Presenter Tracy Clifford announces departure as 2FM details schedule shake-up 

2FM has announced a new daytime schedule with Doireann Garrihy returning to the airwaves

Radio presenter Tracy Clifford is set to leave 2FM after more than a decade presenting The Big Tune Afternoon show. Picture: Tracy Clifford/Instagram.

Radio presenter Tracy Clifford has announced that she will be leaving 2FM over the coming weeks.

After more than a decade presenting the station’s The Big Tune Afternoon show, the much-loved presenter is handing over the mic.

Posting on social media on Thursday, Clifford was reminiscent of everything she has experienced on the show in those 10 years, including the incredible guests she has had join her in the studio, getting to play the best in Irish music, Studio 8 sessions, and being out on the road.

In the post, she acknowledged that above all else, it is the listeners who have meant more than anything.

“Being part of your 12–3 has been such a privilege, and something I’ll always be so proud of,” Clifford captioned the post on Instagram.

“But it’s also a job that asks a lot, professionally and personally…and I’ve been feeling a little nudge for a while now to try new things, and to give time to important things in my life that I haven’t been able to fully do before.

“I’m staying within the RTÉ radio family (more on that soon) and I’m dipping a toe into telly! (Tonight I’ll be on The Six O’Clock Show sofa with the brilliant Brian Dowling Gourounlian filling in for 2FM’s new drive time host Katja Mia!).” 

Touching on the shake-up in 2FM’s scheduling, Clifford said that she is “excited” for listeners to hear the next chapter of afternoons on 2FM with Demi Isaac and Mikey O’Reilly.

“From the moment I heard them on air, I knew they had an unmistakable spark! It’s infectious, they’re great craic, and just two of the loveliest people. I can’t wait to see what they do with it,” she wrote.

“We’ve still got a couple of weeks left of The Big Tune Afternoon, so I’d love you to join me - let’s enjoy every minute and maybe even go out with a bang (a 3-hour cliffbanger special, perhaps?).

“Thank you for always being part of this with me. I’m so proud of it. Always.” 

Her announcement was met with well-wishes from others in the industry, including presenter Katja Mia and fellow 2FM presenter Jenny Greene. 

2FM's new schedule, which will debut on May 5, will see a return to the station of Doireann Garrihy after the presenter gave birth to her first child last year. 

2FM Breakfast with Carl Mullan, Roz Purcell and Aisling Bonner will now be extended to 10am, while Garrihy will present 2FM Morning with Doireann Garrihy from 10am to 12pm. The show will see Garrihy "bring engaging conversation and her unmistakable Irish humour to her two-hour show".

Cork actress Demi Isaac will present 2FM Afternoon alongside Mikey O'Reilly from 12pm, with Isaac broadcasting in Cork and O'Reilly in Dublin. 

2FM Drive will also have a new look Laura Fox joining  The Six O’Clock Show host Katja Mia, who officially joins 2FM. Beta Da Silva will then be on air from 6pm with new tunes, new projects, gig news, album breakdowns, and a selection of music across all genres.