the Irish news service underlines Sky News and Sky Ireland’s commitment to providing a top class service to Irish viewers,” said Mark Deering, director of Sky Ireland.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“Brian and Ray bring a wealth of experience and are established presenters.

Eibhlín, providing coverage of the south and west regions, has an impressive track record in covering both domestic and international stories. Jerome and Jonathan are real rising stars who will make excellent videojournalists.”

The weekday bulletin, to be broadcast from a studio in Dublin city centre, will launch in late spring. Sky has yet to decide a time slot, but Irish papers have speculated that the company has shelved plans to go head-tohead with state broadcaster RTE’s Nine O’Clock News programme, which attracts sizeable audiences. Its highestrating bulletin last year pulled in 830,000 viewers, ranking it the fourthmost popular programme after the Eurovision.

The Sky News Ireland bulletins will be available to more than two thirds of Irish households on satellite and cable/MMDS, including Sky’s 300,000 Irish subscribers.

By Sarah Boden

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network