End of an era as Eileen Magnier set to step down as RTE’s North West correspondent

TV viewers in Sligo will see the end of an era as RTÉ News' North West Correspondent Eileen Magnier is to retire after 39 years.

Magnier joined broadcaster in 1985 and bagged the North West role in July 1990, and in doing so, became the organisation's first female correspondent.

In a statement, she said that she had had the pleasure of being in a “front row seat to every big story that has happened” and that she was “delighted to have worked on some of the really positive things that have been going on in the north west region and beyond”.

Eileen added that she “reported on a huge amount of tragedy which I hope I did in an empathetic and respectful way”.

She said: “The job of a regional correspondent is a unique and very important one and I am very proud to have been part of the RTÉ News team around the country.

“It can be a tough job, emotionally draining, physically exhausting but also hugely satisfying and as a team, I know we all do our best to represent the people of the areas we cover in the true spirit of public service broadcasting.”

Magnier has won two John Healy Awards, a Community Games Association Award, an AT Cross Woman Journalist of the Year Award and two Justice Media Awards.

Originally from Kilkenny, Eileen graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in History and Politics.

She took a post-graduate degree in Journalism at Dublin City University. In January 2012, she was conferred with an MA in History of Family at the University of Limerick.

She is married to former Mayo footballer TJ Kilgallon and has three adult children, Hayley, Dylan and Evanne Kilgallon.

Eileen will finish reporting on-air in May.