RTÉ 2fm has today announced a major change to its schedule with the move of Rick O’Shea to mid-morning at weekends.
The Rick O’Shea Show with Cormac Battle will air from 11am-1pm on both Saturdays and Sundays and – the station say – “will continue to bring listeners their unpredictable, off-the-wall show with great competitions, live bands, social media trends and live broadcasts from around the country”.
Rick, who has been broadcasting on RTÉ 2fm for over 14 years and has worked in the radio sector since he was 19 years old, recently took part in the RadioToday Q&A.
Rick is to be replaced in the new 2fm schedule by former Spin 1038 presenter Tracy Clifford.
Rick revealed the news himself via twitter this afternoon:
Just so you hear it here first – we're moving the radio show to weekends starting Sept. Sat & Sun at 11am @RTE2fm 😉 pic.twitter.com/C5j99WU6i9
— Rick O'Shea (@rickoshea) August 28, 2015
Since his first programme on 2fm (a new music show which aired from 11pm – midnight), Rick has worked across the entire 2fm schedule from breakfast right throughout the day on weekdays and weekends.
It was 6 years ago that Rick partnered with Cormac Battle and the “Rick O’Shea in the Afternoon” show was born. In January of this year, he also started took on the presenting role of RTÉ Radio 1’s The Poetry Programme, which brings a fresh, accessible take on poetry to the airwaves and casting a spotlight on Ireland’s poets, young and old, and which returns for a second series on Saturday 17th October.
Commenting on his new role, Rick O’Shea said: “Over the past 14 years, 2fm has become my home and I’m thrilled to be a big part of this new and exciting schedule. The weekends are a brand new adventure for me and the guys and we very much look forward to disrupting your mornings with our usual brand of total nonsense. For all the shows listeners, we’re moving shop around the corner and the sign over the door will remain the same. See you on the other side!”
Head of 2fm, Dan Healy said: “I have been a huge fan of Rick ‘O’Shea’s since he presented on Atlantic 252 and I’m delighted Rick is bringing his brand of fan to a weekend audience. 2fm has been increasing its audience at the weekend and Rick will definitely help accelerate that. Being a leader in the social media field and with his broadcasting prowess, I know that there’s a huge opportunity to grow 25-34 audience in the market.”
RTÉ 2fm say that they will be making further schedule announcement in the coming weeks.