Louise Duffy has been announced as the replacement for Ronan Collins' lunchtime music programme on RTE Radio 1.
This comes after legendary broadcaster Ronan Collins revealed he is set to hang up his radio microphone at the end of the year.
He is due to step down from his role as host of the Ronan Collins Show on December 23rd after 43 years.
Louise will take over the slot in the new year, presenting a new music show on weekdays from 12pm to 1pm.
READ MORE: End of an era on RTE Radio One as last Ronan Collins Show to be aired on December 23
She will be the first female presenter of the show and has previously filled in on The Ronan Collins Show and most recently was the presenter of RTE’s The Ballycotton Sessions.
Louise told Brendan O’Connor on Saturday that she was aware she had "very big shoes to fill".
"I’m so excited. I’m delighted and really grateful for the opportunity," she said. "I’ve very very big shoes to fill and I’m excited to kick off 2023 with something I love to do so much."
"As soon as Ronan made his plans to move to a different schedule himself we started talking about it. I had covered a few shows over the summer and really enjoyed it so much, it was such a pleasure to do.
"It didn't feel real though until the last couple of days when it all started moving."
Louise said she was "honoured" to be asked to fill the shoes of a "great broadcaster" and said is looking forward to discovering new up-and-coming Irish music talent.
In a statement she said: "I am honoured to be given the opportunity to host the biggest music radio show in Ireland, and follow in the footsteps of a great broadcaster like Ronan Collins. I look forward to connecting with music lovers all over the country, discovering new talent, and complementing the line-up of great broadcasters at RTÉ Radio 1."
Peter Woods, Head of RTÉ Radio 1, said: "Louise Duffy knows her music. We're delighted to have her on this station. Louise is the first woman to present the lunchtime music programme on RTÉ Radio 1 - the number one music programme in the country. She will bring to it integrity, both as a presenter and with her musical choices."
He shared the news with his legions of listeners live on the Ronan Collins Show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday.
The much-loved radio star revealed: “I’ve been working on afternoon radio on RTÉ Radio 1 for nearly 38 years, plus six years before that on Radio 2, and nobody will ever know how grateful I have been for all the opportunities over the past 40 years and going forward with RTÉ.
"I often ask myself ‘how much longer can I continue to do this?,' and the answer always is ‘just keep going.’
"New challenges await now on RTÉ in 2023, and I will continue to be on RTÉ Radio 1 with The Collins Collection on Bank Holidays.”
Ronan will present the last ever Ronan Collins Show on Friday, December 23 from 12pm.
There will be a break over Christmas before Louise takes up the reigns and is set to present her first show on RTE Radio 1 on Monday January 9.
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