Doireann Garrihy reveals she was bullied in school

Dancing With The Stars and RTÉ 2FM presenter Doireann Garrihy has revealed that she was bullied in secondary school and turned to her parents for help and support.

The 32-year-old Dubliner appeared on Friday's Late Late Show to talk about her return to 2FM this Monday with her new drivetime show but she also opened up about a rough time she endured when she was a teenager.

Speaking to host Patrick Kielty, she said, "It was in secondary school around about the time that Bebo was a big thing and I think it comes with being a teenager as well - sometimes you’re in the firing line and sometimes you’re not. I happened to be for about two years.

"My parents were amazing around that time. They’ve always been good at asking what is going on and sitting us down every day and asking is there anything you want to say to us or tell us.

"I had a rough time in fourth and fifth year and I’m really glad it wasn’t in my pocket because mobile phones weren’t a big thing then."

She added, "I think that’s a massive challenge for parents and teenagers these days and I’m sure trying to navigate it is really difficult. But being open with young people is very important."

A joy to have you back Doireann x #latelate pic.twitter.com/x9eNE72JlG

— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 21, 2025

Garrihy makes her return to 2FM this Monday after a nine-month absence with her new weekday drivetime show from 3pm to 5pm.

"It feels brilliant to back," she said. "I left the 2FM breakfast show last May. I’d done five years and I just needed a bit of a break. I took a leap of faith and took a break. I knew I would miss it; I just didn’t think I’d miss it as much."

However, her departure from 2fm generated a lot of controversy. "The timing was strange," Garrihy said.

"I said I was leaving and then a number of different presenters left so it was a weird time. I wasn’t surprised by the amount of publicity around it. I hadn’t spoken to the others at all so I didn’t know they were going to go as well."

She also hit the headlines over a paid social media post on her Instagram account while she was still working in RTÉ. "That wasn’t a pleasant time," the broadcaster said.

"I made a mistake at the time. I have a responsibility working for the national broadcaster. I shouldn’t have done it. I was reprimanded at the time, I apologised. You live and learn."

When Carl Mullan and Donncha O'Callaghan pranked Doireann - on her WEDDING day ???? #latelate pic.twitter.com/4IOnr8eRSr

— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) February 21, 2025

Garrihy began her career working as an entertainment reporter on Spin 1038 and she also did traffic reports for 2FM with AA Roadwatch, before making her RTÉ web series, The Doireann Project.

With a social media following of 240,000 on Instagram and 67,000 on Twitter/X, she also has to contend with her fair share of trolls.

"It hasn’t been too bad, they are few and far between, for the most part social media has been a really positive place for me," she said. "I’d built an Instagram and snapchat community before I even started on 2FM and they’ve been amazing but of course you’re going to get the 1%.

"You develop a thick skin and of course not everyone is going to like you no matter what walk of life you’re in and what job you’re in, you can’t please everyone. It’s part of the game."

You can watch Friday’s Late Late Show on the RTÉ Player

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