Caitriona Perry has confirmed she's leaving RTE after 16 years to pursue a new job abroad with the BBC.
The presenter will step down from her role as newsreader with RTE's Six One News at the end of the month. Ms Perry will take up an international role as chief presenter with the BBC in America. She will be based in Washington, DC.
She admitted that it was a "tough decision" to say goodbye to RTE but said she had to seize the new opportunity. She previously worked as Washington Correspondent for RTE, covering major stories such as the inauguration of President Trump and the Berkeley balcony collapse.
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She said: "I wish to say a special thank you to the RTE audience, the viewers, listeners and readers who have afforded me the extraordinary privilege of being a public service broadcast journalist."
Managing Director of RTE Deirdre McCarthy paid tribute to Ms Perry's time as a broadcaster. She said the presenter would be missed by her colleagues but the organisation was delighted to see her succeed on the global news stage.
Deirdre said: "From working across all desks and platforms in the RTE newsroom, to her hugely impactful time as Washington Correspondent, to her calm and diligent presenting of the news to audiences each evening during national highs and lows, Caitríona's hard work and journalistic ethic always shone through."
She added: "She will be missed equally by audiences, but I know they will join me in wishing her well."
Ms Perry has co-presented RTE's Six One News since 2018. She has also been an occasional presenter on RTE's Morning Ireland, Leaders' Questions and The Week in Politics.
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