'I've absolutely loved it' – Donncha O'Callaghan latest star to leave ...
Donncha O’Callaghan has announced that he will leave RTÉ’s 2FM this week.
The former Munster and Ireland rugby international is stepping away from the station after five years of presenting, less than a month after the national broadcaster announced his inclusion in 2FM’s summer schedule.
His exit follows the departure of his breakfast show co-host Doireann Garrihy and The 2 Johnnies decision to leave the station in May.
Mr O'Callaghan had been presenting The RTÉ 2FM Breakfast Show alongside Ms Garrihy and Carl Mullan, since May 31, 2021, and was most recently co-presenting with Carl Mullan and Aifric O’Connell as part of the summer schedule.
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“I’m sure we’d all agree, it’s never easy to step away from something you really enjoy doing," the 45-year-old Cork native wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
“Friday the 5th July will be my last ‘2FM Breakfast’ Show. I’m so incredibly grateful and proud of the last five years in 2FM, I’ve absolutely loved it.”
He thanked Head of 2FM Dan Healy and Paul Russell for “an amazing opportunity” and “taking a complete flyer on me”.
"Loads of people say they will give you a chance, very few actually do it and I can’t thank ye enough,” he said in tribute.
He also thanked all the producers, BCOs and presenters for “being so incredibly helpful and kind to me”.
"Cieran in Promotions, Lily you superstar, the social media team and all of the crew in Switching (up & down on Cork 2) The Cork studio for always being so accommodating," he said.
"The heartbeat of course is the fantastic listeners, I will always appreciate the love and support – you have been the absolute best,” he added.
He also offered special thanks to his producer Grace, saying “thank you will never cover it”.
"When everyone else tells you what you want to hear, you jump in and speak the truth, you are an amazing teammate,” he added.
“Willem, of course you are exceptional at your job we all know that, but you learn a lot about people at 5am in the morning, you are an exceptional human.
“Aifric, I know we didn’t get a lot of airmiles together but I enjoyed every minute.
“Carl and Doireann, ye know exactly what ye mean to me and only one word does it justice – TIME.
"We all have a reason for bouncing out of bed and taking on the day. I’ve been blessed yet again to do something I’ve loved for the last five years. Of course it requires sacrifice and commitment, in my case that load has been carried by Jenny.
“Thank you for always backing me. We go again,” he said.
Mr O’Callaghan will stay with RTÉ, saying now is the time to focus on winning Ireland’s Fittest Family, to continue working on all his “exciting rugby projects” and “something else that is a complete “Disaster’”.
“In the words of Farmer Hoggett “That’ll do pig, that’ll do.” he added.
