Sky News Ireland will start broadcasting next month, it was confirmed yesterday.
The new service will broadcast its first bulletin at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 10th.
Cable, MMDS and satellite customers will be able to view Sky News Ireland. There will be a second bulletin at 10 p.m. each evening. A "review of the week" programme will also be broadcast.
Broadcaster Ms Gráinne Seoige said the Irish Sky News team was "dedicated to delivering a first-rate news service". Ms Seoige started her television career as the main newsreader on TG4 before taking the role as anchor on TV3's nightly bulletins in 1998.
She was joined at the launch by weather announcer, Lisa Burke, and west of Ireland bureau chief Eibhlín Ní Chonghaile. Other journalists hired by Sky News Ireland include Ray Kennedy and Brian Daly.
The programme will also be available to viewers in the UK through Sky News Active, and the reports will be repeated throughout the night.
The bulletins will cover stories from both sides of the Border with the help of the broadcaster's Northern Ireland bureau, staffed by David Blevins and Gary Honeyford.
Sky digital viewers in the UK and Ireland will be able to see a continuous loop of the programme from 7.30 p.m. by pressing the red button on their remote controls and selecting the service.