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Teresa Mannion has announced her retirement from RTÉ after more than two decades with the national broadcaster, prompting renewed attention to her career and a surprising betting market response. The Galway-based reporter leaves a lengthy record of regional reporting — and a single viral moment that remains widely recognised across Ireland.
A long-standing presence in RTÉ’s western coverage
Mannion joined RTÉ in 2000 and was named the broadcaster’s western correspondent in 2007. From that base she reported on major events across Galway, Mayo and the wider west, building a profile as a dependable local correspondent.
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Her time at RTÉ spanned more than 20 years, during which she covered both routine community stories and high-profile regional crises. The balance of local knowledge and live reporting made her a familiar figure to viewers in the west of Ireland.
The Storm Desmond clip that lingered in the public mind
She is best known for a live report from Salthill during Storm Desmond in 2015. In that broadcast Mannion warned viewers not to make “unnecessary journeys,” a phrase that was widely shared online and helped cement her national recognition.
That single moment has continued to define public recollection of her work, even as her career encompassed a far broader range of reporting over many years.
Bookmakers put odds on a presidential bid — for now
After the retirement announcement, bookmakers Ladbrokes listed Mannion at 10/1 to enter the next presidential race. The move reflects how public affection for prominent media figures can translate into market odds, rather than any confirmed political plans.
A Ladbrokes spokesperson, Nicola McGeady, said the presenter’s popularity could make her a credible candidate if she chose to stand. Mannion, however, has made no indication that she intends to run for office.
Should she step away from journalism entirely, a shift into politics would be a significant change. At present, her retirement marks the end of a long chapter at RTÉ rather than the beginning of a new public role.
