A host of new feature programmes and a chat show fronted by Tommy Tiernan are among RTÉ Radio 1's programmes for the summer.
The new feature programmes will allow Pat Kenny, who normally presents Today With Pat Kenny between 10 a.m. and noon, to take a three-month holiday. RTÉ revealed earlier this year that Mr Kenny earned more than €550,000 in 2002.
Marian Finucane will be replaced by Tom McGurk for a two-month holiday in July and August, as will Joe Duffy, who will be replaced by Derek Davis. Five Seven Live and Rattlebag will continue all summer.
Five Seven Live's Brenda Power will present a new daily interview series from 3.30 p.m. to 4 p.m., investigating stories behind the headlines and following up on news items from years gone by.
Other new voices on the airwaves this summer include Katriona McFadden, who will present Out With The Kids, a programme about summer activities for young people, every Monday morning.
Ethnologist and folklorist Cliona O'Carroll will present All Washed Up, a four-part series about experiences, stories and practices which arise from human contact with that place between the land and the sea: the shore.
Ella McSweeney will take to the road and hear about the wildlife and people that make Ireland's hills, mountains and coastline such a magical environment for walking, in a Friday morning programme called Shank's Mare.
Tommy Tiernan gets his own show on Saturday mornings from the beginning of July when he presents a new series, A Comic Inquisition.
He will interview one guest, asking each the ultimate question: "What ails you?"
Entertainment at the weekend will be provided by a new series of Garrison Keillor's radio show, a one-hour version of A Prairie Home Companion, the popular entertainment programme on public radio in the US, specially produced for RTÉ Radio 1.
Music highlights this summer include a new In Concert series every Monday night in July and August, featuring acts as diverse as the Hothouse Flowers, Roger Whittaker, Katie Melua and the Phil Coulter Show.
This summer RTÉ Radio 1 will have full coverage of Ireland's summer sporting events as well as comprehensive coverage of the 2004 Olympics.
Other features of the summer schedule include a new six-part series looking at the consequences for Irish society of the decline in power and influence of the Catholic Church and a 10-part series hosted by Vincent Browne examining the universal cultural heritage of great political writings from Plato's Republic to Marx's Communist Manifesto.