Irish Public Service Broadcasting - 1990s

Eurovision Song Contest Held in Millstreet: 15 May 1993

Following Linda Martin's victory in the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Ireland hosted the competition for the fourth time in Millstreet, County Cork. This was the first year of a three-in-a-row hosting of the competition for RTÉ.

Riverdance Unveiled as Ireland Wins the Eurovision Again!: 30 April 1994

In 1994, Paul Harrington and Paul McGettigan won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland with 'Rock and Roll Kids'. However, it was the seven-minute interval act 'Riverdance' that stole the show. 'Riverdance', with music and lyrics written by Bill Whelan, mixed traditional and modern music, choral singing and Irish dancing, and presented them in a totally new way. Over 300 million European viewers were watching and from this interval act came 'Riverdance' the show. In February 1995, the world premiere of 'Riverdance' the show was held at the Point Theatre, Dublin.

'Riverdance' went on to become a tremendous international commercial success around the world. More than a decade later, the show is still touring and playing to international audiences.

RTÉ Establishes the Independent Productions Unit: 1993

RTÉ established the Independent Productions Unit (IPU) as part of its response to the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act 1993.

It was created within the station's Television Programmes Division to enhance the service to viewers by expanding the range and diversity of Irish-made programmes on our screens and to foster new sources of creativity and energy within the independent television production sector.

The IPU works by commissioning programmes from a wide range of independent producers and these programmes have become a key ingredient in the overall television schedule. Many continue to earn both popular and critical acclaim, and bear witness to the IPU's consolidation of independent sector talent.

IRA Announce Complete Cessation of Violence: 31 August 1994

On 31 August 1994, the IRA declared a "complete cessation" of violence. RTÉ Newsroom received a cassette and a written message from the IRA confirming the details of the ceasefire.

RTÉ Appoints First Washington Correspondent: July 1995

Mark Little was appointed RTÉ's first Washington correspondent in the summer of 1995 and took up his post there in the autumn. Over the following few years Mark Little reported on the Clinton administration's interest in the Northern Ireland peace process, two U.S. Presidential elections, and the Monica Lewinsky affair.

View one of Mark Little's early reports on Tánaiste Dick Spring's meeting with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich in Washington.

RTÉ Goes Online : 24 May 1996

A number of RTÉ programmes already had their own web sites on the internet in 1996. The launch of 'RTÉ Online' meant that these existing sites were now included as part of one easy-to-use RTÉ web site. Internet users worldwide now had access to several RTÉ Radio programmes, news, sport and entertainment.

As part of 'RTÉ Online''s inaugural day, 'The Late Late Show' was webcast and Gay Byrne took a live telephone call from an Irishman living in Arizona who was watching the programme over the internet.

At the launch RTÉ declared a commitment to increasing the access to multimedia, text, audio and video content as bandwidth became more available.

View an RTÉ News report on the launch of RTÉ Online.

Teilifís na Gaeilge Goes on Air : 31 October 1996

Bunaíodh Teilifís na Gaeilge, stáisiún Gaelach faoi scáth reachtúil RTÉ, ar Oíche Shamhna, 1997. TG4 an t-ainm atá ar an stáisiún anois (féach www.tg4.ie). Is foilsitheoir/craoltóir í TG4: déanann an stáisiún a cuid clár a fhoinsiú ó chomhlachtaí léirithe neamhspleácha agus ó RTÉ. Faigheann TG4 soláthar clár 365 uair an chloig sa mbliain ó RTÉ, ar neamhchostas do TG4.

De bharr an fhuinnimh a léiríonn sí, na físe a bhaineann léi agus an bhéim a chuirtear ar nuálacht agus ar thallann nua atá ag teacht ar an bhfód, tá clú bainte amach ag cláir TG4 agus go leor duaiseanna agus moltaí ag féilte gradamúla náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta. Tá díolacháin shuntasacha bainte amach ag na cláir ar an margadh idirnáisiúnta do chláir theilifíse.

TnaG, RTÉ's sister Irish language channel, was set up under the statutory umbrella of RTÉ. The station later changed its name to TG4. It is a publisher/broadcaster which means that it commissions programmes from the independent production sector. RTÉ supplies TG4 with 365 hours of programmes annually, at no cost.

The channel's energy, vision and emphasis on innovation and emerging talent has won its programmes critical acclaim, numerous awards and commendations at prestigious national and international festivals. Its programming has also gained significant sales on the international market for television programmes.

Seo dhá ghearrthóg ón Oíche Oscailte.

Tribunal Re-Enactments on The Vincent Browne Show: 21 April 1997

In April 1997, a tribunal of inquiry into certain payments to politicians began taking evidence.

With no television cameras or radio microphones allowed access to tribunal proceedings held at Dublin Castle, 'The Vincent Browne Show' on RTÉ Radio 1 decided to act out selected excerpts from the transcripts of the day's proceedings. During the following years several other tribunals also opened and 'The Vincent Browne Show' covered the proceedings in the same way.

Principally acted by Joe Taylor and Malcom Douglas, who play multiple parts, the often dry legal proceedings of the tribunals have been enlivened for listeners to 'The Vincent Browne Show'.

In the first of the two radio clips below, Joe Taylor explains to Carrie Crowley the process behind re-enacting a day's proceedings at the tribunals.

The second clip, a re-enactment from the proceedings of the Planning Tribunal, is taken from 'Tonight With Vincent Browne'. The Planning Tribunal was established by An tOireachtas in October 1997 under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Feargus Flood. It was set up to investigate the planning history of 726 acres of land in north County Dublin.

In this extract, Joe Taylor plays the part of Mr James Gogarty and Malcom Douglas plays the part of Mr John Gallagher, Senior Counsel for the tribunal. In his evidence, Mr Gogarty recalls a meeting in Swords, County Dublin in June 1989 at the home of former government minister Mr Ray Burke.

Tribute to Gay Byrne on One of His Last Radio Shows: 16 December 1998

The hugely popular 'Gay Byrne Show' came to an end in December 1998. While presenting one of his last shows, Gay Byrne was surprised in studio by Mike Murphy who hosted a tribute from family, friends and colleagues in Studio One in the Radio Centre. Contributions came from musicians, celebrities and politicians, including from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the President, who all praised a unique broadcaster who had pioneered the concept of talk radio in Ireland.

The final programme of 'The Gay Byrne Show' was broadcast from outside Bewley's Café on Grafton Street in Dublin's city centre on Christmas Eve, 1998.

View an RTÉ News report on tribute to Gay Byrne.

Listen to Mike Murphy interrupting Gay Byrne during his tribute show.

RTÉ News Goes Online : 01 February 1999

The RTÉ web site broadened its service by launching RTÉ News Online (www.rte.ie/news), which provides coverage of RTÉ's radio and television news from at home and abroad. For the first time, it became possible to watch or listen to RTÉ News coverage over the internet from anywhere in the world. Watching or listening to RTÉ News is no longer time specific; now it is possible to catch a story that you may have missed by logging on to the web site.

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

RTÉ Lyric FM Goes on Air: 1 May 1999

On 1 May 1999, RTÉ launched RTÉ Lyric FM , a new classical music and arts channel which broadcasts from Limerick. Michael Comyn was the first voice heard on the new station; he linked up with John Kelly on RTÉ Radio 1 and introduced Lyric's presenters and newsroom team.

Listen here to Michael Comyn, Lyric's first presenter on air.

Gay Byrne Presents His Last Edition of 'The Late Late Show': 21 May 1999

After almost 37 years, Gay Byrne presented his final broadcast of 'The Late Late Show'. The world's longest-running chat show had, over four decades, brought many topics deemed taboo by elements of Irish society into a public forum for discussion. The first episode of 'The Late Late Show' was broadcast on the 6 July 1962 and was intended as a 'filler' for the summer schedule.

View an extract from Gay Byrne's final broadcast of 'The Late Late Show' when U2 members Bono and Larry presented Gay with a Harley Davidson.