RTÉ’s golden moments
More than anything, however, it led to great shared entertainment, or what Americans call “water cooler moments” — those seminal televised events, witnessed together, and later rehashed in company. As the communal TV experience peters out, it’s worth remembering some of the best Irish ones ...
Shergar (1983)
When Shergar was kidnapped in February 1983, possibly only Jim “Spud” Murphy, the Garda in charge of investigating his disappearance, rivalled him in fame. “A stallion cannot be kept by people who are not well up in the horsey field,” he told television reporters. Shergar was never found.
World Snooker Championship Final (1985)
Steve Davis, unbeatable in world snooker for much of the 1980s, allowed Denis Taylor to come back from 8-0 to tie 17-17. As the pair stuttered through to the final black of the final frame (all 68 minutes of it), Davis seemed to get whiter, while Taylor, with those inimitable upside-down glasses, got redder before finally prevailing.
Ireland v Romania (1990)
“The nation holds its breath,” said George Hamilton breathlessly, as David O’Leary stepped up to take Ireland’s final, decisive penalty against Romania to go through to the World Cup quarter finals. Hosts Italy awaited. “Ciao, Roma!” gushed Bill O’Herlihy, complete with silly hat, back in Dublin’s RTÉ studio.
Ireland v Wales (2009)
Tony Ward overrode Ryle Nugent’s match commentary as Ronan O’Gara’s drop kick flew over the posts against Wales to secure Ireland first rugby Grand Slam in 61 years. “Please get in. Yeeeessssss! Whe-heeeee! Aaagghhhh,” he said, the last guttural wheeze coming out like air escaping from a tyre.
The General, Today Tonight (1988)
In one of the great pieces of “doorstepping”, reporter Brendan O’Brien collared the criminal Martin Cahill outside the labour exchange. “Do you know who The General is?” he asked. “An army officer?” came the reply. They spoke for 75 minutes, all the while Cahill kept his hand over his face.
Sean Doherty, Nighthawks (1992)
Albert Reynolds was plotting in the wings, but it was a short interview with Sean Doherty on Nighthawks that led to the end of Charlie Haughey’s 35-year political career, as the disgraced former justice minister set the record straight about phone-tapping during the GUBU administration in 1982.
Annie Murphy, The Late Late Show (1993)
Annie Murphy appeared on The Late Late Show to publish a book about her affair with Bishop Eamon Casey. It prompted a rare slip in professionalism by Gay Byrne in their final exchange: “If your son is half as good a man as his father, he won’t be doing too badly.” Murphy turned cold: “I’m not so bad either.”
Ryan Report, Questions and Answers (2009)
Nothing captured the pain and fury of the Ryan Report as dramatically as Michael O’Brien’s cry from the heart, as an audience member on Questions and Answers. In five minutes of articulate rage, he described how, as an eight-year-old boy, he was picked up by a “scut truck” and deposited at Ferryhouse orphanage, Clonmel and raped two days later.
The Riordans (1965-1979)
Wesley Burrows, the scriptwriter of The Riordans, grew up in Bangor, Co Down. He moved to Kells, Co Kilkenny to embed himself in a rural community to write for the serial. He often joined locals in the bar to watch the programme when it aired on a Sunday night. They used to nod to each other at stages: “I told him that.”
The Spike (1978)
The Spike, a drama series set in a Dublin working class neighbourhood, caused a national controversy when a young female character modelled nude in an art class scene. JB Murray, the founder of the League of Decency, suffered a heart attack after watching the episode. It was discontinued mid-run.
Strumpet City (1980)
The seven-part series Strumpet City had lots of things to recommend it: a script adapted by Hugh Leonard from a James Plunkett novel and Cyril Cusack to lead the stellar cast, but it was David Kelly as Rashers Tierney who stole the show.
Dallas (1980)
Of all the shows imported from across the Atlantic — the Los Angelisation of Ireland, as it was known — none rivalled Dallas in its heyday for impact. The whole country nearly stopped to find out who shot JR Ewing.
Eurovision Song Contest (1970)
To Bob Quinn, the film director, the Eurovision is “a hymn to the banality of non-music and an absurd insult to the most important expression of human culture”, but to Dana, who won in 1970, it represented “all kinds of everything”.
Hall’s Pictorial Weekly (1971-1980)
Frank Hall, Eamon Morrissey and Frank Kelly had fun throughout the seventies skewering Irish politicians, most notably Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, the “Minister for Hardship”, and his finance minster, Richie Ryan, or “Richie Ruin”.
Murphy’s Home Movies (1982)
Gay Byrne was set up by producer John McColgan to shoot a hoax documentary scene at Trinity College. Mike Murphy, kitted out as a French rugby supporter, kept disrupting filming until eventually Byrne, exasperated, challenged him: “Do you understand the expression, ‘Fuck off?”
Riverdance (1994)
“It’s Irish ballah, dear,” said an American to his wife in trying to explain the half-time act that lit up the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. Irish dancing hasn’t been the same since.
JFK’s visit (1963)
American president John F Kennedy wanted all his public engagements on his Irish visit to be televised. It was RTÉ’s first big test and an eye towards a more glamorous, less parochial world for many of the population.
Civil Rights, Derry (1968)
The footage captured by RTÉ cameraman Gay O’Brien of policemen battering civil rights marchers in Derry in October 1968 was beamed around the world, putting the burgeoning Northern Ireland political crisis on a footing with unrest in Chicago, Paris and Prague that year.
Taoiseach’s Address (1969)
As the Troubles took root in the North, Taoiseach Jack Lynch addressed the nation. His promise that his government “can no longer stand by” hinted that the island could soon be convulsed by war.
Pope John Paul II (1979)
The Vatican reckoned RTÉ’s coverage of the John Paul II’s visit in 1979 was divine: “If the voice, the image and the message of the Pope were carried everywhere in the world at a high technical level, this is due to the miracle operated by the Irish television service”.
Wanderly Wagon (1967-1982)
Rory, O’Brien, Godmother, Judge, Fortycoats, Mr Crow, Foxy, Doctor Astro, Sneaky the Snake, Maeve the Witch… there was uproar when it was rumoured that they were going to be axed in 1974, halfway through their 15-year run, enough to send child protestors picketing outside Donnybrook.
Bosco (1978-1988)
Bosco, who was red-haired and androgynous, wasn’t very adventurous, only rarely leaving his/her box to go on skites to places like Dublin Zoo or the HB ice-cream factory. Despite the sedentary lifestyle, kids loved the shrilly-voiced puppet.
The Den (1986-2010)
The Den launched a host of TV careers, including Ian Dempsey’s, Ray D’Arcy’s, Dustin the Turkey, Zig & Zag, Podge & Rodge, and had an edge that endeared it to older students. Mary Robinson even popped in at one stage.
The Late Late Toy Show (c 1971)
The Toy Show has been going for 40 years. It is often the most watched show of the year, although it has been criticised for Pat Kenny’s reinforcement of gender roles (“made for boys, I think”) and dodgy jumpers.
* John Bowman’s Window and Mirror: RTÉ Television: 1961-2011 is published by The Collins Press. Price is €25.00
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