RTÉ’s Director General Kevin Bakhurst made a sly dig about The 2 Johnnies and Doireann Garrihy during a staff meeting this week.
On Tuesday, The 2 Johnnies announced they would be leaving the station – just days after Doireann confirmed her exit from the 2FM Breakfast show.
On Wednesday, Mr Bakhurst and 2FM boss Dan Healy addressed staff during a Town Hall meeting, in which they discussed the impending departure of three of their top stars.
According to Evoke, the Director General took a subtle swipe at the exiting talent as he claimed they were “nowhere near as big as they are now” before they joined 2FM.
He told staff: “If you think back only two or three years, the 2 Johnnies were nowhere near as big as they are now.
“You know, Doireann was not nearly as well known as she is now. It’s been a great platform for them, and good luck to them, and what they’re going to do now.
“I know there are very different factors at play for both Doireann, who I saw before she finally decided to go, and also for the 2 Johnnies who have got a big tour coming up in Australia and America.”
“But I just want to say these things happen sometimes. People come in, they do a couple of years here. They’ve very successful careers outside here. And sometimes they make the decision that they will only stay here for a couple of years, it’s been great to have them.
“I know Dan [Healy, head of 2FM] and the teams have all enjoyed working with them immensely. It’s a shame to see them go. I’m sure we’ll have opportunities to work with all of them in the future in RTÉ,” he continued.
Mr Bakhurst also said he was “confident” in the team at 2FM amid big changes within the station.
“I’m very confident and Dan is too, that when people leave, there are significant opportunities,” he said.
“We’ve got some huge talent there who are looking for new opportunities on the station, and elsewhere around here, and there may be other people outside who also would like to come in.”
“We get some great talent in, they do a fantastic job for us a for audiences. But I think, you know, that’s the nature of stations like 2FM that will be constantly evolving,” the RTÉ boss added.
When contacted for a comment, a spokesperson confirmed to Goss.ie the comments were taken directly from Wednesday’s Town Hall meeting with RTÉ staff.
According to the Irish Sun, bosses are concerned more presenters may follow The 2 Johnnies and Doireann Garrihy out the door.
An industry source said: “This is the biggest crisis to hit 2FM since the death of Gerry Ryan.”
Following the payments scandal last year, the broadcaster has introduced a number of strict rules for their talent – including the new Register of Gifts.
Employees and contractors with RTÉ are now required to declare gifts above a value of €50, and must declare any conflicts of interest.
This has reportedly ruffled some feathers with their top stars, as they could lose out on lucrative sponsorship deals by working for the national broadcaster.
A senior radio insider told the newspaper: “These departures prove the massive amounts of money being made by RTE stars in outside deals, on top of their salaries.
“The talent make more money from sponsorship and social media than they can in RTE, so they’re leaving.”
The source added: “I really don’t know how 2FM can replace these presenters. If you’re in 2FM on work experience now, you could end up with your own show in the summer schedule.”
“Top RTE presenters are getting their salaries slashed at the same time as being told they must come clean about their sponsorship deals.
“Once everybody was envious of the DJs in 2FM – it’s not that way anymore. The Oireachtas Committees have put paid to that and the new Register of Interests.”
