Today with... (RTÉ Radio 1)

Originally associated with Pat Kenny, who first presented the programme in the 1970s, it was a replacement for Gay Byrne's similar programme.{{fact|date=January 2022}} The Today with Pat Kenny format featured current affairs topics with interviews from journalists, politicians, celebrities and human-interest guests.

The programme (known for a period as The Pat Kenny Show){{cite web|url = https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/2380/014.html | publisher = RTÉ | website = rte.ie | title = Photographic Archive - Pat Kenny interviews Don Irwin during Eurovision preparations (1995) | quote = Pat Kenny interviews floor manager Don Irwin for his RTÉ Radio 1 morning show 'The Pat Kenny Show' (later 'Today with Pat Kenny'), during preparations for the 40th Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin's Point Theatre on 10 May 1995 | accessdate = 25 January 2022 }} was named 'Best National Radio Programme' at the Plain English Campaign awards in 2005,{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=32776§ioncode=1 |title=Plain English Prize for Rusbridger |first=Zoe |last=Smith |work=Press Gazette |date=16 December 2005 |access-date=15 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616182351/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=32776§ioncode=1 |archive-date=16 June 2011 | quote = Irish station RTE1 won the Best National Radio award for The Pat Kenny Show }} and won PPI Radio Awards for 'Current Affairs Programme' in 2008 and 2009.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/empire-strikes-back-in-radio-1-sweep-1502869.html|title=Empire strikes back in Radio 1 sweep|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=18 October 2009|access-date=15 April 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1003/rte.html|title=RTÉ sweeps the board at PPI Awards|date=3 October 2009|work=RTÉ News and Current Affairs|access-date=14 October 2009}} As of 2008, the average audience for the show was 291,000.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0822/1219355277448.html|title=RTÉ radio increases share of audience|first=Paul|last=Cullen|work=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|date=22 August 2008|access-date=9 April 2009}} The programme featured weather, sport and news, with Valerie Cox acting as the show's reporter,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/valeriecox.html |title=Morning Ireland: Valerie Cox |publisher=RTÉ News and Current Affairs |access-date=2 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025024912/http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/valeriecox.html |archive-date=25 October 2009 }} and Eoghan Corry contributing weekly travel segments.{{cite web|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081218164200/http://www.rte.ie/travel/2008/0702/static5.html | archivedate = 18 December 2008 | url = http://www.rte.ie/travel/2008/0702/static5.html | website = rte.ie | title = Eoghan Corry on Air | date = 2008}}

In January 2012, Pat Kenny was accused of "insulting" residents of a Dublin north inner city community after he referred to "a hovel in Ballybough" during the programme. City councillor Nial Ring was "inundated with calls from annoyed constituents" and responded that there were no "hovels" in Ballybough. Pat Kenny defended his remarks.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/news/defiant-pat-wont-back-down-in-ballybough-hovel-comments-row-3002776.html|title=Defiant Pat won't back down in 'Ballybough hovel' comments row|first=Alan|last=O'Keeffe|work=Evening Herald|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=28 January 2012|access-date=28 January 2012}}

In July 2013, Kenny announced his resignation from RTÉ with immediate effect in order to take up a new position presenting a new programme on the rival station Newstalk from September 2013 in the same time slot.{{cite news| url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0731/465653-pat-kenny-rte-newstalk/ | work=RTÉ News | title=Pat Kenny to leave RTÉ after 41 years | date=31 July 2013}} In August 2013, RTÉ announced that, following Kenny's departure, Sean O'Rourke would take over the programme.{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/sean-orourke-to-take-over-pat-kennys-rte-radio-slot-29488545.html | work=Irish Independent | title=Sean O'Rourke to take over Pat Kenny's RTE radio slot | date=10 August 2013}}

Taking over from Kenny in 2013, Sean O'Rourke presented the programme from September 2013 as Today with Seán O'Rourke. It was one of the most popular programmes on Radio 1 and one of RTÉ's most popular programmes across its radio networks.{{fact|date=January 2022}} As of 2018, the programme had 312,000 daily listeners.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/radio/jnlrs-rte-radio-1s-morning-ireland-sees-biggest-drop-in-listeners-as-weekend-sport-sees-biggest-boost-year-on-year-36581736.html|title=JNLRS: RTE Radio 1's Morning Ireland sees biggest drop in listeners as weekend Sport sees biggest boost year on year|publisher=Irish Independent|date=8 February 2018|access-date=26 February 2018|first=Aoife|last=Kelly}} It retained much of its format, and covered the main stories of the day, with analysis, sports coverage, news bulletins, in-depth features and consumer interest. O'Rourke presented his last show on 8 May 2020, and was succeeded by Sarah McInerney.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/sean-o-rourke-s-final-show-reminds-listeners-why-he-ll-be-missed-1.4247400|title=Sean O’Rourke’s final show reminds listeners why he’ll be missed|publisher=Irish Times|date=9 May 2020|access-date=30 June 2020|first=Mick|last=Heaney}}

Today with Sarah McInerney was presented, during the summer months of 2020, by Sarah McInerney.{{cite web|url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/rte-seanorourke-replacement-breakingnews-radio-18126097|title=Breaking news from RTE as Sean O'Rourke's replacement announced with Sarah McInerney to take over hot seat temporarily|publisher=Dublin Live|date=21 April 2020|access-date=30 June 2020}} Launched on 11 May 2020, as the interim successor to Today with Seán O'Rourke, it was broadcast in the same 10:00 to 12:00 timeslot. Claire Byrne took over the timeslot in August 2020, and McInerney moved to presenting Drivetime alongside Cormac Ó Headhra.{{cite web|url = https://www.thejournal.ie/rte-autumn-winter-season-launch-2020-5186714-Aug2020/ | publisher = Journal Media Ltd | website = thejournal.ie | title = Sarah McInerney returns in RTÉ Radio One shakeup as broadcaster reveals new autumn schedule | date = 27 August 2020 }}

As of 2022, Today with Claire Byrne is RTÉ Radio 1's mid-morning current affairs magazine programme. Byrne has hosted the show since 24 August 2020.

{{reflist}}

• {{official|https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/today-with-claire-byrne/|Official website of Today with Claire Byrne}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090725051822/http://www.rte.ie/radio1/todaywithpatkenny/ Today with Pay Kenny] at RTÉ Radio 1 (archived 2009)

{{RTER1}}

{{RTÉ News and Current Affairs}}

Category:Irish talk radio shows

Category:RTÉ News and Current Affairs

Category:RTÉ Radio 1 programmes