RTÉ news correspondent Teresa Mannion has been a familiar face on our screens for decades, and she has now announced her departure from the broadcaster after more than 40 years
Teresa Mannion is stepping away from RTÉ News after more than two decades (Image: Jenny McCarthy/RSVP Magazine)
Teresa Mannion has spoken candidly about her choice to retire, making clear that the decision was entirely her own and not driven by RTE.
The news correspondent has been a familiar face on Irish screens for decades, having first joined RTE more than 40 years ago. Her announcement on Monday that she would be stepping down from her role as RTÉ’s West of Ireland reporter came as a shock to many viewers.
In years gone by, staff at the broadcaster were required to retire at 65 under the station’s previous policy. However, this changed following the introduction of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, which grants workers with contractual retirement ages below the State pension age the right to request to remain in their post.
Reflecting on her departure, Teresa admitted that her age ultimately guided her decision, saying her body was sending her a clear signal that it was time to step away.
Teresa Mannion has worked for RTE for over 40 years (Image: Jenny McCarthy/RSVP Magazine)
“(It was) my age. No, I have a staff job in RTÉ, but there is a new thing now where it is not up to your employer – you can decide to stay on yourself – but certainly my Head of News was happy for me to stay on… There was no issue there at all. It was totally my own decision to decide to go at 65,” she told Evoke.
“I was born the same year as RTÉ television in 1961. They’ve been my work family all my life.”
Opening up about her reasons for choosing to retire, she joked that her joints had essentially made the decision for her, adding: “I love the job, and I love so much about RTÉ. I had a great career there. It was actually a decision taken because I was not having any big issues as such… just issues with my joints. My knees.
“I am definitely cut out for the road. I love the road, and I do a lot of driving and trekking, and meeting people non-stop, but I actually got to the point where I thought this is still a young person’s game. Age creeps up on you. I can’t believe my age.”
She went on to explain that she felt it was only right to step aside and allow others to progress at the station too, “There is a time when there is a natural order of things to say move aside and watch other people develop and shine.
Teresa famously went viral for her Storm Desmond weather report back in 2015(Image: Twitter/RTETen)
“I’m looking at younger people coming in, and you just see the whole media landscape changing, and I feel like I have had a really good innings in RTÉ, 65 on September 15, I just feel like it’s right. Once I decided, I was very happy with my decision,” she added.
“I’m going to retirement parties every week. My friends are all retiring… It’s a nice part of life – if your health is good – to finally say you know, put yourself first.”
She also revealed her potential retirement plans to the RTE Guide, including a possible trip to Japan and the prospect of moving into lecturing, while not entirely ruling out a return to television work, reports RSVP Live.
Teresa will sign off for the final time around the middle of August, before celebrating her 65th birthday in September.
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