Irish Public Service Broadcasting - 2000s

"Paths to Freedom" First Broadcast: 13 November 2000

RTÉ Television commissioned a number of new dramas which came to air from 2000. "Paths to Freedom", "Bachelor's Walk", "On Home Ground" and "The Clinic" were all part of this new wave of drama production. "Paths to Freedom" was the first of these to attract both critical and public acclaim.

"Paths to Freedom" is a six-part comedy-drama series filmed in the style of a fly-on-the-wall documentary. It follows the experiences of "Rats" (Michael McElhatton) and Jeremy (Brendan Coyle) on their release from Mountjoy Prison. "Rats", an unemployed part-time musician and poet from Dublin's inner city, and Jeremy, a southside consultant gynaecologist, are filmed as they try to make their way back into society.

"Paths to Freedom" was written by Michael McElhatton and Ian Fitzgibbon. It was directed by Ian Fitzgibbon and produced by Grand Pictures for RTÉ.

"Bachelor's Walk" First Broadcast: 1 October 2001

This comedy-drama is based around three single men living in a large house on Dublin's Bachelor's Walk. Raymond (Don Wycherley) is a struggling film critic, Michael (Simon Delaney) is a would-be barrister who spends more time in the bookies and the pub than at work, while Barry (Keith McErlean) is the idle dreamer looking for a get-rich-quick scheme.

Written and directed by Tom Hall and brothers Kieran and John Carney, "Bachelor's Walk" was shot on location around Dublin city. It was produced by Accomplice Television Ltd and ran for three series.

Voicejazz

"Voicejazz", a documentary produced by Eithne Hand, is an exploration of the shape of a piece of jazz music using a number of key voices almost as separate instruments in an ensemble. The forty-minute long programme becomes a jazz piece in itself as the voices talk of what jazz music means to the people who play it and try to explain the upsurge of interest in terms of younger Irish audiences. Bass player Ronan Guilfoyle was specially commissioned to write a piece of music for the programme, which is featured throughout.

Voicejazz won the Prix Italia in 2002 in the music programmes category.

New On-Screen Classification Initiative for RTÉ: November 2001

In 2001, RTÉ Television introduced an information service to viewers, letting the audience know more about the content of the programmes they are about to watch. Icons indicating the classification of a programme now appear on screen for 20 seconds at the programme start. There are five classifications in all. This has signalled the beginning of a unique initiative which will see RTÉ gradually move to a position where most programmes will have their content classified.

According to this system, "Children (Ch)" denotes a programme aimed specifically at children, while "Suggested for Mature Audience (MA)" indicates a programme shown after the watershed and one which may contain scenes of sexual activity or violence, or profane dialogue.

General Audience (GA)- a programme considered to be acceptable to all ages and tastes.

Children (Ch) - a programme aimed specifically at children, ie the pre-teenage or very young teenage audience.

Young adult (YA) - a programme aimed at a teenage audience. That is to say, it would not be of great interest to an adult. However, it might deal with issues which affect the teenage audience, eg relationships, sexual activity, sexuality and soft drugs. Parents and guardians could expect that "YA" programmes might contain such material and may choose to limit their children's access.

Parental supervision (PS) - a programme aimed at a mature audience, ie it might deal with adult themes, be moderately violent, frightening, or contain an occasional swear word, and the classification label invites parents or guardians to consider restricting children's access.

Suggested for mature audience (MA) - a typical "post-watershed" programme which might contain scenes of sexual activity or violence, or the dialogue might be profane.

"You're a Star" Goes on Air: 27 October 2002

In a cross between reality television and an old-fashioned variety competition, "You're a Star", produced by ShinAwil Productions for RTÉ, went on air in 2002. In a nationwide talent trawl, the series held auditions in nine towns and cities around Ireland, with the winner receiving a record contract, management deal and the chance to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. The public chose their favourite artist each week by text voting.

Over 5,000 people auditioned and at the end of the twenty-one week series, Mickey Joe Harte emerged as the winner.

"Cabin Fever", RTÉ's Reality Ship Sinks: 13 June 2003

"Cabin Fever" was a reality game show located on a 90-foot, two mast-schooner. Ten contestants embarked on a sailing trip around the coast of Ireland in a tall ship named "Cabin Fever 1". During the eight-week voyage, the contestants would be given challenges and tasks to complete. Each week, the public voted for their favourite contestant; the person with the least number of votes was eliminated from the game and the chance to win €100,000.

On Friday 13 June 2003, five days after the first programme was aired, "Cabin Fever 1" ran aground on rocks off Tory Island near the Donegal coast. Within an hour and a half, the ship broke up. Thankfully all the contestants and crew were brought safely ashore. A new ship, the "Johana Lucretia", was brought in and six of the contestants opted to carry on in the competition.

"Cabin Fever" was produced by COCO Television for RTÉ.

View an RTÉ News report here on the sinking of "Cabin Fever 1".

Network 2 Becomes RTÉ TWO Again : 2 October 2004

RTÉ's second television channel was rebranded in October 2004 and reverted to the name RTÉ TWO.

View one of the RTÉ TWO station idents here.

RTÉ New London Office and Studio Open: 03 March 2005

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, formally opened RTÉ's new London office and studio in March 2005. The RTÉ premises at Millbank are in a building shared by other broadcasters including the BBC, Sky, ITV News and Channel 4.

RTÉ has maintained a presence in London since a sales office was first created there in 1969, closely followed by a news office. They originally shared an office in Ireland House, Bond Street. After several moves, News eventually relocated in 1992 to 4, Millbank, opposite the Houses of Parliament, under current RTÉ London Editor, Brian O'Connell. Now the two departments share offices in Millbank, creating a strong RTÉ presence in the British capital.

Previous London correspondents include Patrick Cosgrave, who became a speech-writer for British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, John O'Sullivan, who became Editor of the American "National Review" magazine, Andrew Sheppard, who was correspondent as the Northern Troubles reached their height in the 1970s, John O'Callaghan, who was in the London office during the Falklands War and Mike Burns, who was correspondent following the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement and during the Thatcher era.

Leas Cross Nursing Home

A "Prime Time" special report on the state of nursing home care prompted a national debate on how the elderly were being looked after in some nursing homes. Using a hidden camera, "Prime Time" reporter Cathal Gallagher, a qualified care worker, filmed shocking conditions and work practices in the Leas Cross nursing home at Swords, Dublin.

Just two hours before this edition of "Prime Time" was broadcast, the operators of the nursing home lost a last minute High Court bid to prevent the screening of the programme.

"Prime Time Investigates - Home Truths" won the best current affairs programme at the Irish Film and Television Awards for 2005.

Legendary broadcaster CiarÁn Mac MathÚna Retires

Ciarán Mac Mathúna presented "Mo Cheol Thú" for the last time on 27 November 2005. A Limerick native, Mac Mathúna joined RTÉ as a radio producer in 1955, initially travelling around Ireland gathering material for Radio Éireann's traditional music archive.

Mac Mathúna said: "It was a great pleasure to be part of RTÉ for the last 50 years. My duties were mostly 'a job of journeywork' - very enjoyable work indeed, travelling around Ireland and many parts of America, England and Scotland recording traditional music and song. Meeting all the musicians was very exciting for me and I only hope that my programmes helped to make their music as popular as it is today."

Listen here to the final moments of Ciarán Mac Mathúna's last "Mo Cheol Thú", which had been one of the longest-running programmes on radio. This short clip gives an idea of Ciarán's relaxed, personal and bilingual style of broadcasting.

Record Traffic for www.rte.ie

RTÉ.ie recorded a daily total of more than one-million page impressions for the first time in its history on 7 December 2005, when Brian Cowen, Minister for Finance, delivered his second budget to the Dáil.

"We are Here to Save Television"

"In an unbelievable twist of events, RTÉ have given us pair of gobsheens our own feckin' half-hour show!"

This is how Podge and Rodge announced that television cameras and a live audience had been let into Ballydung Manor for their new series. The brothers were joined by co-presenter Lucy Kennedy, and their first guests were Diarmuid Gavin and Senator David Norris.

RTÉ Radio 1 Documentary wins International Best Documentary Award

"Millionaire", an episode of the weekly documentary series "Flux", won a Best Documentary Award at the Third Coast International Audio Festival in Chicago.

Produced by Ronan Kelly, "Millionaire" tells the story of Roger Dowds, a Dublin man who overcomes his shyness to enter the television quiz show, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", and ends up winning £250,000. Over the course of the documentary, the difficult twists and turns in Dowds's life are revealed, alongside the inner strength and wit that help him to survive.

Listen here to an extract from the documentary.

RTÉ Release Samuel Beckett Box Set

An 18-CD box set featuring the trilogy of novels by Samuel Beckett was produced by RTÉ and the Lannan Foundation in 2006 as part of a series of commemorative events marking the centenary of the Nobel prizewinner's birth. The novels "Molloy", "Malone Dies" and "The Unnamable" are read by the actor Barry McGovern. Also included is a 58-page illustrated booklet on the writer's life and work written by Beckett scholar Gerry Dukes.

At the launch in Trinity College, Dublin, reporter Conor Mark Kavanagh speaks to Barry McGovern, Adrian Moynes and Dennis O'Driscoll.

Minister for Communications Launches RTÉ Online 1916 Exhibition

90 years to the day the Easter Rising began, a number of events took place in Dublin to mark the occasion. Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey launched an RTÉ online exhibition reflecting the Irish State's and RTÉ's own commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Rising in 1966.

The Cuimhneachán 1916 website offers visitors the chance to look at and listen to 91 radio and television clips from the Easter Week 1966 RTÉ schedule. Among these are interviews with participants in the Rising, extracts from drama productions, official commemoration ceremonies and colour film from events held around the country.

Mooney Cam Monitors Blue Tit Progress

The "Mooney Goes Wild" radio programme followed the progress of a family of blue tits who had nested in the garden of presenter Derek Mooney. A webcam allowed visitors to the "Mooney Goes Wild" website to watch the blue tits and learn about their habits.

This news report from day 34 shows four of the hatchlings in the nest. On 7 June 2006, the baby blue tits left the nest.

End of Line for "The Mystery Train"

Making changes to the broadcasting schedule is never easy and can often be controversial. "The Mystery Train" on RTÉ Radio One was a programme title that was always associated with the word eclectic. For seven years, presenter John Kelly had offered a wide range of musical genres on a show that had developed a loyal following. The show was brought to an end in 2006.

Here, RTÉ News reports on the final "Mystery Train" and John Kelly's move to an afternoon slot on RTÉ Lyric FM.

First Live Webcast of GAA Match for RTÉ

The Munster Senior Football Final replay between Kerry and Cork on 16 July 2006 had the distinction of being the first match to be streamed on the web by RTÉ Television. In April of that year, RTÉ Sport's first ever live webcast was Bernard Dunne's fight with Carlos Santillan. In October 2006, Dunne's European Super Bantam Weight title fight against Esham Pickering was also streamed lived by RTÉ Television.

New Look for RTÉ Television News

RTÉ Television News was given a fresh appearance in 2006 with a new title sequence, new graphics and a new look for the studio. The news studio is used for the "One", "Six One" and "Nine O'Clock" news programmes, "Nuacht", plus a number of shorter bulletins each day on RTÉ One. It also caters for the week-day news programme for children "News2day", the RTÉ "News on Two", "Leaders' Questions" and the weekly political review programme, "The Week in Politics". The new studio set is composed of walnut, glass and aluminium, and was designed by Fiona Cunningham. With one set to serve this busy schedule, a computer-controlled lighting design offers each programme its own individual style.

The launch of this was a double one for RTÉ News, as bulletins were broadcast in the widescreen format for the first time.

New On-Screen Identity for RTÉ One

RTÉ One Television launched a new on-screen identity package in November 2006. The channel received a package of twelve new idents and on-screen graphics. RTÉ's award-winning promotions department created the new look with Red Bee Media, a UK based multimedia company. Abstract yet thematic, each ident aims to represent different facets of Irish life. Exploring what it means to live in Ireland in the 21st century, the 12 new idents endeavour to represent life in Ireland in all of its diversity, depicting home-life, commerce, work and play, and contrasting the urban and the manufactured with our need for nature and exploration. Red Bee filmed all of the new idents in Ireland using local production staff and talent. They were directed by Neil Kenny with music by Irish composer Oisín Lunny.

Death of SeÁn Mac RÉamoinn

Seán Mac Réamoinn, a broadcaster and writer with a tremendous passion for the Irish language, died on 17 January 2007. Barry Cummins reports on his career.

RTÉ Redesigns Website

The redesigned version of RTÉ's website www.rte.ie goes live. The aim of the new look is to make it easier for users to identify and locate the site's vast range of information and resources.

RTÉ News and Current Affairs to be Streamed Live

RTÉ announces that television news and current affairs are to be streamed live on the web. The St Patrick's Day parade will be one of the first programmes to be simulcast. Joe Zefran of www.rte.ie and John O'Sullivan of DCU talk about this latest development.

RTÉ Musicians Feature On Stamps

It is announced that RTÉ's musicians are featured on five new 55 cent stamps. An Post says the stamps are a fitting tribute to the broadcaster's performing groups, each of which make a significant contribution to Irish cultural life.

HDTV Launch in Croke Park

Live high-definition coverage of the Leinster Football Final between Dublin and Laois on 15 July 2007 marked the beginning of a pilot DTT high-definition service. The match was shot with 11 high-definition cameras, all fitted with high-definition lenses in 1080i (1080 line interlaced). At midday the following day, transmission of a six and a half hour loop of high-definition programmes commenced with material provided by RTÉ Television, TV3 and TG4.

Here Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Communications, launches the trial service.

MÁirtÍn Ó Cadhain DVD

To commemorate the centenary of the birth of writer Máirtín Ó Cadhain, RTÉ commissioned the documentary "Rí an Fhocail", which was broadcast in September 2007. A DVD containing the documentary and a restored version of the 1967 documentary "Máirtín Ó Cadhain sa gCnocán Glas" was launched at the Oireachtas in November 2007.

Here are two extracts from "Máirtín Ó Cadhain sa gCnocán Glas". The first clip uses picture in picture to show the footage before and after restoration.

Judging Dev

On the 125th anniversary of Eamon de Valera's birth, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern launches Diarmaid Ferriter's book "Judging Dev", an RTÉ radio series of the same name and an RTÉ Libraries and Archives website tracing de Valera's life and career as recorded by Irish television and radio.

High Society

In November 2007, RTÉ broadcast "High Society", a two-part series looking at cocaine abuse in Ireland. Commissioned by RTÉ, it was based on the book of the same name by Justine Delaney-Wilson, who also presented the series. "High Society" featured dramatic reconstructions of testimonies given by cocaine users to Delaney-Wilson. One of the interviewees, described as "Robert, a politician", caused great media and public interest.

RTÉ came under increasing pressure to stand over the claim that a politician had admitted to taking cocaine. In an RTÉ radio interview in October 2007, Justine Delaney-Wilson had stated that she had recorded the interview and retained the recording. However, on Friday 16 November, an RTÉ response to a query from the "Sunday Tribune" stated that there was no audio recording of this interview. In another RTÉ radio interview the following Monday, Seán O'Rourke questioned Kevin Dawson, Commissioning Editor for Factual Programmes, about "High Society" and the existence or non-existence of a recorded interview with the politician. Justine Delaney-Wilson then issued a statement through her solicitors saying that she had not retained the digital recording.

Following an internal report, RTÉ admitted that editorial controls had not been sufficiently exercised when it came to "High Society." RTÉ executives answered questions relating to the series before the Joint Oireachtas Communication Committeee in December 2007.

Evidence of Politician Taking Cocaine Questioned

The "News at One" plays back an interview Justine Delaney-Wilson gave RTÉ's "Drivetime" in October 2007 where she stated that there was a recording of the politician who admitted using cocaine. It has now emerged that there is no recording. Listen here to Seán O'Rourke's interview with Kevin Dawson, the Commissioning Editor for Factual Programmes, about "High Society".

Oireachtas Committee Questions RTÉ on "High Society"

RTÉ admits there were failings in the production of "High Society", but stands over the veracity of the series.

"Shortcomings and Flaws in Editorial Process"

The "News at One" reports on the Joint Oireachtas Communication Committee's questioning of RTÉ management. Harry Magee of the "Irish Examiner" tells Seán O'Rourke about the proceedings before the committee.

RTÉ TV Promotions Win Four Awards In International Competition

RTÉ's promotions department won four awards at the 2007 PROMAX International awards ceremony held in New York. The World Gold Award went to the Donna Byrne for her "Stardust" campaign. Jim Booth and Ivan Fitzpatrick won a World Silver Award for their "Christmas Premieres" promotion, Dave Berry won a World Bronze for his World Cup '06 promotion and Gaye Maguire's RTÉ Guide commercial also won a World Bronze.

View a promotion for "Stardust" here.

Dustin the Turkey Chosen as Eurovision Entry

Dustin the Turkey won Ireland's national song contest by public vote in 2008. The selection of a puppet to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest caused some debate. In this clip, Paul O'Flynn seeks the views of the public on Dustin's success.

RTÉ Closes Last Medium Wave Transmitter

Ciaran Mullooly reports on the closure of the last RTÉ medium wave transmitter at Tullamore. Tom Collins, who serviced the previous transmitter at Moydrum, Athlone, for over 40 years, recalls the origins of the medium wave radio service.

New Belfast Offices for RTÉ

In 2008, RTÉ moved to new offices in Belfast after almost forty years in their previous premises. The new facilities were opened by the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.

National Symphony Orchestra in Letterkenny

The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra visited Letterkenny, Donegal, for three days in 2008. 3,500 children came to learn about music and musical instruments.

World Audiovisual Archive Day

On UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2008, Barry Cummins visits the RTÉ Archives and talks to Arthur Keating and Bríd Dooley about efforts to preserve RTÉ programmes.

New Digital Radio Services

RTÉ Radio unveiled six new digital radio services on DAB digital radio sets and at www.rte.ie/digitalradio/ on 1 December 2008. The new services were: RTÉ Choice, RTÉ Junior, RTÉ Gold, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Pulse and RTÉ Chill.

Listen here to the radio promotion.

Doubles For Weekend Radio Sports

RTÉ radio sports weekend programmes became cohosted in 2009, with John Kenny and Andrew O'Connor presenting "Saturday Sport". Here is a taster of "Sunday Sport", presented by Jacqui Hurley and Con Murphy.

New Studio For RTÉ Television News

Here is the first broadcast from a new state-of-the-art studio for RTÉ News. The new studio includes a video wall which allows composite pictures of the RTÉ newsroom, a Dublin skyline or Leinster House to be used as a back drop to the news readers. It was constructed in eight days and cost €1.3 million.

Pat Kenny To Leave Late Late Show

Pat Kenny announces that after 10 years presenting "The Late Late Show", he is to step down at the end of the series.

RTÉ Announces Catch Up Service

RTÉ Player, a new catch-up web TV service on RTÉ.ie, was launched in 2009, giving Irish broadband users the opportunity to watch their favourite RTÉ shows for up to 21 days after their original broadcast. Here is a promo for the new service.

Seamus Heaney is 70

On Seamus Heaney's 70th birthday, RTÉ and the Irish Museum of Modern Art hosted a celebration at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, featuring radio and television programmes, a website and the launch of a 15-CD box set of Heaney reading all his poems. In this clip, the poet addresses his guests.

Economics Editor Enters Politics

Former RTÉ economics editor George Lee successfully contested a Dublin South by-election for Fine Gael in 2009. Here is a television news report on his decision to run, followed by a radio interview with Sean O'Rourke.

Ryan Tubridy To Present Late Late Show

Following the announcement that he is to be the new presenter of "The Late Late Show", 36-year-old broadcaster Ryan Tubridy gives his reaction to taking over the long running chat show.

Cathal Goan Appears Before Dáil Committee

Here is a news report on RTÉ Director General Cathal Goan's appearance before the the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. He defends RTÉ's financial position and faces down criticism from members of the committee on the earnings of RTÉ presenters.

Final Questions and Answers

"Questions and Answers" was the second-longest running programme on RTÉ television when it came to an end in 2009. In this clip, John Bowman, who had presented it for 21 years, introduces the final show.

Rodney Rice Retires from RTÉ

Rodney Rice ended his 40-year broadcasting career with a final instalment of "Saturday View". He had started out as a television reporter on "7 Days". Then in 1972, he began presenting "Here and Now" for radio, a role he filled for nine years. In 1986 he moved on to "Saturday View". Rodney Rice established the show as a debate forum for the country's most senior politicians. It became a natural round-off to the week, often pointing to where the focus would lie in the following seven days. His final guest on "Saturday View" was the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen.

New Look Angelus

RTÉ Religious Programmes launches a new series of seven visual reflections for the Angelus. The contributors featured range from a working fisherman to a grieving mother, from a pavement chalk artist to a Zambian office worker. They come from a variety of backgrounds and all have their own reasons for seeking a moment's peace in the day.

The daily broadcast of the Angelus began in 1950. You can find out more about it in our History of RTÉ section.

RTÉ Announces Plans For Donnybrook Site

RTÉ announces Project 2025, a long-term plan for the redevelopment of its Donnybrook site. It envisages the gradual replacement over a 10 to 15 year period of most of the 1960s and 1970s buildings on the Donnybrook site with a purpose-built complex of studios, production areas, rehearsal and performance spaces and staff offices.

"Mighty Mac" Wins Prix Europa Award

"Mighty Mac", a radio documentary about a Limerick upholsterer who is also a power lifter, won a Prix Europa award in 2009. Its producer, Michael O'Kane, and the series producer of the "Documentary 0n One", Liam O'Brien, talk about the programme.