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Tommy Meskill Steve Langan/RTE

Tommy Meskill named RTÉ London correspondent just two days before the UK general election

Political correspondent Paul Cunningham described him as “a talented journalist and a great colleague”.

RTÉ HAS ANNOUNCED reporter Tommy Meskill as its new London correspondent just two days ahead of the UK general election.

Meskill has been with RTÉ News for the last eight years and has most recently been part of broadcaster’s political unit, covering Leinster House and the European Parliament.

He now has the task of bringing news from the UK to an Irish audience at a time of major political changes, as Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is expected to win a massive majority in the British parliament in Thursday’s general election vote.

In his time at RTÉ, Meskill has worked with a number of different programmes, including news2day and Morning IrelandHe has also presented programmes RTÉ Radio 1’s This Week and RTÉ’s European Parliament Report.

Originally from Co Clare, Meskill studied communications at Dublin City University and before joining RTÉ he worked with radio stations FM104 and Q102.

Meskill said he was “delighted” with the appointment.

“It comes at a busy time, ahead of a General Election which could bring about significant change for the country. It’s an honour to have been chosen and I’m very excited to get started.” 

Meskill is taking over from John Kilraine, who recently completed his contract and returned to work with RTÉ News & Current Affairs in Dublin, the broadcaster said.

Meskill’s appointment has been met with a warm reception from his colleagues at RTÉ.

Political correspondent Paul Cunningham described him as “a talented journalist and a great colleague”.

“He’s jumping in at the deep end, with UK elections approaching, but it won’t faze him in the slightest. Beir bua,” he wrote on X.

Miriam O’Callaghan said it was a “brilliant appointment”. 

Drivetime presenter John Cooke congratulated Meskill on X and said he was “delighted and proud for my former intern at Clare FM! Up the Banner!”

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37 Comments
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Jo
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 1:36 PM

    Rock on Tommy, you will do a good job

    134
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    Mute P. V. Aglue
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 9:20 PM

    @Peter Jo: sure he could stay with the brother Paul to keep rté expenses down l

    7
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    Mute Michele Milne
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 2:41 PM

    Best wishes Tommy

    34
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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 1:59 PM

    Why does he spell his name that way, does he not want to be mixed up with Paul?
    Joking aside good luck to him, he is one of the better ones.

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    Mute Rover
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 4:16 PM

    Best of luck to the man

    23
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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 2:33 PM

    Good luck Tommy boy! Baptism by fire!

    20
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    Mute Uí Braonáin
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 4:33 PM

    Nothing left about Keir Starmer or the Labour party in general since the 90s. Not only in Britain, the whole western World has shifted to the right over the last couple of decades. We’ve seen it in FF and the Greens in this country. Nothing is state-owned. Everything is privatised or public/private partnerships.

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    Mute Hector turtlehead
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 3:50 PM

    Kilraine is desperate. Good he’s been removed

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    Mute Gavan Hogan
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 5:19 PM

    So, is he real or not ?

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 3:35 PM

    Labour are going to win the greatest amount of seats in UK history. What have the UK saw that they are shifting leftwards?

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 3:44 PM

    @9QRixo8H: The British Labour are as about left as the small finger on your right hand.

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 3:45 PM

    @Tony Skillington: are you saying Britain are shift rightwards by picking Labour over the Conservatives or Reform? Or are they shifting leftwards? Labour will get an OVERALL majority.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 3:49 PM

    @9QRixo8H: they’re centre slightly left…the unions have lost their sway over the labour leadership thus the left influence has been well diluted.

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    Mute 9QRixo8H
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 4:34 PM

    @Tony Skillington: ok so the UK are shifting leftwards.

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 6:05 PM

    @9QRixo8H: like most places, they want change
    The point I’m making is,like here, there’s no real alternative. Labour are more central than the Tories but aren’t what I’d call left wing.

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    Mute William Connolly
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 10:42 PM

    He has a very irritating voice

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    Mute Michael Fehily
    Favourite Michael Fehily
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    Jul 2nd 2024, 8:33 PM

    I’ve no time for rte , especially their news . However in fairness to Tommy whoever, that’s a little tight timing

    2
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