Newstalk presenter Kieran Cuddihy set to join RTÉ Radio

It remains unclear whether he will continue to co-host the Virgin Media current affairs show alongside his new RTÉ role. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Broadcaster Kieran Cuddihy is set to move from Newstalk to RTÉ Radio, it has been confirmed.

Staff at Newstalk were informed of his departure on Thursday night, with an internal email from senior management announcing that Thursday’s edition of The Hard Shoulder was his final show.

Mr Cuddihy has been a key voice at Newstalk since joining the station in 2011, taking over as presenter of The Hard Shoulder, its flagship daily news and current affairs programme, in 2020.

The move comes just hours after RTÉ confirmed that long-time presenter Ray D’Arcy is leaving his weekday afternoon slot on RTÉ Radio 1 after 11 years.

Mr Cuddihy’s switch to RTÉ has fuelled speculation that he could be in line to replace Joe Duffy as host of Liveline, following the veteran broadcaster’s retirement earlier this year.

RTÉ has not yet confirmed which programme Mr Cuddihy will front.

In addition to his radio work, Mr Cuddihy has presented The Tonight Show on Virgin Media since February and recently moderated the first broadcast presidential debate on the station. 

It remains unclear whether he will continue to co-host the Virgin Media current affairs show alongside his new RTÉ role.