Exclusive: The real reason Teresa Mannion has decided to retire

RTÉ star Teresa Mannion has insisted the decision to retire was made by her, saying she felt that her age 'crept up' on her. In the past, some of the station's top staff talent were forced to retire at 65 due to the broadcaster's previous policy, which led to a high-profile age discrimination dispute at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Today's top videos The policy was then updated thanks to the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, which states that workers with contractual retirement ages lower than the State pension age have the right to request to stay on the job. Teresa Mannion. Pic: Supplied On Monday, Teresa shockingly announced in the RTÉ Guide that she would be retiring from her role as RTÉ's West of Ireland reporter - but joked that it was her joints that made her decision to leave. ‘(It was) My age. No, I have a staff job in RTÉ, but there is a new thing now where it is not up to your employer - you can decide to stay on yourself - but certainly my Head of News was happy for me to stay on… There was no issue there at all. It was totally my own decision to decide to go at 65,' she told EVOKE. ‘I was born the same year as RTÉ television in 1961. They’ve been my work family all my life.' Asked what the push to retire was, she said: ‘I love the job, and I love so much about RTÉ. I had a great career there. It was actually a decision taken because I was not having any big issues as such… just issues with my joints.' Teresa Mannion. Pic: Supplied ‘My knees,’ she said, laughing, before adding: ‘I am definitely cut out for the road. I love the road, and I do a lot of driving and trekking, and meeting people non-stop, but I actually got to the point where I thought this is still a young person’s game. 'Age creeps up on you. I can't believe my age. ‘There is a time when there is a natural order of things to say move aside and watch other people develop and shine. ‘I’m looking at younger people coming in, and you just see the whole media landscape changing, and I feel like I have had a really good innings in RTÉ, 65 on September 15, I just feel like it’s right. Once I decided, I was very happy with my decision.' Teresa noticed she was attending her colleagues' retirement parties 'every week', which made her think more about her own personal situation. Teresa Mannion. Pic: Tom Honan ‘I’m going to retirement parties every week. My friends are all retiring… It’s a nice part of life - if your health is good - to finally say you know, put yourself first. ‘So many of my colleagues are gone that I have worked really closely with.’ But Teresa said retiring doesn’t mean she will stop completely, and didn’t rule out a new career in presenting. ‘Maybe I will be energised to look at different things now. I never ever thought I would end up working in the newsroom. My career has not been linear. Teresa Mannion. Pic: RTÉ ‘So I could imagine myself very easily going back into that world. Also, you're armed with way more confidence beca