The People in Need Trust was a charity in Ireland. It was deregistered in 2016. Its main fundraiser, the RTÉ People in Need Telethon, was broadcast by

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, ...

from 1989 until 2007 and supported by

Eircom Eircom Limited, trading as Eir ( ; stylised eir), is a large fixed, mobile and broadband telecommunications company in Ireland. The company, which is currently incorporated in Jersey, traces its origins to Ireland's former state-owned monopol ...

(formerly

Telecom Éireann Telecom Éireann (; meaning "Telecommunications of Ireland") was an Irish state-owned telecommunications company that operated from 1983 to 1999. Prior to then a telephone and postal service was provided by the Department of Posts and Telegrap ...

), raising more than €35 million in total. The theme tune was " Come On Everybody" by

Eddie Cochran Ray Edward Cochran ( ; October 3, 1938 – April 17, 1960) was an American rock and roll musician. His songs, such as " Twenty Flight Rock", " Summertime Blues", " C'mon Everybody" and " Somethin' Else", captured teenage frustration and desire in ...

. As with '' The Late Late Toy Show'', Gay Byrne presented it wearing distinctive knitted jumpers. Previously there was Self Aid on 17 May 1986 followed by ''Telethon For The Homeless'' on 10 June 1988. The event was replaced by RTÉ Does Comic Relief on 26 June 2020. All nine People In Need Telethon's will be on RTE Player Christmas 2021 to celebrate 60 years of television.

History

The People in Need telethon took place nine times: 21 April 1989, 4 May 1990, 8 May 1992, 20 May 1994, 26 April 1996, 24 April 1998, 5 May 2000, 21 May 2004 and 26 October 2007. Merchandise included People in Need Telethon T-shirts, buckets, jumpers, welly boots and caps for each event.

1989 event

The 1989 event took place on Friday 21 April, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne. He interviewed his wife Kathleen Watkins reporting from

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

with music by Johnny Logan, music was performed by Hothouse Flowers,

Aslan Aslan () is a major character in C. S. Lewis's ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' series. Unlike any other character in the Narnian series, Aslan appears in all seven chronicles. Aslan is depicted as a Talking animals in fiction, talking lion and is ...

and

Enya Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (born 17 May 1961; anglicised as Enya Patricia Brennan) known mononymously as Enya, is an Irish singer and composer. With an estimated equivalent of over 80 million albums sold worldwide, Enya is the best-selli ...

in studio with Mick Flavin in

Longford Longford () is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It had a population of 10,952 at the 2022 census. It is the biggest town in the county and about one third of the county's population lives there. Longford lies at the meeting of ...

that night.

Lynsey de Paul Lynsey de Paul (born Lyndsey Monckton Rubin; 11 June 1948 – 1 October 2014) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. After initially writing hits for others, she had her own chart hits in the UK and Europe in the 1970s, starting ...

also performed a song for the event. There was studio auction with visible telephonists. Maxi reported from Limerick. Tommie Gorman and Ciana Campbell reported from

Sligo Sligo ( ; , meaning 'abounding in shells') is a coastal seaport and the county town of County Sligo, Ireland, within the western province of Connacht. With a population of 20,608 in 2022, it is the county's largest urban centre (constituting 2 ...

. Anne Doyle reported from

Athlone Athlone (; ) is a town on the border of County Roscommon and County Westmeath, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located on the River Shannon near the southern shore of Lough Ree. It is the second most populous town in the Midland Region, Ir ...

Bibi Baskin Olive "Bibi" Baskin (born 19 May 1952) is an Irish radio presenter, hotelier and former television presenter for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). She has been described as "RTÉ's legendary redhead". She has also worked as a magazine and ...

reported from Cork. Seán Bán Breathnach reported from

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú reported from

Waterford Waterford ( ) is a City status in Ireland, city in County Waterford in the South-East Region, Ireland, south-east of Ireland. It is located within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster. The city is situated at the head of Waterford H ...

. It was broadcast from RTÉ Studios and from the Round Room of the Mansion House,

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 ...

with Pat Kenny. The final total raised by the telethon, as reported at the end of the programme, was £2,389,967. The Telethon featured in RTE's '' Reeling In the Years'' review of 1989.

1990 event

The 1990 event took place on Friday 4 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne, Gerry Ryan and Dave Fanning. It was decided to hold the event every 2nd year (i.e. biennially rather than annually) due to financial problems. Something Happens performed the music that day. Telethon cost RTÉ approximately £500,000. Executive Producer Joe Mulholland felt it would be better to have it every other year. John Curry, executive director, People In Need, said that Telethon was a joint effort between People In Need and RTÉ. People In Need could not organise it on its own.

1992 event

The 1992 event took place on Friday 8 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne, Gerry Ryan and Derek Davis. An RTÉ strike earlier in the year threatened cancellation of the event.

1994 event

The 1994 event took place on Friday 20 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne, charity work was carried out on both sides of the island of

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 ...

. The events included radio DJs, Des Cahill and

Ian Dempsey Ian Dempsey (born 16 January 1961) is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled ''The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show'', which runs from 6-9 am each weekday. ...

bowling. Other entertainment on the night included a raffle and a Cadbury's Treasure Island Hunt, followed by an auction with Theresa Lowe and Derek Davis. The final total raised by the telethon, as reported at the end of the programme, was £3 million.

1996 event

The 1996 event took place on Friday 26 April, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne. Popular events singer

Eleanor McEvoy Eleanor McEvoy (born 22 January 1967) is an Irish singer-songwriter. She composed the song "Only a Woman's Heart", title track of '' A Woman's Heart'', the best-selling Irish album in Irish history. Early life and beginnings McEvoy's life as ...

in Dark Tights. Derek Davis and Mary Kennedy in

Christy O'Connor Jnr Christy O'Connor Jnr (born Christopher O'Connor; 19 August 1948 – 6 January 2016) was an Irish professional golfer. He is best known for defeating American Fred Couples at the 1989 Ryder Cup, helping Europe secure the trophy. Early life O'Co ...

playing

golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...

interviewed by Gerry Ryan and

Joe Duffy Joseph Duffy (born 27 January 1956) is an Irish people, Irish radio and TV presenter employed by RTÉ. One of the public service broadcaster's highest-earning stars, he is the current presenter of ''Liveline'', an interview and phone-in chat s ...

1998 event

The 1998 event took place on Friday 24 April, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan. The main event included Lorraine Keane. A version of

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...

's '' Piano Man'' and an accompanying

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

was released, featuring artists The Carter Twins, Leslie Dowdall, Christy Dignam, Eimear Quinn, Linda Martin and Paul Harrington, Frances Black, Don Baker,

Gavin Friday Gavin Friday (born Fionán Martin Hanvey, 8 October 1959) is an Irish singer and songwriter, composer, actor and painter, best known as a founding member of the post-punk group The Virgin Prunes. Early life Fionan Hanvey was born in Dublin an ...

and Liam Reilly.

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

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, ...

made an appearance on the night.

2000 event

The 2000 event took place on Friday 5 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne and Brendan O'Carroll. The main events included

Westlife Westlife are an Irish pop group formed in Dublin in 1998. The group consists of members Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. Brian McFadden was a member before leaving in March 2004. The group disbanded in 2012 and later reun ...

and Dustin the Turkey performing the music while Aonghus McAnally and

did some reporting. In 2001, the 2002 event was cancelled, due to financial problems, the introduction of the

Euro The euro (currency symbol, symbol: euro sign, €; ISO 4217, currency code: EUR) is the official currency of 20 of the Member state of the European Union, member states of the European Union. This group of states is officially known as the ...

, Foot and Mouth Disease and the

2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games () were hosted in Dublin, Ireland, with participants staying in various host towns around the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland) in the lead up to the games before moving t ...

. The new plan was to hold the event every 4 years.

2004 event

The 2004 event took place on Friday 21 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 19:00 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan. A radio station "Charity 252", was operated by celebrities, (including Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Eileen Reid, Brian McFadden, Amanda Brunker, Mickey Joe Harte, Emma O'Driscoll, Shirley Temple Bar,

Donncha Ó Dúlaing Donncha Ó Dúlaing (15 March 1933 – 4 September 2021) was an Irish broadcaster who was known country-wide and among the Irish around the world for his cultural and traditional music programmes. Career Ó Dúlaing was born in County Cork. His ...

and

George Murphy George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992) was an American actor and politician. Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1944 to ...

) locked into a residence for a week, over RTÉ's

longwave In radio, longwave (also spelled long wave or long-wave and commonly abbreviated LW) is the part of the radio spectrum with wavelengths longer than what was originally called the medium-wave (MW) broadcasting band. The term is historic, dati ...

Atlantic 252 radio station, with nightly highlights of

RTÉ Two (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Republic of Ireland, Irish Public broadcasting, public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, television, RT� ...

. A nightly TV highlight show was narrated by broadcaster Aonghus McAnally. It was decided not hold a telethon in either 2005 or 2006 due to the

Ryder Cup The Ryder Cup is a biennial men's golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States, with hosting duties alternating between venues in Europe and the United States for each edition. The cup is named after the English businessman S ...

in Ireland and the change of

Pope The pope is the bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church#Catholic Church, visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. He is also known as the supreme pontiff, Roman pontiff, or sovereign pontiff. From the 8th century until 1870, the po ...

. It was decided the following event in 2007 would be moved from late spring or early summer to autumn.

2007 event

The 2007 event took place on Friday 26 October, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 19:00 with the opening segment being presented by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh. Following the Nine O'Clock News,

Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy (born 28 May 1973) is an Irish broadcaster. He currently presents the weekday mid-morning programme ''The Ryan Tubridy Show'' on Virgin Radio UK, as well as a weekend programme on Sundays. His broadcasting career with RTÉ spanned ...

hosted the telethon, with Laura Woods in charge of a telephone auction, and Kathryn Thomas reporting from the

call centre. Clint Velour and the Camembert Quartet provided the musical entertainment for the night with guest singers including Dana, Caroline Morahan, Brian Ormond and Gráinne Seoige. After midnight Charlie Bird did Jason Byrne's ''

Anonymous Anonymous may refer to: * Anonymity, the state of an individual's identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown ** Anonymous work, a work of art or literature that has an unnamed or unknown creator or author * Anonym ...

'' as "Charles Black" where he fooled colleagues Pat Kenny, Derek Mooney,

, Eileen Dunne and Colm Murray and politicians

Willie O'Dea William Gerard O'Dea ( ; born 1 November 1952) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick City constituency since 2011, and previously from 1982 to 2011 for the Limerick East constituency. He has ser ...

, Mary O'Rourke, Michael D. Higgins and David Norris. However

Sharon Ní Bheoláin Sharon Ní Bheoláin (, approximately ; born Boland on 15 February 1971) is an Irish journalist, newsreader and presenter with RTÉ, Ireland's national radio and television broadcaster, where she has presented the '' Nine O'Clock News'' since 2 ...

and George Lee recognised him instantly. Lucy Kennedy, magician Keith Barry, comedian Karl Spain, boxer Bernard Dunne, Kristina Grimes of '' The Apprentice'' and sports broadcaster Eamon Horan also took part in the event. Grimes won the game, which Paddy Power bookmakers had sponsored for €30,000. The final total raised by the telethon, as reported at the end of the programme, was €7,550,333. Following the economic crash in 2009 no further Telethons were held, and the charity was wound down in 2016.

References

External links

*
archived
{{DEFAULTSORT:People in Need Trust Charities based in the Republic of Ireland Irish television specials 1980s establishments in Ireland 2016 disestablishments in Ireland RTÉ Television Telethons 1989 in Irish television 1990 in Irish television 1992 in Irish television 1994 in Irish television 1996 in Irish television 1998 in Irish television 2000 in Irish television 2004 in Irish television 2007 in Irish television