Minister addresses a Television Exhibition in Dublin as Ireland prepares for a first TV service.
The Irish Television, Radio and Electronic Exhibition in 1959 was well attended as the Irish public anticipated the introduction of their own national television service.
The exhibition was opened by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Michael Hilliard, who speaks about the efforts being made to begin a television service. He outlines some of the preparations that have taken place and describes the work needs to be done. He assure the public that the government will soon look to introduce the necessary legislation for setting up the Irish television service,
The plans for beginning the television service are proceeding with all possible expedition
While also acknowledging the difficulty in organising the introduction of a such a service,
The starting of a television service is in fact complex and costly job in all it's aspects
Michael Hilliard reassures people who already own television sets that they should not worry about not being able to receive Irish programmes once the new service is up and running. There is also a promise that the radio service has not been neglected, noting that many people in rural areas and those who cannot afford television sets, will still rely on radio.
Councilor Philip Daly, who also spoke at the event, promises cooperation to the Minister in getting the television service off the ground. Finally John Conroy, President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, addresses the attendees, empasising the need for a Irish televsion service,
Our own service, provided in our own state by our own people, a reflection of what is happening in the world at large as well as in our own country
Organised by Castle Publications Ltd, the Irish Television, Radio and Electronic Exhibition saw the relevant Irish industries exhibit their products. The main emphasis for the exhibition was on television for which £140,000 worth of TV cameras and associated technical equipment was being brought to Dublin. The growing interest in television and modern radio was emphasied by the attendance, estimated to exceed 30,000.
Advertised as in newspapers at the time as 'See the Birth of Irish TV', the exhibition had TV cameras operating in two specially erected television studios and featured a presentation of a special BBC film of the All Ireland Hurling Final, as well as the popular radio programme 'School Around the Corner' performed live 'TV-style' with presenter Paddy Crosbie.
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs Michael Hilliard opened the exhibition, which ran for 6 days at the Mansion House in Dublin.
This episode of 'City Newsreel' was broadcast on 28 September 1959. The programme presenter is John Ross.
'City Newsreel' was a light hearted weekly news feature which began in 1954 and ran until 1968, featuring a compilation of reports from around Dublin city and beyond. The hosts were John Ross, Karl Jones, and P.P. O'Reilly with other presenters delivering reports including Gay Byrne and Kevin O'Kelly.
This recording is from the RTÉ Archives Acetate Disc Collection which has been digitised with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) Archiving Scheme.
