''Open House'' is an afternoon television show broadcast on

RTÉ One RTÉ One ( ga, RTÉ a hAon) is an Irish free-to-air flagship television channel owned and operated by Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). It is the most-popular and most-watched television channel in the country and was launched as ''Telefís � ...

between 1999 and 2004. The last episode was broadcast in 2004. It was presented by

Mary Kennedy Mary Kennedy ( ga, Máire Ní Chinnéide; born 4 October 1954) is an Irish television personality and former newscaster, and writer. She presented the Eurovision Song Contest 1995 from the Point Theatre in Dublin. She has also presented her own ...

and Marty Whelan and focused on lifestyle, cookery and human interest issues. Presenters included Dermot O'Neill, the popular gardening expert. The show was broadcast five days a week (Monday to Friday), and was also transmitted to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

via

Tara Television Tara Television (or Tara TV) was an Irish cable and satellite channel aimed primarily at Irish people living in Britain, it was set up in 1996 and began broadcasting a year later before being finally wound up during the early hours of 1 July 2002 ...

. ''Open House'' replaced ''Live at 3'', and was itself replaced by '' The Afternoon Show''. It was popular with students and rapper

Coolio Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (August 1, 1963 – September 28, 2022), known professionally as Coolio, was an American rapper. First rising to fame as a member of the gangsta rap group WC and the Maad Circle, Coolio achieved mainstream success as a solo ...

laughed when two of the show's researchers replaced missing dancers.

Axing

In March 2004, RTÉ announced it was axing ''Open House'' despite rising ratings for the programme. It had earlier had its time slot moved to 15:30. There were complaints on ''

Liveline ''Liveline'' is an Irish radio interview and phone-in chat show broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday afternoon between 13.45 and 15.00. The programme, which is currently presented by Joe Duffy and known for its slogan "Talk to Joe", seeks the ...

''. Lord Mayor of Dublin

Royston Brady Royston Mathew Brady (born 24 August 1972) is an Irish businessman and former politician, who was Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland between 2003 and 2004. Once considered a protege of Bertie Ahern, Brady fell foul of the Fianna Fáil party in the m ...

described the decision as "bizarre". When news came that it was going to be axed, the programme's fans launched an unsuccessful campaign to save it. Among the signatories of a petition were

Gay Byrne Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne (5 August 1934 – 4 November 2019) was an Irish presenter and host of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of '' The Late Late Show'' over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999. ''The Late Lat ...

and Nicky Byrne from

Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporarily di ...

. Director of Programmes TV at RTÉ, Clare Duignan, said ''Open House'' had been on RTÉ for nearly as long as its predecessor, ''

Live at 3 ''Live at 3'' is a popular Irish afternoon chat show broadcast live on RTÉ 1. Presented by Thelma Mansfield and Derek Davis, it was RTÉ's flagship daytime show from 1986 until 1997. Ireland's most successful Daytime TV programme, reaching aud ...

''. The last guest on ''Open House'' was Father Aiden Troy, before

Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club are an independent alternative band from Ireland. Jerry Fish is the alter ego of musician and record producer Gerard Whelan (who also leads the band An Emotional Fish) who founded an independent record label and the b ...

closed with a performance of "True Friends". Mary and Marty were guests of honour at the

Mansion House, Dublin The Mansion House ( ga, Teach an Ard-Mhéara) is a house on Dawson Street, Dublin, which has been the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715, and was also the meeting place of the Dáil Éireann from 1919 until 1922. History ...

. The series will on RTE Player to mark 60 Years of Television Christmas 2021.

References

{{s-end 1999 Irish television series debuts 2004 Irish television series endings 1990s Irish television series Irish television talk shows Irish variety television shows RTÉ original programming