Digital switch ‘a huge step forward’

More than half a century of Irish TV technology was yesterday consigned to history with the switch to a solely digital service.

In a move that brings the country into line with most of western Europe, state broadcaster RTÉ turned off the analogue technology for the last time at 10am.

RTÉ star Miriam O’Callaghan turned off the signal in Dublin. Earlier, at midnight, 1972 Olympic heroine Mary Peters turned off the analogue system in the North.