Tracy Clifford Departs 2FM: New Radio Schedule Revealed

Tracy Clifford’s departure from 2FM’s afternoon slot isn’t just a radio reshuffle; it’s a calculated move by RTÉ to chase a younger demographic, and a signal that even established on-air personalities aren’t immune to the pressures of audience metrics. After more than a decade with the station, Clifford says she felt “a little nudge for a while now to try new things,” but the timing – coinciding with a major schedule shake-up – suggests a more proactive decision from the broadcaster.

RTÉ is framing this as a response to “listener research” and a desire to cater to what younger audiences want. This is industry-speak for “we need to boost ratings among 18-34 year olds.” The extended breakfast show, featuring the influencer Roz Purcell, is a particularly blatant attempt to draw in that demographic. It’s a strategy we’ve seen replicated across radio and television – leveraging social media presence to translate into listenership.

The selection of Demi Isaac and Mikey O’Reilly through an “expressions-of-interest competition” is a smart PR move. It creates a narrative of internal opportunity and talent development, softening the blow of Clifford’s departure. Clifford herself publicly backed the pair, stating she was excited for listeners to hear “the next chapter of afternoons on 2FM” with them, and praising their “unmistakable spark.” This is textbook professionalism, and likely a condition of her continued relationship with RTÉ. The broadcaster emphasized that Clifford “very much remains part of the RTÉ family,” and details of her television role will be announced soon. This carefully worded statement aims to quell any speculation of a falling out.

The addition of Beta Da Silva’s music-led show at 6pm further reinforces the focus on music and a younger audience. The overall impression is that RTÉ is attempting a brand refresh, leaning heavily into personality-driven programming and a contemporary music focus. Whether this will be enough to stem the tide of listeners migrating to streaming services and podcasts remains to be seen. Clifford’s move to television will be the real test – can she translate her radio charisma to the screen, and will RTÉ give her a platform that allows her to shine? The industry will be watching closely.