RT\u00c9\u2019S LONGSTANDING HEALTH correspondent Fergal Bowers has officially retired from his post.<\/p>\n
He spent 22 years in the role at RT\u00c9, according to his LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\n
RT\u00c9 presenter Shay Byrne paid tribute to his former colleague\u2019s career on Radio 1\u2032s Rising Time this morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cFergal Bowers heads off into the sunset and leaves us here in RT\u00c9,\u201d Byrne said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be a sad loss to the staff here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Byrne wished Bowers the best of luck in his retirement, though he added, \u201cMen like Fergal never retire\u201d, before playing a song recorded by Bowers for charity \u2013 \u201ca reimagining of Mike Oldfield\u2019s On Horseback\u201d.<\/p>\n
Having begun his career in journalism in 1980, Bowers reported on a number of recreational activities before pursuing reporting on healthcare. He worked for Irish Medical News and then for an independent Irish health website.<\/p>\n
He took on the role of health correspondent at the national broadcaster in 2004.<\/p>\n
Bowers grew recognisable nationally through his coverage of the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, taking to the news each evening to reassure people on developments and stoically deliver the latest updates when the future felt uncertain.<\/p>\n
Just 15 days after Ireland reported its first case of the virus, he penned an encouraging piece titled: \u201cCovid-19: A journey together<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the Italians are singing from balconies to beat the virus blues, let\u2019s hope we see some sprinkles of good Irish luck too in the period to come. This journey ahead with Covid-19 \u2013 we take it together,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n