Popular DJ Eoghan McDermott will not be returning to 2FM, the national broadcaster announced today.
There has been confusion in recent weeks after the Dubliner - who has long been touted as one of RTE's rising stars - went missing from the radio show he hosts on 2FM.
It emerged that McDermott had taken unplanned annual leave from the station, fuelling speculation on who might replace him if he were to leave.
In the past few minutes RTE released a statement in which it "confirms that Eoghan McDermott will not be returning to RTÉ 2FM. His contract is due to expiry shortly."
The statement continues: "RTÉ is developing a new direction for the 2FM Breakfast Show which will be revealed in the coming weeks.
"Doireann Garrihy will remain with the show."
Last week, word broke that Mr McDermott was set to hang up the mic for personal reasons.
The 37-year-old's shock decision came after he took unplanned annual leave two weeks ago.
He had been presenting 2FM’s breakfast show alongside Garrihy.
Since joining RTE from Spin FM in 2014, McDermott has hosted a number of shows across both television and radio.
But in the past fortnight he has not been on air, leading to increased chatter online as to his possible replacement should he decide to leave.
It's understood that his contract with the station will finish in May.
Amongst those tipped to replace McDermott and co-host with Garrihy are Carl Mullan - with BoyleSports slashing the odds on the host of the RTE Player series ‘Go Outside’ into 5/1 from 25/1.
