The Jacob's Awards were instituted in December 1962 as the first Irish television awards. Later, they were expanded to include radio. The awards were named after their sponsor, W. & R. Jacob & Co. Ltd., a biscuit manufacturer, and recipients were selected by

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

's national newspaper television and radio critics. Jacob's Award winners were chosen annually until 1993, when the final awards presentation took place. Winners of a Jacob's Award include

Fionnula Flanagan Fionnghuala Manon "Fionnula" Flanagan (born 10 December 1941) is an Irish actress. Flanagan is known for her roles in the films '' James Joyce's Women'' (1985), '' Some Mother's Son'' (1996), '' Waking Ned Devine'' (1998), '' The Others'' (200 ...

(1965),

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

(1979), and

Brendan Gleeson Brendan Gleeson (born 29 March 1955) is an Irish actor. He has received various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, two British Independent Film Awards and three IFTA Awards, along with nominations for an Academy Award, three BAFTA Aw ...

(1992). The record for the most awards won is held by Gay Byrne, who was honoured six times between 1963 and 1981.

History

Telefís Éireann was launched as Ireland's first indigenous television station on 31 December 1961. Three months later, it was announced by W. & R. Jacob & Co. Ltd. that they intended to sponsor an award for outstanding contributions to the new medium. On 4 December 1962, the first awards ceremony took place at the sponsor's headquarters in

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

. There were nine winners, chosen by a panel of national newspaper television critics. Each winner received an award designed by the artist, Richard Kingston. This consisted of a silver St. Brigid's Cross mounted on a base of bog oak and

Connemara Connemara ( ; ) is a region on the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of western County Galway, in the west of Ireland. The area has a strong association with traditional Irish culture and contains much of the Connacht Irish-speaking Gaeltacht, ...

marble.''The Irish Times'', "BBC wins award for Hancock series in first T.E. critic's selection", 5 December 1962 The Jacob's Awards honoured teams of programme makers as well as individuals. For instance, in 1962, Telefís Éireann's Sports Department won an award for its general coverage during the station's first year of broadcasting. In 1965, a limit of eight annual awards was set, and the critics also decided not to confine themselves to fixed categories in making their selections. A special 'Golden Trophy' was introduced in 1966 to recognise exceptional performance. This was awarded every five years, although it was dropped in the mid-1980s.''The Irish Times'', "Television awards presented", 8 December 1966 In 1969, the number of awards was increased to a maximum of thirteen in order to incorporate radio. A separate panel of national newspaper radio critics was formed to choose recipients of the new award, a highly polished, white metal cylinder designed by Robert Costelloe. This was replaced in 1981 by a trophy comprising a painted canvas mounted on a stainless steel background, designed by Theo McNab.''The Irish Times'', "Kee wins award for TV history of Ireland", 11 April 1981 For most of their history, Jacob's Awards were awarded to programmes broadcast on RTÉ because the national state broadcaster held a

monopoly A monopoly (from Greek language, Greek and ) is a market in which one person or company is the only supplier of a particular good or service. A monopoly is characterized by a lack of economic Competition (economics), competition to produce ...

in Ireland. However, in 1989, commercial radio was introduced, and RTÉ's monopoly in sound broadcasting was broken. The critics responded by widening the scope of the awards to include the new local stations. RTÉ did not face indigenous competition in television until the advent of

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...

in 1998, by which time the Jacob's Awards had ended.

Awards ceremony

In the 30 years of its existence, compères of the annual Jacob's Awards event included

Hilton Edwards Hilton Edwards (2 February 1903 – 18 November 1982) was an English-born Irish actor, lighting designer, and theatrical producer. He co-founded the Gate Theatre in Dublin with his partner Micheál Mac Liammóir and two others, and has been re ...

and Frank Hall. Winners were presented with their awards by a senior member of the

Irish government The Government of Ireland () is the executive authority of Ireland, headed by the , the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet – is composed of ministers, each of whom must be a member of the , which consists of ...

, sometimes the

taoiseach The Taoiseach (, ) is the head of government or prime minister of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. The office is appointed by the President of Ireland upon nomination by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legisl ...

of the day (

Jack Lynch John Mary Lynch (15 August 1917 – 20 October 1999) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979. He was Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1966 to 1979, Leader of the Opposition from 1973 to 1977, ...

in 1977, for example). Due to the "economic circumstances of the sponsoring company", the 1983 and 1984 awards were presented at a single event, which took place on 22 February 1985.''The Irish Times'', "Jacob's prize producer leaving for Australia", 23 February 1985 What turned out to be the final awards ceremony took place in Dublin on 11 November 1993. The

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality () is a senior minister in the government of Ireland and leads the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality is Norma Foley, TD. She ...

Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins (; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, broadcaster, and sociologist who has been serving as the president of Ireland since 2011. Entering national politics through the Labour Party, he served as a senator ...

, presented the awards on that occasion.''The Irish Times'', "Higgins warns of threat to service", 15 November 1993 No formal announcement was made by the sponsor about the future of the awards so the reason they were terminated is unknown. However, the death of public relations consultant and radio presenter, Frankie Byrne, shortly after the 1993 event may have been a factor. From the inception of the awards, each of the annual presentation events was organised and promoted by Byrne. According to former Jacob's chairman, Gordon Lambert, she actually started the awards in 1962 and her role in their eventual longevity seems to have been crucial. This is borne out by the fact that no ceremonies took place following Byrne's death in December 1993. Recalling her involvement in the awards five years after her death, television critic Tom O'Dea summed up her unique contribution: "I think it is no skin off anyone's nose to accord her the distinction of giving the awards night the character it had, wheelchairs for the irretrievably drunken, and all."

Controversy

The 1970 awards were attended by some controversy.

Eoghan Harris Eoghan Harris (born 13 March 1943) is an Irish journalist, columnist, director, and former politician. He has held posts in various and diverse political parties. He was a leading theoretician in the Marxist-Leninist Workers' Party (previously ...

refused to accept an award for his production of the Irish-language current affairs programme, . In a statement issued on the day of the awards ceremony, Harris criticised

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, ...

for its involvement with commercial sponsorship.''The Irish Times'', "Controversy is indication of RTÉ's success, says minister", 11 December 1970 However, five years later his attitude changed and he accepted a second award for a special report on '' 7 Days''. Also in 1970, guests arriving at the awards ceremony were confronted by a picket of 50 female employees of W. & R. Jacob who were protesting against the cost of the banquet. One picketer carried a placard bearing the legend: "Only room at the inn for the in-people". In 1990,

threatened to pull out of its longstanding practice of broadcasting the awards ceremony because of the involvement of

Tánaiste The Tánaiste ( , ) is the second-ranking member of the government of Ireland and the holder of its second-most senior office. It is the equivalent of the deputy prime minister in other parliamentary systems. The Tánaiste is appointed by the P ...

, Brian Lenihan. Lenihan had been invited to present the awards in his capacity as Tánaiste and

Minister of Defence A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...

. However, in the meantime, he was chosen by

Fianna Fáil Fianna Fáil ( ; ; meaning "Soldiers of Destiny" or "Warriors of Fál"), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party (), is a centre to centre-right political party in Ireland. Founded as a republican party in 1926 by Éamon de ...

as that party's candidate in the forthcoming

Irish presidential election The Irish presidential election determines who serves as the President of Ireland, the head of state of Ireland. The last election took place on 26 October 2018. Where only one candidate is nominated, that candidate is declared elected without a ...

. RTÉ claimed that going ahead with its planned broadcast would give unfair additional publicity to Lenihan, leaving the station in breach of its own guidelines on election coverage. After a brief stand-off, Lenihan agreed to withdraw from the awards ceremony. He was replaced by Minister for Labour,

Bertie Ahern Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, and as Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008. A Teachta Dála (TD) from 1977 to 2011, he served ...

Winners – multiple awards

Six

(1963, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1981)

Four

* Mike Murphy (1978, 1979, 1980, 1988) *

Andy O'Mahony Andy O'Mahony is an Irish broadcast journalist who worked for RTÉ (Raidio Telefís Éireann) from 1961 to 2013. He was one of the network's first television news anchors, and thereafter was a radio and television host of various long-running s ...

(1969, 1981, 1986, 1989)

Three

* Wesley Burrowes (1965, 1974, 1976) * Brian Mac Lochlainn (1969, 1971, 1992) *

Olivia O'Leary Olivia O'Leary (born 1949) is an Irish people, Irish journalist, writer and current affairs presenter. Education Educated at St Leo's College, Carlow and at University College Dublin (UCD), she worked with the The Nationalist (Carlow), ''Natio ...

(1973, 1982, 1986) * Julian Vignoles (1984, 1991, 1992)

Two

*Tony Barry (1970, 1990) * John Bowman (1970, 1981) *Anne Daly (1980, 1989) *Norris Davidson (1973, 1974) *

Derek Davis Derek Davis (26 April 1948 – 13 May 2015) was an Irish broadcaster from Bangor. On television, he co-hosted '' Live at 3'', presented '' Davis at Large'' and '' Out of the Blue'' and won '' Celebrity Bainisteoir''. Early life Davis was bo ...

(1983, 1991) *Donall Farmer (1969, 1978) * Brian Farrell (1968, 1977) *Pat Feeley (1977, 1979) *

Alan Gilsenan Alan Gilsenan is an Irish writer, filmmaker and theatre director. His most recent work include the award-winning cinema documentary ''The Days of Trees'', the feature film ''Unless'', based on a novel by Carol Shields and ''The Meeting,'' which h ...

(1989, 1990) * Frank Hall (1966, 1975) *

Shay Healy Shay Healy (29 March 1943 – 9 April 2021) was an Irish songwriter, broadcaster and journalist. He is best known for his role as host of ''Nighthawks'', a RTÉ Television chat show of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and for composing " What's ...

(1984, 1989) *Michael Heney (1990, 1992) *

Eamon Keane Eamonn Patrick Keane (born Edmund Keane; 30 March 1925 – 7 January 1990) was an Irish actor. Keane was born in Listowel, County Kerry and was a brother of the playwright, John B. Keane. He was a member of the Radio Éireann Players and appea ...

(1966, 1971) * Joe Lynch (1962, 1977) * Muiris Mac Conghail (1967, 1985) * Ciarán Mac Mathúna (1969, 1990) *Ian McGarry (1975, 1981) *Joe Mulholland (1977, 1979) *John O'Donovan (1970, 1974) *Kevin O'Kelly (1969, 1980) *

Cathal O'Shannon Cathal O'Shannon (9 June 1890 – 4 October 1969) was an Irish politician, trade unionist and journalist. Early years Charles Francis Shannon was born in Randalstown, County Antrim, he was the third child of Charles and Alice Shannon. As a chi ...

(1976, 1978) *Eoin Ó Súilleabháin (1965, 1974) *

James Plunkett James Plunkett Kelly, or James Plunkett (21 May 1920 – 28 May 2003), was an Irish writer. He was educated at Synge Street CBS. Kelly grew up among the Dublin working class and they, along with the petty bourgeoisie and lower intelligentsi ...

(1965, 1969) *John Quinn (1988, 1993) *RTÉ Sports Department (1962, 1966)

Winners – full details

1960s

1962

Television *Eileen Crowe (Best actress for ''

The Well of the Saints ''The Well of the Saints'' is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge, J. M. Synge, first performed at the Abbey Theatre by the Irish National Theatre Society in February 1905 in literature, 1905. The Setting (narrative ...

'') * Joe Lynch (Best actor for Shaw's ''The Shewing-up of Blanco Posnet'') *Burt Budin (Best producer) *''

Hancock's Half Hour ''Hancock's Half Hour'' was a BBC radio comedy, and later television comedy series, broadcast from 1954 to 1961 and written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The radio series starred Tony Hancock, with Sidney James, Bill Kerr and,at various ...

'' (Best imported programme) * ''Broadsheet'' (Best home-produced programme) * Proinsias Mac Aonghusa (Best contribution in the Irish language) *

(Most original contribution to television for the series ''Self Portrait'') *Telefís Éireann's Sports Department (general coverage) * Charles Mitchel (Newsreader)

1963

Television *Blaithin Nic Chaomhin (Best contribution in the Irish language) * (Most enterprising programme) *

Conor Cruise O'Brien Donal Conor David Dermot Donat Cruise O'Brien (3 November 1917 – 18 December 2008), often nicknamed "The Cruiser", was an Irish diplomat, politician, writer, historian and academic, who served as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs from 1973 ...

(Best original script for programme on

Charles Stewart Parnell Charles Stewart Parnell (27 June 1846 – 6 October 1891) was an Irish nationalist politician who served as a Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom from 1875 to 1891, Leader of the Home Rule Leag ...

) *Telefís Éireann's Sports Department (Best outside broadcast) *

Cyril Cusack Cyril James Cusack (26 November 1910 – 7 October 1993) was an Irish stage and screen actor with a career that spanned more than 70 years. During his lifetime, he was considered one of Ireland's finest thespians, and was renowned for his inte ...

(Best actor for ''Triptych'') *

(Outstanding personality) * Peter Collinson, (Best producer for ''The Bomb'') * Monica Sheridan (Individual award for her cookery programme)

1964

Television * Bunny Carr (Presenter of ''Teen Talk'') *Paddy Jennings (Editor of ''On The Land'') *

Paddy Crosbie Paddy Crosbie (1 October 1913 – 2 September 1982) was the Irish creator of the radio and television programmes '' The School Around The Corner'' and ''Back To School''.Sunday Independent, 5 September 1982 Youth Crosbie was born in Dublin, Ir ...

("for his many amusing and entertaining contributions to Telefís Éireann") *

Brian Cleeve Brian Brendon Talbot Cleeve (22 November 1921 – 11 March 2003) was a writer, whose published works include twenty-one novels and over a hundred short stories. He was also an award-winning broadcaster on RTÉ television. Son of an Irish father ...

(script and narration on ''Discovery'') * Jim Norton (acting performance in ''Solo'' series) *''64'' (current affairs series) *Alan Pleass (design of ''Letter from the General'') *

Chloe Gibson Chloe Gibson (18 May 1899 – 1 January 1995) was an English theatre and television director, who directed Telefís Éireann's opening night on New Year's Eve 1961. Early life and family Chloe Gibson was born in Torquay, Devon, England on 18 ...

(producer of ''

The Importance of Being Oscar ''The Importance of Being Oscar'' is a one man show devised by the ''soi-disant'' Irish people, Irish actor Micheál Mac Liammóir and based on the writings of Oscar Wilde. It intersperses excerpts from Wilde's plays and other writings with biogra ...

'') * ''The Great War'', (

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

series) * Micheál MacLiammóir (acting performance in ''The Importance of Being Oscar'')

1965

Television * Wesley Burrowes (contributions to Telefís Éireann's Drama Department) *

(writer and producer of ''Many Happy Christmases'' episode of ''The Life and Times of

Jimmy O'Dea James Augustine O'Dea (26 April 1899 – 7 January 1965) was an Irish actor and comedian. Life Jimmy O'Dea was born at 11 Lower Bridge Street, Dublin, to James O'Dea, an ironmonger, and Martha O'Gorman, who kept a small toy shop. He was one of ...

'') *Gerry Murray (producer of TV coverage of the

1965 Irish General Election The 1965 Irish general election to the 18th Dáil was held on Wednesday, 7 April, following the Dissolution of Parliament, dissolution of the 17th Dáil on 18 March by President of Ireland, President Éamon de Valera on the request of Taoiseach ...

) *Tom McGrath (producer of Irish

National Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

) *

(acting performance in ) *Eoin Ó Súilleabháin (presenter of ) *

Peter Watkins Peter Watkins (born 29 October 1935) is an English filmmaker, documentarian, writer, and Film theory, film theorist. He is known as a pioneer of the docudrama and the mockumentary genres, typically with heavy political content. His films presen ...

(writer and director of ''Culloden'')

1966

Television * Michael Viney (maker of documentary ''Too Many Children'') * Frank Hall (editor of ''Newsbeat'') *Lelia Doolan (producer of ''

The Plough and the Stars ''The Plough and the Stars'' is a four-act play by the Irish writer Seán O'Casey that was first performed on 8 February 1926 at the Abbey Theatre. It is set in Dublin and addresses the 1916 Easter Rising. The play's title references the Sta ...

'') *May Cluskey (acting performance in '' Tolka Row'' and ''The Plough and the Stars'') * Eamonn Keane (acting performance in ''When do you die, Friend?'') *

Justin Keating Justin Pascal Keating (7 January 1930 – 31 December 2009) was an Irish Labour Party politician, broadcaster, journalist, lecturer and veterinary surgeon. In later life he was president of the Humanist Association of Ireland. Keating was tw ...

(writer and presenter of ) *Stuart Hetherington ("for his outstanding film work") *Andreas Ó Gallchóir (producer of ''On Behalf of the Provisional Government'') Golden Trophy *

Sports Department

1967

Television * John Cowley (acting performance in ''

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 ...

'' series) * John Healy (scriptwriter for ''Headlines and Deadlines'') * (television lessons for schools) * Muiris Mac Conghail (producer of current affairs programme'' 7 Days'') * ( Irish: "Out Under the Sky") (wildlife series) * ''

The Forsyte Saga ''The Forsyte Saga'', first published under that title in 1922, is a series of three novels and two interludes published between 1906 and 1921 by the English author John Galsworthy, who won the 1932 Nobel Prize in Literature. They chronicle th ...

'' (BBC drama series, adaptation of novels)

1968

Television *

Marie Kean Marie Kean (27 June 1918 – 29 December 1993) was an Irish stage and screen actress, with a career spanning over 40 years, ''The Stage'' called her one of Ireland's most impressive actresses, and "an artist of considerable emotional depth and ...

(for her acting performance in

Samuel Beckett Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish writer of novels, plays, short stories, and poems. Writing in both English and French, his literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal, and Tragicomedy, tra ...

's ''Happy Days'') *Rev. Romuald Dodd O.P. (for the high standard of religious programmes) * Brian Farrell (presenter of ''7 Days'') * Augustine Martin (presenter of programme on

English literature English literature is literature written in the English language from the English-speaking world. The English language has developed over more than 1,400 years. The earliest forms of English, a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian d ...

) * Jeremy Sandford (writer of ''

Cathy Come Home "Cathy Come Home" is a 1966 BBC television play about homelessness. It was written by Jeremy Sandford, produced by Tony Garnett and directed by Ken Loach. A 1998 ''Radio Times'' readers' poll voted it the "best single television drama" and a 200 ...

'')

1969

Radio * Diarmuid Ó Muirithe (presenter of ) *

("for his consistently high standard in broadcasting and presentation") * Noel Ó Briain (producer of ) * Máire Ní Mhurchú ("for the intuitive sympathy she shows towards those to whom she talks and the manner in which she conveys her enjoyment in broadcasting"). * Ciarán Mac Mathúna ("for his work in the discovery and conservation of traditional Irish music") * Mike Burns (news and current affairs) * A. J. Potter (composer of ) Television * Kevin O'Kelly (commentator on

Apollo 11 Apollo 11 was a spaceflight conducted from July 16 to 24, 1969, by the United States and launched by NASA. It marked the first time that humans Moon landing, landed on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin l ...

moon landing) * Brian Mac Lochlainn (producer of ) * Donall Farmer (producer of ''Looking into Drama'') * Aideen O'Kelly (acting performance in ''Oileán Tearmainn'') *

(producer of ''Anthology'', arts programme) *

Hugh Leonard Hugh Leonard (9 November 1926 – 12 February 2009) was an Irish dramatist, television writer, and essayist. In a career that spanned 50 years, Leonard wrote nearly 30 full-length plays, 10 one-act plays, three volumes of essay, two autobiograph ...

(scriptwriter on TV adaptations of ''

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'', or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'', is the third novel by English author Charles Dickens, originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839. The character of Nickleby is a young man who must support his ...

'' and ''

Wuthering Heights ''Wuthering Heights'' is the only novel by the English author Emily Brontë, initially published in 1847 under her pen name "Ellis Bell". It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moors, the Earnshaws and the ...

'')

1970s

1970

Radio *Rick Walshe * John Bowman *Pat Sweeney *Rhoda Coghill *P. J. O'Connor *Aidan Grennell Television *John O'Donovan *Bil Keating *Tony Barry * Lord Kenneth Clark *

1971

Radio * Eamonn Keane (radio drama) *Liam Nolan ("for his achievement in improving the prestige of sound broadcasting") *Liam Hourican (reports on

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

) *'' Sunday Miscellany'' (magazine programme) Television *Brian Mac Lochlainn (producer of ''A Week in the Life of Martin Cluxton'') *Canon J. G. McGarry (contributor to ''Outlook'', religious series) * Michael Ryan (presenter of ''Enterprise'') *Alpho O'Reilly (designer of 1971 Eurovision Song Contest) Golden Trophy *

1972

Radio *Gene Martin (producer) * Jimmy Magee (sports commentator) *

Tom McGurk Tom McGurk () (born 20 December 1946) is an Irish poet, journalist, radio presenter and sportscaster from Brockagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He attended Portadown College. He studied English and Philosophy at Queen's University Bel ...

(documentary maker) *Micheál Ó Conaola (documentary maker) * Rosaleen Linehan (''Get an Earful of This'') Television *Pan Collins (researcher on '' The Late Late Show'') *Noel Smyth (producer of ''Encounter'') *Rory O'Farrell (film editor of ''Belfast 1972'') *Mike Twomey (cast member on ''

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 ...

'') *Frank Duggan (cast member on ''Hall's Pictorial Weekly'') *Paddy Gallagher (presenter of ''Report'', current affairs series)

1973

Radio *Roibeard Ó Faracháin (Controller of Radio Programmes for "his defence of free speech since the early days of broadcasting and for his aesthetic sense in encouraging programmes like the Thomas Davis lectures") *Kieran Sheedy (editor of ''Imprint'') *Tommy O'Brien (presenter of ''Your Choice and Mine'') *

(news reporter) Television *Norris Davidson (documentary maker) * Niall Toibín (star of ''If The Cap Fits'') *Tim O'Connor (Editor of ''The Sunday Sports Show'') *Deirdre Friel (director of ''Cancer'' by Eugene McCabe) *

Eileen Colgan Eileen Colgan Simpson (2 January 1934 – 10 March 2014) was an Irish theatre, television and film actress. She was best known for her recurring role as Esther Roche on the RTÉ One soap opera, ''Fair City''. She also appeared in the RTÉ televi ...

(acting performance in ''Hatchet'' by Heno Magee) * Ted Nealon (presenter of

1973 Irish general election The 1973 Irish general election to the 20th Dáil was held on Wednesday, 28 February 1973, following the dissolution of the 19th Dáil on 5 February by President Éamon de Valera on the request of Taoiseach Jack Lynch. The general election t ...

results) *

Alistair Cooke Alistair Cooke, Order of the British Empire, KBE (né Alfred Cooke; 20 November 1908 – 30 March 2004) was a British-American writer whose work as a journalist, television personality and radio broadcaster was done primarily in the Unite ...

(writer and presenter of ''

Alistair Cooke's America ''Alistair Cooke's America'' is a tie-in book to Alistair Cooke's 13-part television documentary series '' America: A Personal History of the United States''. The book sold almost two million copies. It was published by Alfred A. Knopf Alfre ...

'')

1974

Radio *Eoin Ó Súilleabháin (acting performance in ''The Father'') *Aine McEvoy (producer of ''Church in Action'', religious affairs programme) *Norris Davidson (opera commentaries) *

Neasa Ní Annracháin Neasa Ní Annracháin (; 17 October 1922 – 18 December 2014) was an Irish actress known for her work on Irish radio. Early life Ní Annracháin was born on 17 October 1922 to farmer and author Peadar Ó hAnnracháin from Skibbereen, and his w ...

("for her outstanding contribution to a distinguished company of actors") *John O'Donovan (host of ''Dear Sir or Madam'', listener feedback programme) *Joe Linnane ("long and meritorious service to broadcasting") Television * Peggy Dell (light entertainment) * Louis Lentin (drama production) *

Frank Kelly Francis Kelly (28 December 1938 – 28 February 2016) was an Irish actor, singer and writer, whose career covered television, radio, theatre, music, screenwriting and film. He is best remembered for playing Father Jack Hackett in the Channel 4 ...

(cast of ''

'') * Wesley Burrowes (creator and scriptwriter ''

'')

1975

Radio *Diarmuid Peavoy (''Listen and See'' - programme for the blind) *Michael O'Callaghan (''My Own Place'') Television * Frank Hall ("for creating an original programme format and for the independence and individuality of his style") * Terry Willers (cartoonist on ''

'') *Maire de Barra (presenter of ) *

('' 7 Days'' documentary on the

Dublin Bay Dublin Bay () is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea on the east coast of Ireland. The bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north–south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth He ...

oil refinery) *Ian McGarry (music presenter) *Proinsias Ó Duinn (orchestral conductor) *

John Alderton John Alderton (born 27 November 1940) is an English retired actor. He is best known for his roles in '' Upstairs, Downstairs'', '' Thomas & Sarah'', '' Wodehouse Playhouse'', '' Little Miss'' (original television series), '' Please Sir!'', '' ...

(acting performance in ''

My Wife Next Door ''My Wife Next Door'' is a British sitcom created by Brian Clemens and written by Richard Waring. It was shown on BBC1 in 1972, and ran for 13 episodes. The programme is about a couple, George Basset ( John Alderton) and Suzie Basset (Hannah ...

'') * Adrian Malone (executive producer of ''

The Ascent of Man ''The Ascent of Man'' is a 13-part British documentary television series produced by the BBC and Time-Life Films first broadcast in 1973. It was written and presented by Polish-British mathematician and historian of science Jacob Bronowsk ...

'')

1976

Radio *

(for '' The Gay Byrne Show'') *

Eavan Boland Eavan Aisling Boland ( ; 24 September 1944 – 27 April 2020) was an Irish poet, author, and professor. She was a professor at Stanford University, where she had taught from 1996. Her work deals with the Irish national identity, and the role o ...

(''The Arts Programme'') *Tom McArdle (''Knock at the Door'' - pre-school programme) *Padraic Ó Raghallaigh ("for the sustained excellence of his interview series") Television *

(documentary on

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

, ''Even The Olives Are Bleeding'') *John Kelleher (producer of ''The Greening of America'') *

Liam Ó Murchú Liam Ó Murchú (10 February 1929 – 28 June 2015) was an Ireland, Irish television broadcaster, who worked with the national station Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Radio Telefís Éireann (RTÉ). Liam Ó Murchú was born in Blarney Street, Cork ...

(presenter of ) * Eugene McCabe (writer of trilogy of TV plays ''Victims'') *Tony Kenny (light entertainment) *Pat Fergus (presenter of ''Landmark'', agricultural matters) Golden Trophy * Wesley Burrowes (scriptwriter and editor of ''

'')

1977

Radio *Jane Carty (for encouraging Irish musicians) *Kathleen Kelliher (''Helping Adults to Read'') *Albert Rosen (conductor of the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra) *Pat Feeley ( – new writing in the

Irish language Irish (Standard Irish: ), also known as Irish Gaelic or simply Gaelic ( ), is a Celtic language of the Indo-European language family. It is a member of the Goidelic languages of the Insular Celtic sub branch of the family and is indigenous ...

) Television *John O'Donoghue (presenter of ''PM'') * Brian Farrell (presenter of

1977 Irish general election The 1977 Irish general election to the 21st Dáil was held on Thursday, 16 June, following the dissolution of the 20th Dáil on 25 May by President Patrick Hillery on the request of Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave. The general election took place ...

results) * Joe Lynch (acting performance in Eugene McCabe's TV play ''King of the Castle'') *Joe Mulholland (producer of programme on a fishing tragedy in

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county of the Republic of Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Ulster and is the northernmost county of Ireland. The county mostly borders Northern Ireland, sharing only a small b ...

) * Eamon Morrissey (cast of ''

'')

1978

Radio *Al Byrne (''Discovery'' programme on

nuclear energy Nuclear energy may refer to: *Nuclear power, the use of sustained nuclear fission or nuclear fusion to generate heat and electricity *Nuclear binding energy, the energy needed to fuse or split a nucleus of an atom *Nuclear potential energy, the pot ...

) *

Bernadette Greevy Bernadette Greevy (3 July 1940 – 26 September 2008) was an Irish mezzo-soprano. She was founder and artistic director of the Anna Livia Dublin International Opera Festival.''The Irish Times'', "Festival seeks to promote opera among young peopl ...

(for her performance in

Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...

concert) * Leo Enright (report on

delinquents for '' This Week'') *Proinsias Ó Conluain (documentary on Irish countryside) Television *

(host of live coverage of Rose of Tralee contest) *

Maeve Binchy Anne Maeve Binchy Snell (28 May 1939Born 1939 as per biography, ''Maeve Binchy'' by Piers Dudgeon, Thomas Dunne Books 2013; (hardcover), pp. 4, 280, 302; (ebook) – 30 July 2012) was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, column ...

(writer of TV play '' Deeply Regretted By...'') * Mike Murphy (presenter of ''Murphy's America'') *Peter McNiff ("for his courageous handling of issues on ''Newsround''") * Donal Farmer (acting performance in '' Deeply Regretted By...'') *

("for his sympathetic interviewing style" in ''

Emmet Dalton James Emmet Dalton MC (4 March 1898 – 4 March 1978) was an Irish soldier and film producer. He served in the British Army in the First World War, reaching the rank of captain. However, on his return to Ireland he became one of the senior fi ...

Remembers'')

1979

Radio *Morgan O'Sullivan (presenter of ''Late Date'') *

Marian Finucane Marian Finucane ( ; 21 May 1950 – 2 January 2020) was an Irish people, Irish broadcaster with RTÉ. Finucane began working with the national broadcaster in 1974, starting as a continuity announcer. She went on to host ''Women Today'' (1979– ...

(presenter of ''Women Today'') *Dan Treston (producer of ''The Secret Garden'') *Pat Feeley ("for his programmes on Irish social history") Television *

Gabriel Byrne Gabriel James Byrne (born 12 May 1950) is an Irish actor. He has received a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for a Grammy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Tony Awards. Byrne was awarded the Irish Film and Television Academy L ...

(acting performance in ''Bracken'') * Mike Murphy (presenter of '' The Live Mike'') *Con Bushe (programmes for young people) *Michael O'Carroll (''Wheels in Unison - The Health Race '79'') *

Mick Lally Michael Lally (10 November 1945 – 31 August 2010) was an Irish stage, film, and television actor. He departed from a teaching career for acting during the 1970s. Though best known in Ireland for his role as Miley Byrne in the television soap ...

(acting performance in ''Roma'' and ''Bracken'') *Joe Mulholland (''Let My Tombstone be of Granite'' - documentary on Frank Ryan) *

(special award to the station for its coverage of the visit to Ireland by

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 ...

)

1980s

1980

Radio *Kevin O'Kelly (presenter of ''Addendum'' - religious affairs series) * John Skehan (presenter of ''Play It Again, John'' - extracts from the radio archive) *Anne Daly (reporting of Archbishop Romero's funeral) *

Dave Fanning David Fanning (born 27 February 1956) is an Irish television and radio broadcaster, rock journalist, DJ, film critic and author. Fanning currently hosts weekend midday magazine/chat show '' The Dave Fanning Show'' on the Irish national radio st ...

(disc jockey) * Mike Murphy (for his early morning radio show) Television *John Lynch (producer of ''The Law Courts'' edition of ''Insight'' series) *

Frank Cvitanovich Frank Cvitanovich (14 August 1927 – 12 August 1995) was a Canadian documentary film maker, who made much of his best work for British television. Early years Cvitanovich was born in Vancouver, the son of a Croatian Canadian, Croat immigrant. ...

(producer and director of ''Murphy's Stroke'' - documentary on the

Gay Future Gay Future was the racehorse at the centre of an attempted fraud by an Irish betting syndicate in Great Britain in 1974 involving two chestnut horses.

betting coup) * Frank Grimes (acting performance in ''

Strumpet City ''Strumpet City'' is a 1969 historical novel by James Plunkett set in Dublin, Ireland, around the time of the 1913 Dublin Lock-out. In 1980, it was adapted into a TV drama by Hugh Leonard for RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster. The novel i ...

'') *John McColgan (producer of ''Hunky Dory'' - musical based on songs by

Dory Previn Dorothy Veronica "Dory" Previn (née Langan; October 22, 1925 – February 14, 2012) was an American lyricist, singer-songwriter and poet. During the late 1950s and 1960s, Previn was a lyricist on songs intended for motion pictures and, with h ...

) *

Robert Kee Robert Kee (5 October 1919 – 11 January 2013) was a British broadcaster, journalist, historian and writer, known for his historical works on World War II and Ireland. Life and career Kee was born on 5 October 1919 in Calcutta, India, ...

(writer and presenter of ''Ireland - A Television History'') * Barry Cowan (presenter of ''

Today Tonight ''Today Tonight'' was an Australian current affairs television program produced by the Seven Network. It aired from January 1995 to November 2019 in Adelaide and Perth. Editions in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were previously produced be ...

'' - current affairs series)

1981

Radio *Harry Bradshaw (presenter of ''Folkland'' and ''The Long Note'') *

(presenter of ''Page by Page'' and ''The Church in Action'') * John Bowman (presenter of ''Day by Day'') *Pat Kenny (for "evidence of unusual versatility" as presenter of ''Saturday View'' on RTÉ Radio 1, ''The Kenny Report'' and ''The Outside Track'', both on RTÉ 2fm) Television *Forbes McFall (reporter on ''

'') *Bernard MacLaverty (author of TV play ''My Dear Palestrina'') *Godfrey Graham (lighting cameraman on Eugene McCabe's play ''Winter Music'') *Ian McGarry (producer/director of the TV coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, 1981 Eurovision Song Contest) *Tish Barry (reporter on edition of ''Today Tonight'' dealing with victims of The Troubles in

) *Adele King, Twink (performer in the Christmas Light Entertainment Special on RTÉ Two) Golden Trophy *

("in recognition of his outstanding broadcasting achievements on both radio and television")

1982

Radio *Donal Flanagan (producer of ''Introspect'' series) *Ray Lynott (presenter of ''A Traveller's Tunes'') *Des Kenny (presenter of ''Ask About Gardening'') *William Styles (producer of Ulysses (broadcast), radio adaptation of James Joyce's ''Ulysses'') Television *Seán Ó Mordha (producer of ''Is there one who understands me?'' - documentary on James Joyce) *Pat O'Connor (director), Pat O'Connor (director of TV adaptation of ''The Ballroom of Romance'') *

(presenter of ''

'') *William Trevor (author of ''The Ballroom of Romance'')

1983

Radio *Jim Fahy ("for unearthing treasures from our tradition in ''Looking'') *Mark Cagney (RTÉ 2fm disc jockey) *Caroline Murphy (sports commentator) *Betty Purcell (presenter of ''Talk Back'') *Venetia O'Sullivan (''In Love with Ireland'' - documentary on Arnold Bax) Television *

(Presenter of ''The Season That's In It'') *Brendan O'Brien (Irish journalist), Brendan O'Brien, (reporter on ''

'') *Mary McEvoy (acting performance in ''Glenroe'') *Brian Lynch (author of ''Caught in a Free State'') *Teresa Mannion (co-presenter of ''Youngline'') *Mary Dinan (co-presenter of ''Youngline'')

1984

Radio *Siobhan McHugh/

(producer and presenter of ''Strawberry Fields Forever'' - documentary series on the 1960s) *Padraic Dolan (documentary maker ''You Can't Live on Love'' - programme on unemployment) *Julian Vignoles ("for demonstrating the creative role which the producer can play in many areas on radio") *Michael Littleton (for development of ''The Thomas Osborne Davis (Irish politician), Thomas Davis Lectures'') Television *Bob Quinn (Irish filmmaker), Bob Quinn (scriptwriter and director of ''Atlantean'') *Ciana Campbell (presenter of ''Access'') *J. Graham Reid (writer of ''The Billy Trilogy'') *Joe O'Donnell (creator and producer of ''Bosco (TV series), Bosco'')

1985

Radio *P. J. Curtis (presenter of ''His Kind of Music'') *Hilary Orpen (producer of ''Liveline'') *David Hanley (presenter of ''Morning Ireland'') *John Caden (producer of '' The Gay Byrne Show'') Television *Muiris Mac Conghail (for - documentary on the Blasket Islands) *Michael O'Connell (producer of ''Shadows'' - series on Victorian era, Victorian Ireland) *Niall Mathews (producer of ''Live Aid for Africa'') *David Shaw Smith (film-maker and producer of ''English Silk'') *Nuala O'Faolain (producer of ''Plain Tales'')

1986

Radio *

(presenter of ''Books and Company'') *BP Fallon (presenter of ''The BP Fallon Orchestra'') *Colette Proctor (acting performance in ''The Far Side of the Moon'') *Brendan Balfe (presenter of ''The Spice of Life'' documentary series) *Larry Gogan (presenter of ''Ireland's Top Thirty'') Television *

(presenter of Questions and Answers (TV series), ''Questions and Answers'') *Michael Murphy (journalist), Michael T. Murphy (''Access Community Drama'') *Marty Whelan (presenter of ''Videofile'') *Éamon de Buitléar (presenter of ) *Eugene Murray (editor of ''

'') *Thelma Mansfield (co-presenter of ''Live at 3'')

1987

:''No awards listed''

1988

Radio *John Quinn (series on Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger) *Martha McCarron (''The Sad, the Mad and the Bad'' - series on institutional life in Ireland) *Colm Keane (''American Profiles'') *Myles Dungan (14-part series ''Vietnam'') *Treasa Davison (presenter of ''Playback'') Television *Ray McAnally (acting performance in ''A Very British Coup (mini-series), A Very British Coup'') *John Feehan (writer of ''Exploring the Landscape'' - natural geography series) *John McHugh (researcher of '' The Late Late Show'' special on The Dubliners) *Michael Lyster (presenter of ''The Sunday Game'') *Declan Lowney (director of the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest) * Mike Murphy (presenter of ''Murphy's Australia'')

1989

Radio *Anne Daly (reporter on ''Worlds Apart'') *

(presenter of ''The Sunday Show'') *Bill Long (writer), Bill Long (producer of ''Singing Ark, Flowering Flood'' - documentary on Dylan Thomas) *John MacKenna (''How the heart approaches what it yearns'') *Eamonn Ó Muirí Television *Zig and Zag (puppets), Zig and Zag ("for keeping the children of the nation happy") *Alan Gilsenan (documentary on Irish emigrants) *Colm Connolly (director, writer and narrator of ''The Shadow of Béalnabláth'') *Bernard Loughlin (narrator of ''The Border - The Great Divide'') *

1990s

1990

Radio *Cathal Mac Coille (co-presenter of ''Morning Ireland'') *Gerry Ryan (presenter of ''The Gerry Ryan Show'' on RTÉ 2fm) *Luke Verling (documentary maker ''The Story of the West Clare Railway'' for Clare FM) * Ciarán Mac Mathúna (presenter of ) *Nell McCafferty (for her reports on the 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1990 World Cup for ''The Pat Kenny Show'') *Ken Murray (documentary maker ''Our Man in Europe'' for LMFM) *Mick Bourke ("for his seamless editing of a sound picture of an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, All-Ireland Final day") Television *Michael Heney (for a series of documentaries on public issues) *Bill O'Herlihy (presenter of RTÉ Two, Network 2 coverage of 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1990 World Cup) *Alan Gilsenan (director of documentary on AIDS) *Tony Barry (director of TV adaptation of Somerville and Ross' novel, ''The Real Charlotte'') *Mary Raftery (reporter on edition of ''

'' dealing with , Patrick Gallagher's property empire) *Stella McCusker (acting performance in ''Dear Sarah (film), Dear Sarah'')

1991

Radio *Paddy O'Gorman (presenter of ''Queuing for a Living'' on RTÉ Radio 1) *Julian Vignoles (producer of documentary, ''No Meadows in Manhattan'', on RTÉ Radio 1) *Stevie Bolger (presenter of ''Afternoon Tea with Stevie B.'' on Cork 89FM) *Dermot Morgan (writer and performer in ''Scrap Saturday'' on RTÉ Radio 1) *Robert Fisk (for his coverage of the Gulf War on RTÉ Radio 1) *Seán Bán Breathnach (sports commentaries on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta) *Dan Collins (presenter of ''The Rambling House'' on Radio Kerry) Television :''List incomplete (see Talk Page)'' *

(co-presenter of ''Live at 3'') *Sean Duignan (presenter of ''Six-One News'')

1992

Radio *John Creedon (presenter of RTÉ Radio 1's ''Risin' Time'') *Joe Duffy (reporter on RTÉ Radio 1's '' The Gay Byrne Show'') *Orla Guerin (RTÉ's Eastern Europe correspondent) *Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh (Gaelic Games reporter on RTÉ Radio 1's ''Sunday Sport'' show) *Joe Steve Ó Neachtain (writer/actor in RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's drama series, ) *Julian Vignoles (RTÉ Radio 1 documentary maker ''Death of a Farmer'') *Eilis Geary (presenter of ''The Arts Programme'' on Cork's 96FM and 103FM County Sound, 103FM) Television *Michael Heney (reporter on edition of ''

'' series dealing with the Nicky Kelly case) *

(acting performance in ''The Treaty (film), The Treaty'' - drama about Michael Collins (Irish leader), Michael Collins broadcast on RTÉ One) *Brian Mac Lochlainn (producer of RTÉ Two, Network 2's ''Nighthawks (TV show), Nighthawks'' series) *Rynagh O'Grady (documentary maker ''Born Bolshie'' -

's contribution to Irish television drama) *Seán Ó Tuarisg (presenter of RTÉ One's ) *Dick Warner (presenter of ''Waterways'')''The Irish Times'', "Winners of radio and TV awards", 16 November 1992

1993

Radio *Des Cahill (RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio) *Tim Lehane (RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio) *John Quinn (RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio) *Doireann Ní Bhriain (RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ Radio) *Tomás Ó Ceallaigh (RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Gaeltachta) *Martin Maguire (LMFM) Television *Anne McCabe (

) *Donal Toolan (

) *Moya Doherty (

) *Ray D'Arcy (

) *Ian Gibson (ITV Network, ITV) *Mark Galloway (ITV Network, ITV)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobs Awards Awards disestablished in 1993 Awards established in 1962 Culture of Ireland Radio in Ireland Television in the Republic of Ireland Jacob's Award winners, European radio awards Irish television awards 1962 establishments in Ireland 1993 disestablishments in Ireland