Sky’s the limit as Gráinne moves on

GRÁINNE SEOIGE has been appointed anchor of Sky News’ new Irish service, it was announced yesterday.

The TV3 journalist handed in her notice yesterday morning, according to sources in the station.

Sky declined to comment on how much Ms Seoige would be paid. However, a leading international recruitment agency, which has worked closely with Sky in the past, said her salary would probably be between €100,000 and €120,000.

Ms Seoige, 29, is on holiday in Thailand at the moment, and was unavailable for comment yesterday. Sky’s public relations company said that she could not comment on her new job due to contractual obligations with TV3.

TV3 chief executive Rick Hetherington has previously criticised the fact that Sky are not regulated in Ireland, and said the channel is taking milllions of euro in revenue from Ireland and “giving very little back.”

Ms Seoige will present a nightly 30-minute broadcast at 9pm on Sky News Ireland, dealing with Irish news, sport, and weather. The service will begin next spring. Sky have not set an exact date.

She began her television career in 1996 with Teilifís na Gaeilge (now TG4). Michael Lally, her first editor, said he was not at all surprised at her new high-profile appointment.

“She is one of the coolest and most professional people that I have ever come across,” Mr Lally said.

“Anne Doyle and Brian Dobson are two people off the top of my head who can cope with pressure. When things go wrong the viewer never knows it.

“I would put Gráinne in the same league in terms of being able to cope on air.

“From her time working here, I could only heap the highest of praise on her,” he added.

Ms Seoige has a ten-year-old son and is married to TV3 sports presenter Stephen Cullinane. She will be based in Dublin.

Sky News is currently available through MMDS and cable to 870,000 households in Ireland, one third of the total number. Sky announced that it would be opening a Dublin office last November, and they will employ 21 people in Ireland.

Ms Seoige moved to TV3 in 1998, and anchored bulletins at 5.30pm and 6.30pm, as well as News Tonight at 11pm. She has also presented TV3’s breakfast programme, Ireland AM, and the weekly current affairs programme 20/20.

Nick Pollard, head of Sky News, said he was delighted with the appointment.

“Gráinne is a first-class journalist and anchor,” he said. “Her authority and experience presenting nightly news bulletins made her the perfect choice to launch Sky News’ new Irish service.”

At this year’s Irish Film and Television Awards, Ms Seoige was named the most stylish person on television.

She was educated at the Mercy Convent, Spiddal, Co Galway and National University of Ireland, Galway.