We thought Ryan Tubridy would be the only big name leaving RTÉ this summer.
Now Caitriona Perry has shared that she will also be hanging up her mic.
The RTÉ News presenter took to Instagram to explain that after almost 16 years with our national broadcaster she will be bidding farewell to not only the station but Ireland itself.
She will be joining the BBC in a new international role, as BBC News Chief Presenter, based in Washington DC.
While she didn’t reveal her final date on air, she confirmed that it would be in the coming weeks.
“It is with a mix of sadness and excitement that I wish to share that I will soon be leaving RTÉ,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Although the time has zipped by, I have worked here for almost 16 years. It is really hard to say goodbye. I have made great friends, worked with some incredibly talented people and had fantastic experiences and opportunities. I have reported from all over the world and had the chance to witness history in the making, particularly during my time as Washington Correspondent and as Presenter of the SixOne News.”
She continued: “I’ll be finishing up in RTÉ in the coming weeks and I’m pleased to say that I will be joining the BBC in a new international role, as BBC News Chief Presenter, based in Washington DC. It is really exciting to get the opportunity to be at the forefront of the @bbcnews coverage, bringing news to a global audience of nearly 500 million people. I’ll start that role at the end of the summer and in the meantime my family and I will be packing up to move back to Washington DC to begin another chapter, picking up where we left off in 2018.”
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She shared her thanks with the audience, the viewers, listeners and readers of the RTÉ News.
“It has been an honour to report on and anchor major news events, and to bring important news and developments to our audience. To the large number of people who have taken the time to write me letters, cards and emails over the years, or sent #instagram messages, thank you for your kind words. Thank you also to all of those who have trusted me to tell their stories. As journalists, we rely on your bravery to stand up and speak out.”
She concluded by saying: “I wish my current SixOne partner David McCullagh, all in the newsroom and the wider RTÉ family the very best for the future. I shall be tuning in from afar, like so many other Irish abroad, and awaiting notifications from the RTÉ app to keep me informed of all the news from home, and I’ll see you soon.”
It will definitely be an emotional goodbye but we can’t wait to see what Caitriona does next.
