London no longer calling with Kilraine ready to join Nationwide team

RTÉ journalist John Kilraine is to move to a presenting role on the TV programme Nationwide next week.

Mr Kilraine, who has previously served as Dublin correspondent at the broadcaster, most recently worked as UK and London correspondent for RTÉ News.

He replaced Seán Whelan, who took on the role of Washington correspondent in 2022. The contract for the London posting was for two years, with the possibility of a maximum of a further two years. However,

Mr Kilraine will now be moving back to Dublin having served the initial two years.

He was appointed to the role in the UK in April 2022. A spokeswoman for RTÉ said: ‘John is joining the Nationwide team next week.’ They declined to be drawn on whether Mr Kilraine would see his salary reduced as part of his new role.

The Irish Daily Mail understands Reem El-Hassany, a former presenter on News2day, the junior news show, is also set to join the magazine programme to help with digital and online output.

It is expected that presenters Anne Cassin and Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh will retain their roles.

Sources pointed out Mr Kilraine, right, produced a number of packages for a show similar to Nationwide, Capital D, a Dublin-focused magazine programme. He also had a short stint as a presenter on Nationwide in the past. Meanwhile, RTÉ is still seeking to fill the roles of political coverage editor and Mr Kilraine’s vacated London correspondent job. David Murphy left the former position to take up the economic editor role within the organisation.

The national broadcaster is also still in the process of filling the role vacated by Bryan Dobson, presenter of the News at One on RTÉ Radio 1, and Eileen Magnier’s position as northwest correspondent.