The new-look RTÉ Radio 1 schedule will kick off from next Monday, with Katie Hannon and Colm Ó Mongáin set to take over co-presenting duties on the programme, which will have a new 4pm to 6pm timeslot.
While ó hEadhra’s move to a later slot on Late Debate has been confirmed, there has been no word on where McInerney will go next.
However, RTÉ has said she will continue to play an important role on Radio 1, and an announcement will be made in due course.
“So that is all from us for this evening, and indeed that is all from us on this programme, because the very talented and lovely Colm Ó Mongáín and Katie Hannon will be taking over the reins on Drivetime next week,” McInerney said in her sign-off.
“They’ll be starting at the earlier time of four o’clock and you will be in very safe hands with them. So, I just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has tuned in over the last six years.”
McInerney reflected on the range of stories the programme has covered during her time, from the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine to Gaza and a series of elections.
“I am so proud of how we covered those stories on this programme, in a very large part thanks – I’m going to try not to get emotional – thanks to a brilliant team led by [series producer] Will Hanafin.
“They all work so hard every day to get the best guests, to give us the best insights and the best analysis that we can find.
“We have loads of brilliant team members, some of them are out there in the box, but we can’t name them all because there’s just too many of them.”
She said the hard work of the Drivetime team was reflected when the show was named Best Current Affairs Programme at this year’s Imro Radio Awards.
Speaking about her co-presenter, McInerney said it was “an honour and a pleasure” to present the show alongside Ó hEadhra.
“It’s not easy to co-present. You need a lot of patience, you need a lot of understanding, a lot of trust, and luckily, I have that in spades,” she joked.
“I think you’re a brilliant broadcaster, I think you’re a brilliant colleague, and it has been a pleasure.”
Ó hEadhra gave his “heartfelt thanks” to the Drivetime team who he described as a group of “creative, hardworking” and “patient” people.
“It’s good to finish on a high I must say, with the Imro award, the latest increase in listenership and for me, anyway, the surprising outpouring of affection from our listeners, which I genuinely say to you, we’re surprised by, but I’m so thankful for.”
He said it “has been a real, real pleasure” working alongside McInerney.
“We were talking off air there, the professionalism, supporting each other, but staying out of each other’s way, it’s a real balance.
“But I am indebted to you and thank you so much., indeed. The very best of luck to Katie and Colm next week and we will chat to you separately on various programmes.”