Veteran broadcaster Sean O'Rourke to retire 

RTÉ broadcaster and journalist Sean O'Rourke has announced he is to retire on May 8.

Mr O'Rourke started his broadcasting career with RTÉ in the 1980s and has presented Morning Ireland, This Week and News At One, as well as The Week In Politics.

He began presenting flagship current affairs show Today With Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1 in 2013.

Signing off his radio show on Tuesday, he said: "For nearly seven years now it's been my great privilege to sit in the best current affairs chair in Irish broadcasting.

"But nothing is forever. I'm going to be 65 in May. And that'll be as good a time as any to end the great adventure of Today SOR".

Director-general of RTÉ Dee Forbes said: "Sean O'Rourke's contribution to Irish journalism, and to RTÉ, is hugely significant.

"From his start at the Connacht Tribune in 1973 to his latest years at the helm of our key morning current affairs radio programme, Sean has navigated and dissected the stories of the day with a rigour, tenacity, clarity and drive that is unmatched.

"His love for radio and for news, his passion for sport and reading, meant that he was an enormously well-rounded presenter too; informed, interested, and interesting."