Doireann Garrihy to leave RTÉ 2FM after five years: ‘It’s been an absolute pleasure’

The social media personality has decided to leave RTÉ 2FM after five years and hopes to focus her time on her podcasts and travel.

Doireann will present her final 2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl on RTÉ 2FM on Friday, May 31, according to a statement issued by RTÉ this morning.

"After 5 years of 2FM Breakfast it’s time for ventures new,” she said.

"Donncha and Carl, I have found brothers for life in you both.

"What an absolute blast of craic, ridiculous immaturity and lifelong bond building. Anyone would be blessed to work with one gentleman every day, I was beyond blessed to work with two.

"To the loyal 2FM listeners, through thick and thin you’ve been there. Your support has meant everything. There wasn’t a day I didn’t hop out of the bed at 5am. Thank you for welcoming me with open ears back in 2019 and every day since. Producer Grace, you’re a boss, a queen, a friend for life. Willem, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Thank you to Dan Healy for meeting me in 2019 and taking a chance on me. I’m so glad you did.”

She continued; "Now, it’s time for my podcasts Doireann and Friends and The Laughs Of Your Life, to travel, to give more to the people who have been on this journey with me since the viral impressions video of 2016 and to pursue the projects I’ve been dreaming about. As we would say to our lovely callers on air, good luck and thanks."

Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 8th

Head of RTÉ 2FM, Dan Healy said:

"Doireann is an exceptional broadcaster and has been a very important part of team at 2FM. Everyone in the station is sorry to hear that she has decided to leave. I am very proud of the breakfast show that Doireann presented with Donncha and Carl which has been loved by the audience and very successful in the JNLRs.

"Personally, I'm sorry to see her leave, but I respect Doireann's decision. I wish her the very best for the future in everything she does. Doireann leaves 2FM in good shape and we look forward to building on the success of the breakfast show over the summer months and beyond."

Doireann’s five years at the station will include the #PorridgeGate controversy, when the Irish Independent revealed the radio presenter had used a 2FM studio to shoot an advert for a porridge brand without the permission of her RTÉ bosses.

She had struck the brand deal with Flahavan’s in 2022, which saw her paid to post Instagram stories promoting the breakfast. The deal was separate to her work for RTÉ.

The post was taken down after RTÉ told the Irish Independent Garrihy did not have permission “for the use of RTÉ facilities” for that advertisement.

In February 2022, Garrihy was paid to post a number of times about Flahavan’s porridge under a social media campaign designed to promote eating the porridge at work.

“Grabbing some #OfficeOats on the go couldn’t be easier with #Flahavans range of Quick Oats, from pots to sachets to drums with lots of delish flavours,” the Instagram post by Garrihy said.

The post also ran a competition for a €500 “work wardrobe refresh”, which followers could compete in if they followed Flahavan’s on social media.

Permission was given by RTÉ to Doireann Garrihy for the commercial post, however permission was not given for the use of RTÉ facilities

It was one of a series of posts promoting the porridge brand, as part of a brand deal worth thousands of euro. In the picture, Garrihy is sitting in a 2FM studio, posing with a number of Flahavan’s-branded products.

While brand deals are separate from presenters' work for RTÉ, broadcasters like Garrihy have to get a line manager’s permission before agreeing to such deals.

“Permission was given by RTÉ to Doireann Garrihy for the commercial post, however permission was not given for the use of RTÉ facilities. RTÉ has comprehensive social media guidelines that all employees (staff and contractors) are contractually obliged to adhere to,” a spokeswoman for the broadcaster said.

RTÉ said that the sponsored post was “addressed” with NK Management – the talent agency representing Garrihy and a stable of RTÉ personnel – at the time it was posted.

However, the post remained online for a year-and-a-half and was only removed following queries from the Irish Independent.

A spokeswoman for Flahavan’s said: “While we are not aware of what had been specifically agreed between Doireann and RTÉ in relation to this activity, it is our understanding that permission to work with Flahavan’s was sought by Doireann in advance of the campaign.

"The idea behind the campaign was ‘A Day in the Life’ to showcase all the ways Flahavan’s Quick Oats could be easily incorporated into Doireann’s busy life throughout the day.”