Boylesports offering odds on RTÉ top job

An Post CEO David McRedmond is frontrunner. Photo: Maxwell Photography

An Post CEO David McRedmond is frontrunner. Photo: Maxwell Photography

Mike Glennon. Photo: Ray Donlon

An Post CEO David McRedmond is frontrunner. Photo: Maxwell Photography

Ergo

February 05 2023 02:30 AM

Avid media watchers may want to take a punt on who will be the new director general at RTÉ with Boylesports offering odds on a number of possible runners and riders.

Out in front is An Post’s David McRedmond at 7/4. The former TV3 CEO was interested last time the job came up at Montrose and has since been seen as making a number of wily decisions at An Post.

Boylesports is also offering odds on TG4’s Alan Esslemont, BBC Scotland’s Steve Carson and RTÉ’s Rory Coveney – it is not clear if any of those mentioned are interested in the role. Several former and current RTÉ insiders are also listed, including Adrian Lynch, Jim Jennings and Glen Killane (who now holds a senior sports role in the EBU).

Funnily enough, Kevin Bakhurst, former deputy RTÉ director general and now Ofcom group director isn’t mentioned but could be a dark horse. He was well liked and very well respected in Ireland.

Those who don’t mind losing a few bob could take the 100/1 odds being offered on Denis O’Brien.

Of course, no one predicted the appointment of Dee Forbes last time around – so it could again be a complete outsider.

Ireland House in New York to switch to MetLife

Ireland House, the Irish Government’s representative office, in New York is to have a new home.

According to industry reports, the Irish Government is moving the office to a new location having secured a 43,108-square-foot, long-term lease at Tishman Speyer’s 200 Park Avenue, also known as the MetLife Building.

Ireland House New York comprises the Consulate General, together with Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland as well as the Ireland Funds and CIÉ Tours.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the lease on its current Park Avenue premises expires in 2024.

It said the rent negotiated for the new premises represented a saving on current per square foot cost of Ireland House in New York.

Mike Glennon. Photo: Ray Donlon

Glennon Brothers’ influence grows

It has been a busy few years for Longford timber supplier Glennon Brothers. The long standing family business has expanded through some canny acquisition into far-flung places – Fermoy, Windymains, Troon, and Enniskillen – pushing its Irish turnover alone beyond the quarter of a billion mark.

Now the firm is celebrating after its joint managing director Mike Glennon was nominated by UK trade body the Builders Merchants Federation as a Top 100 Influencer in the sector for “criteria including involvement, presence, charity, and community work”.