VETERAN NEWSREADER ANNE Doyle read her final news bulletin on RTE One tonight, exactly 33 years to the day after her first appearance on national television.

The newsreader made just a brief mention of her retirement at the end of the eight-minute news broadcast this evening, telling viewers:

“For me, it’s been a pleasure. Good fortune. Goodbye”.

However in an unexpected moment, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, RTE colleagues and members of the public paid tribute to the newsreader in a specially-compiled clip show immediately after her broadcast ended at 8.58pm.

The clip show was introduced by fellow RTE newsreader Eileen Dunne, who said that Doyle wasn’t going to be allowed to leave without people saying goodbye, and telling her: ”Here’s to you, kid”.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tributes, describing Doyle’s “alluring” qualities, and thanking her “on behalf of us all”.

Members of the public and RTE colleagues praised her professionalism and her legendary calm as clips showed her delivering the news of major events over the past 33 years.

Dustin the Turkey paid tribute to Doyle’s early days as a cub reporter covering the actual birth of Jesus Christ.

During tonight’s broadcast, she covered stories including the bombing of churches in Nigeria, the sit-in by workers at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork, and the Christmas messages from Pope Benedict and Queen Elizabeth.

The hashtag #annedoyle was the most popular trending topic in Ireland during the broadcast and for some time afterwards.

In a statement, Doyle said that

I’ve had a wonderful time here in RTÉ and I will miss it hugely, but it feels like the right time to move on. I will be 60 in January and there are many exciting projects ahead. I wish all my good friends and colleagues in the Newsroom, with whom I have so enjoyed working for over thirty years, every happiness as I take my leave for the final time this evening.

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