New RTÉ correspondent covering Laois returns to her roots to take up role

RTÉ News has confirmed the appointment of journalist, Gail Conway, as its new Midlands Correspondent, covering for colleague Sinéad Hussey for the duration of her maternity leave. 

Gail has worked as a multi-media journalist in RTÉ since 2018 reporting across television, radio and online news including RTÉ’s Six One News, Nine O’Clock News and most recently RTÉ's foreign news desk.

She reported on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as the ongoing Israel-Hamas war following the attack on October 7. She also worked on assignment in RTÉ’s Northern Ireland office covering the UK and NI Assembly elections, as well as the return to power-sharing in 2020.

Earlier this year, the Westmeath native, reported on King Charles' Coronation in London.

A magical start to 2024. So grateful to all the staff at the @_TheNMH who helped bring our little man into the world this day last week. A special thanks to @DrShaneHiggins8 who’s care and kindness will never be forgotten. It was a long journey but we got there. pic.twitter.com/SaCWl7uqNE

— Sinéad Hussey (@SineadHus) January 9, 2024

Gail Conway holds a BA Hons degree in Media and Business Management from Manchester University, during which time she also worked at Granada Television. She went to school in Our Lady’s Bower Secondary School in Athlone.

She began her career as a young journalist in the Midlands and her first job was reporting for her local radio station Midlands 103. She also freelanced for the Athlone Voice newspaper contributing to the lifestyle pages and covering local elections.

She left the Midlands to work as a reporter and also worked as head of news and sport in regional radio station Beat 102-103 in the south-east.

In 2017, she moved to Dublin to work as a freelance reporter with Newstalk, Today FM and Virgin Media before later joining RTÉ.

Gail is a native of Athlone and is returning to the town to take up the role. She says she is looking forward to reconnecting with the people and the issues affecting them across the region. 

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me. I’m delighted to return to the region where I started my journalism career, and where I grew up. I have seen first-hand how life in the Midlands has changed from when I was a little girl. Now I want to return to my roots and engage with people from the Midlands and allow their voices and issues be heard in the national news.”