Irish Public Service Broadcasting - 1980s

"Strumpet City": 16 March 1980

"Strumpet City" is a best-selling novel by James Plunkett set in Dublin between 1907 and 1914, a period of major labour unrest. The novel was adapted for RTÉ Television by Hugh Leonard. Shown as seven episodes in 1980, the series was directed by Tony Barry and the notable cast featured Peter O'Toole, Peter Ustinov, David Kelly and Bryan Murray.

In 2003 the series was digitally remastered by RTÉ Television Archives and rebroadcast.

Reading of "Ulysses": 16 June 1982

An unedited and uninterrupted reading of James Joyce's "Ulysses" began at 6.30 am on RTÉ Radio on 16 June 1982 and ended at 12.45 pm the following day. It was broadcast on the Dublin medium wave transmitter. At just over 30 hours, the reading of the novel was RTÉ Radio's longest uninterrupted broadcast.
The studio director was William Styles and the executive producer for the reading was Micheál Ó hAodha.

One year after the broadcast, Micheál Ó hAodha recalls reaction to the "Ulysses" broadcast.

HDTV in Killarney

At the European Union Broadcasting Conference held in Killarney, Sony demonstrate high-definition television.

"Glenroe": 11 September 1983

"Glenroe" became RTÉ's second major rural soap after "The Riordans". Dinny (Joe Lynch) and Miley (Mick Lally), the father and son who had featured in the rural series "Bracken", were the central characters in "Glenroe". In "Glenroe", the pair have moved to north central Wicklow to grow vegetables. Shot on location in Kilcoole, Newtownmountkennedy and in RTÉ Television studios, the weekly series quickly climbed to the top of the Irish television ratings and ran until 2001.

Progress in Current Affairs Broadcasting: 1980s

Instability in Irish party politics in the early 1980s led to RTÉ having to cover three general elections in less than two years. Not only did the elections themselves involve major financial and staffing commitments for the organisation, but the general atmosphere of political uncertainty between 1980 and 1984 demanded an intense focus on current affairs coverage.

RTÉ responded to the demand with new schedules of morning radio and evening television that were less orientated towards entertainment and more towards testing new political ideas and personalities. Programmes such as "Morning Ireland" and "Today Tonight" effected a general raising of the bar for political commentary for both politicians and broadcasters alike and have influenced RTÉ's editorial development down to the present day.

Listen here to "Morning Ireland" presenter David Hanly interviewing Desmond O'Malley after he has been expelled from Fianna Fáil.

"The Riordans" Last Radio Episode broadcast: 24 December 1985

The drama series "The Riordans" began on television in January 1965. The television run for this popular rural drama came to an end in 1979 but the series switched to radio the same year.

On Christmas Eve 1985, the last episode of this long running soap was broadcast.

Listen here to the closing moments of "The Riordans".

Breandán Ó Dúill sings the "Parting Glass".

Dempsey's Den: 29 SEPTEMBER 1986

Ian Dempsey began presenting children's programmes on RTÉ 1 in September 1986.

Puppets Zig and Zag arrived in Ireland from planet Zog. The two aliens and their dog Zuppy were adopted by Ian Dempsey. The children's afternoon presentation was later shortened to "The Den". Zig and Zag were joined by a sock monster, Soky, and a turkey, Dustin. Although originally aimed at children, "The Den" gained cult status among the student population.

View some of the antics of Zig and Zag here.

RTÉ Launches Aertel, RTÉ Teletext Service: 22 June 1987

RTÉ began transmitting Aertel, a teletext news and information service, on 22 June 1987. Information on foreign, national and regional news, news on sport, finance and agriculture, weather forecasts, and television and radio listings were all made available free of charge. To avail of the Aertel service, the viewer required a television set equipped with a teletext converter or decoder.

View an RTÉ News report on the launch of Aertel here.