The following is a list of events relating to

television in Ireland Television in the Republic of Ireland is available through a variety of platforms. The digital terrestrial television service is known as Saorview and is the primary source of broadcast television since analogue transmissions ended on 24 October ...

from 1979.

Events

*January –

RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...

establishes an internal working party to investigate the representation of women in news reporting. Their findings are published in April 1981. *8 April – UK children's television series ''

Worzel Gummidge Worzel Gummidge is a scarecrow in British children's fiction, who originally appeared in a series of books by the English novelist Barbara Euphan Todd.

'' begins airing on

RTÉ 1 (RTÉ) (; Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the national broadcaster of Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, while ...

two months after its screening debut in its original country. *May – ''

The Riordans ''The Riordans'' was the second Irish television drama serial made by Raidio Telefís Éireann (then called ''Telefís Éireann''). It ran from 1965 to 1979 and was set in the fictional townland of Leestown in County Kilkenny. Its location fi ...

'' is aired on television for the final time. It switches to radio and continues until 1985. *4 June – The long-running children's television series ''

Bosco Bosco may refer to: People Given name Bosco * Bosco (drag queen) (born 1993), Drag Queen * Bosco Lin Chi-nan (born 1943), Taiwanese bishop * Bosco Frontán (born 1984), Uruguayan soccer player * Bosco Hogan (born 1949), Irish actor * Bosco Lo ...

'' begins an eight-part pilot series. *29 September – 1 October – Coverage of

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II ( la, Ioannes Paulus II; it, Giovanni Paolo II; pl, Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła ; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his ...

's visit to Ireland is broadcast on RTÉ radio and television. *2 October –

Mary McAleese Mary Patricia McAleese ( ; ga, Máire Pádraigín Mhic Ghiolla Íosa; ; born 27 June 1951) is an Irish activist lawyer and former politician who served as the eighth president of Ireland from November 1997 to November 2011. She is an academic ...

debuts as a reporter on the current affairs programme ''Frontline''. *12 December –

Albert Reynolds Albert Martin Reynolds (3 November 1932 – 21 August 2014) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1992 to 1994, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994, Minister for Finance from 1988 to 1991, Minister for Industry ...

is appointed as

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs ( ga, Aire Poist agus Telegrafa) was the holder of a position in the Government of Ireland (and, earlier, in the Executive Council of the Irish Free State). From 1924 until 1984 – when it was abolished � ...

Debuts

RTÉ 1

*7 January – '' Children of the New Forest'' (1977) *8 April – ''

Worzel Gummidge Worzel Gummidge is a scarecrow in British children's fiction, who originally appeared in a series of books by the English novelist Barbara Euphan Todd.

'' (1979–1981) *5 June – ''

Jana of the Jungle ''Jana of the Jungle'' is an American animated television series created by comic strip artist Doug Wildey and produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions which aired on NBC from September 9 to December 2, 1978. It was originally broadcast as a half-h ...

'' (1978) *2 October – ''

To the Manor Born ''To the Manor Born'' is a BBC television sitcom that first aired on BBC1 from 1979 to 1981. A special one-off episode was produced in 2007. Starring Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles, the first 20 episodes and the 2007 special were written by ...

'' (1979–1981, 2007) *9 November – ''

The Live Mike ''The Live Mike'' was an Irish television comedy, variety, and chat show presented by Mike Murphy. It was first broadcast on RTÉ 1 on 9 November 1979. The programme featured a candid camera pieces by Murphy himself, with parody songs and co ...

'' (1979–1982)

RTÉ 2

*4 June – ''

'' (1979–1996) *8 July – ''

The Sunday Game ''The Sunday Game'' is RTÉ's main Gaelic games television programme. It is shown on RTÉ2 every Sunday during the Football Championship and Hurling Championship seasons. It is one of RTÉ2's longest-running shows, having been on air since 1 ...

'' (1979–present)

Ongoing television programmes

*'' RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock'' (1961–present) *'' RTÉ News: Six One'' (1962–present) *'' The Late Late Show'' (1962–present) *'' Quicksilver'' (1965–1981) *''

Wanderly Wagon ''Wanderly Wagon'' is an Irish children's television series which aired on RTÉ from Saturday 30 September 1967Hourihane, Anne Marie''Sunday Tribune'' 11 August 2002. until 1982. Plot ''Wanderly Wagon'' followed human and puppet characters as t ...

'' (1967–1982) *''

Hall's Pictorial Weekly ''Hall's Pictorial Weekly'' was an Irish satirical television series broadcast on Raidió Teilifís Éireann from 1971 to 1980. Regarded as RTÉ's flagship comedy show, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories, politics and pop ...

'' (1971–1980) *''

Sports Stadium A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...

'' (1973–1997) *''

Trom agus Éadrom Trom agus Éadrom (; meaning "Heavy and Light") was an Irish television variety show which was broadcast bilingually in Irish and English by Raidió Teilifís Éireann between 1975 and 1985. The show was presented by Liam Ó Murchú and was one ...

'' (1975–1985) *''

The Late Late Toy Show ''The Late Late Toy Show'' is an annual, special edition of the Irish chat show '' The Late Late Show''. Airing annually on RTÉ One near the end of November or early December to coincide with the holiday shopping season, the ''Toy Show'' showc ...

'' (1975–present) *''

RTÉ News on Two ''RTÉ News on Two'' was a late night news programme that aired each Monday to Thursday on Irish public service broadcaster RTÉ Two. The transmission time of this programme varied each night. It generally aired between 10:45pm and 11:30pm. It ...

'' (1978–2014)

Ending this year

*May – ''

'' (1965–1979)

Births

*20 March –

Amy Huberman Amy Huberman (born 20 March 1979) is an Irish actress and writer, which is known for her role as Daisy in the RTÉ drama series '' The Clinic''. In 2018, she began writing and starring in the comedy series ''Finding Joy''. Early life Huberman g ...

, actress and writer *16 August - Brian Ormond, singer and television presenter *9 October –

Chris O'Dowd Christopher O'Dowd (born 9 October 1979) is an Irish actor and comedian. He received wide attention as Roy Trenneman, one of the lead characters in the Channel 4 comedy '' The IT Crowd'', which ran for four series between 2006 and 2010. He has ...

, comedian and actor *17 October –

Leigh Arnold Leigh Arnold (born Megan Leigh Arnold) is an Irish actress. A native of Foxrock, County Dublin, Arnold is known for her role of Dr Clodagh Delaney in the Irish TV series '' The Clinic''. Early life Arnold was a pupil of St Andrew's College i ...

, actress *24 November –

Kirsteen O'Sullivan Kirsteen O'Sullivan (born 24 November 1979) is a Scottish presenter on TV3 in Ireland. O'Sullivan joined TV3 in July 2009 as a freelance journalist on TV3 News. She presented TV3's motoring show ''Xccelerate'' and has appeared as a reporter on G ...

, television presenter *Undated –

Aisling O'Loughlin Aisling O'Loughlin (born 1978) is best known for co-presenting TV3's ''Xposé'' since 2007. Early life Born in Shannon, County Clare, Shannon, County Clare, O'Loughlin was educated locally before later attending Villiers School in Limerick. She ...

, journalist, newsreader and presenter

References

{{Years in TV by country, 1979 1970s in Irish television