Pat Kenny will end his four-decade-long career as a presenter on Irish national broadcaster RTE to take up employment with Newstalk, both RTE and Newstalk announced Wednesday.
Kenny’s salary has been a point of controversy for years, notes the RTE report. “His departure follows contract negotiations that have been ongoing for several months,” states the report.
His salary was 630,000 euros ($830,000) in 2011, down from about 730,000 euros ($965,000) in 2009 and about 950,000 euros ($1.25 million) in 2008.
Twitter users responded to Newstalk’s announcement on Twitter with surprise.
“WHAT?” wrote Barbara Scully. “Wuhhh?” wrote Brian Whelan.
Jill O‘Herlihy wrote: “I think there will be a lot of ’What' comments in the next hour or so re Pat Kenny move!”
Ed Darragh wrote: “Well shiver me timbers.... never thought I'd see the day.”
In a separate tweet, Scully wrote: “That’s amazing. Considering what he was earning in @RTERadio1.”
