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 Octobe ...

from 1979.

Events

*January –

RTÉ (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...

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 (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...

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

The Riordans ''The Riordans'' is an Irish television Soap opera broadcast on RTÉ from 1965 to 1979 set in the fictional townland of Leestown in County Kilkenny. Its location filming with outside broadcast units, rather than using only television studios ...

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

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

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

Mary McAleese Mary Patricia McAleese ( ; ; ; born 27 June 1951) is an Irish activist lawyer, academic, author, and former politician who served as the president of Ireland from November 1997 to November 2011. McAleese was first elected as president in 1997, ...

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 and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1992 to 1994. He held various cabinet positions between 1979 and 1991, including Ministe ...

is appointed as

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs () 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 – the minister headed the Dep ...

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'' (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'' (1979–1982)

RTÉ 2

*4 June – '' Bosco'' (1979–1987) *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'' is 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 popu ...

'' (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 completely or partially surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit ...

'' (1973–1997) *'' Trom agus Éadrom'' (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 (Irish talk show), The Late Late Show''. Airing annually on RTÉ One near the end of November or early December to coincide with the holiday sh ...

'' (1975–present) *'' RTÉ News on Two'' (1978–2014)

Ending this year

*May – ''

'' (1965–1979)

Births

*20 March – Amy Huberman, 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 seasons from 2006 to 2010. He has star ...

, comedian and actor *17 October – Leigh Arnold, actress *24 November – Kirsteen O'Sullivan, television presenter *Undated –

Aisling O'Loughlin Aisling O'Loughlin (born 1978) is best known for co-presenting Virgin Media One, TV3's ''Xposé'' from 2007 until 2016. She is now based in Provence. Early life Born in Shannon, County Clare, Shannon, County Clare, O'Loughlin was educated local ...

, journalist, newsreader and presenter

References

{{Years in TV by country, 1979

1970s in Irish television For articles on Irish television in the 1970s please see: * 1970 in Irish television * 1971 in Irish television * 1972 in Irish television * 1973 in Irish television * 1974 in Irish television * 1975 in Irish television * 1976 in Irish television ...