This documentary charts the development of Television in Ireland, since the first broadcast on Telefís Éireann in 1961 later renamed as RTÉ. On New Year's Eve, the first programme was launched by President Eamon De Valera. People across Ireland found homes with a TV set, a rare household item in this era and began to watch this new medium.

Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) is Ireland's public service broadcaster and is one of the oldest continuously operating public service broadcasters in the world. The radio service began on 1 January 1926 while regular television broadcasts began on 31 December 1961.

The 1920s saw the beginning of Irish radio as 2RN began broadcasting from a studio and office at 36 Little Denmark Street, in Dublin. Seamus Clandillon was the station's First Director of Programming. Content featured very few speech programmes with an emphasis on music played live often by solo performers.

In 1927 a studio was opened in Cork while the following year in Dublin 2RN moved into the General Post Office. Máiread Ní Ghráda became the first person responsible for programmes for women and children.  2RN covered the World Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932 using the new high-powered 60kw transmitter (later increased to 100 kw) installed at Athlone. 

The Second World War (known as 'The Emergency' in Ireland) was a testing time for Radio Éireann. Censorship was rigorously enforced over all the Irish media between 1939 and 1945 under the Emergency Powers Act and, as a state run service and accessible overseas, Radio Éireann broadcasts received particularly close attention. Censorship brought in under the Emergency Powers Act was lifted on 11 May 1945.

Radio would continue as the only broadcast output for RTÉ in the 1950s but by the end of the decade the planning for a television service was under way. The 1960s saw the arrival of an Irish television service Telefís Éireann to accompany Radio Éireann. Television began broadcasting on New Year's Eve 1961. In 1966 the corporate name would place both services under the name RTÉ.

First broadcast 28th December 1991

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