RTE has confirmed that Gareth O'Callaghan is to move from his present role as a presenter on RTE Radio One. Mr O'Callaghan shares a slot with the Gay Byrne Show and will continue to stand in for Mr Byrne on Mondays and Tuesdays until the end of the month.
Management sources have dismissed suggestions that the move is a rebuff to Mr O'Callaghan, insisting that it is part of a reshuffle of schedules across Radio One and 2FM, by Director of Radio Ms Helen Shaw.
They say the move was precipitated by the departure of Barry Lang from his Drivetime slot in 2FM to pursue a career as a pilot and insisted there was no truth to suggestions in some newspapers that Mr O'Callaghan had not been offered a renewal of his contract this summer. Mr O'Callaghan is believed to be the front-runner in the competition to replace Mr Lang.
Public affairs manager for the station Ms Deirdre Henchy said there were a number of candidates to fill that vacancy and that no decision had been made. However, she acknowledged Mr O'Callaghan would be "a very strong contender".
Before he started work on the Gay Byrne Show in 1995, Mr O'Callaghan hosted an afternoon show on 2FM, where he made a name for his telephone pranks on unsuspecting members of the public.
Asked if Mr O'Callaghan's replacement in the Radio One slot would come from within RTE, Ms Henchy said that would not necessarily be the case, but that there was a "considerable stable of talent" to choose from internally, who were "tried and tested".
TV host Marty Whelan, Sportscall presenter Des Cahill and former Eurovision presenter Carrie Crowley are seen as likely contenders for the vacancy.
