*Richard Chambers. Photograph: Mark O’Sullivan
A Clare native has been handed a promotion from Virgin Media News.
Richard Chambers has been announced as one of two news correspondents for Virgin Media News with his housemate Zara King also receiving some good news.
In August 2018, Richard joined Virgin Media bringing an end to his five year stint with Newstalk where he was to the fore reporting from the United Kingdom on the night that their decision to leave the European Union became known. He was also a regular reporter on The Pat Kenny Show and jumped in the presenters chair on occasion. He is one of the founding members of the Team 33 podcast on Off The Ball.
Born in West Clare, Richard lived in Lahinch with his family and they moved to the capital when he was beginning secondary school in Rush.
Although he has been living out of the county for almost two decades, Richard remains a vocal supporter online of all things Clare related particularly the county senior hurlers and the beautiful scenery that the Banner has to offer.
Head of News and Sport at Virgin Media Television, Mick McCaffrey admitted he was “delighted with the reaction” to Chambers’ promotion. Close to 10,000 people have liked a tweet revealing details of Richard’s new gig.
During his time with VMTV, Richard has become one of the most trusted Irish reporters online with his Twitter following exceeding 100,000. He has been a regular attendee at NPHET’s COVID-19 press briefings and had to cut a holiday to Cork short in August to report on the impact of Storm Ellen.
Chambers’ partner is the popular author Louise O’Neill. She is one of the guests of the virtual Ennis Book Club Festival this week. The Clonakilty woman will explore and discuss the themes in her novels for teenagers, Only Ever Yours and Asking For It with senior classes in Clare secondary schools. She will also will talk about her latest, award-winning novel After the Silence in a live conversation with Sarah Moore Fitzgerald.
