Mission to Prey

Mission to Prey 1970

1

"Mission to Prey" is the title of an episode of the RTÉ programme Prime Time Investigates broadcast in May 2011. It was presented by RTÉ's Aoife Kavanagh. The programme contained allegations which defamed Fr. Kevin Reynolds, an Irish Catholic priest, and caused uproar across Ireland when the truth was later revealed. Kavanagh falsely accused Fr. Kevin Reynolds of raping a teenage girl and fathering her child in Kenya. As a result of the broadcast, Fr. Reynolds was removed from his home and from his parish ministry and his reputation was destroyed. It subsequently emerged that the allegations were baseless and that RTÉ had therefore defamed Fr. Kevin Reynolds. Director-General of RTÉ Noel Curran admitted the broadcasting of "Mission to Prey" was "one of the gravest editorial mistakes ever made" in RTÉ's history.

1970

The Skinny Jab Revolution

The Skinny Jab Revolution 2025

1

Kathryn Thomas looks at the almost overnight emergence of weight loss medications and explores their huge impact.

2025

The Pressure Cooker

The Pressure Cooker 1970

1

The Pressure Cooker is a once-off fly on the wall documentary broadcast on RTÉ One. It follows the successful efforts of celebrity chef Dylan McGrath to obtain a Michelin star for his business, Mint, in Ranelagh, Dublin. It was broadcast on 4 February 2008 at 21:30. McGrath was noted in the Irish media and in the general cuisine profession for his repeated shouting and swearing at his staff during the filming of this documentary.

1970

Ear to the Ground

Ear to the Ground 1970

1

Ear to the Ground is a weekly television programme broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ One on Thursday evenings at 19:00. The show consists of reports about various countryside, rural environmental issues. It is currently in its sixteenth season and is produced by Independent Pictures. Ear to the Ground is presented by Ella McSweeney, Darragh McCullough and Helen Carroll. Previous presenters include Maeve Dineen, who left after the fifteenth season and the long-running Mairead McGuinness, who has since become a Member of the European Parliament for Fine Gael. The show is repeated on RTÉ One after the lunchtime news each Sunday.

1970

Marty's Big Picture Show

Marty's Big Picture Show 2023

1

Marty Morrissey and Liz Gillis uncover the work of Ireland’s photographers. Focusing on a different archive, they travel the country, uncovering the stories behind the pictures.

2023

Firefighters

Firefighters 2012

1

Dublin Fire Brigade and ambulance services receive around 133,000 calls a year. Whatever the emergency, whenever it happens, the firefighters are first to respond, putting themselves in danger to save lives. And it’s not just fighting fires. Every member of Dublin Fire and Rescue is a trained paramedic, and whether it’s ambulance services, rapid river rescues, marine emergency response or high line rescues that are called for, they're equipped and trained to give people in need of rescue the best chance of survival. Using state of the art technology including vehicle and helmet mounted cameras this series will bring viewers deep into the heart of the fire scene with the firefighters themselves to witness and experience a level of danger, drama and emotion never before seen on Irish television.

2012

Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own

Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own 1970

1

Victoria and Shane Grow Their Own is an Irish reality television special which originally aired on RTÉ One on Tuesday 8 December 2009. It follows the trials of Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane MacGowan as they endeavour to grow their own food in their own garden. The show documents Clarke's struggles to grow vegetables and MacGowan's attempts to assist. Filming of the special took place in Dublin. It has been compared to the 1970s sitcom The Good Life. MacGowan is from an agricultural background. First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama was said to have influenced the couple. Victoria Mary Clarke admitted during the show that she had neither read nor bought the book she was supposed to use for assistance. She also spoke of her belief in angels and how she spoke to them. Clarke's friend, a Marina Guinness, provides her with an allotment to carry out her task. A celebration is also expected to take place when the crops have grown sufficiently. The potatoes which Clarke is attempting to grow turn black. Caterpillars which attack her food are thrown to the hens as food themselves. Various celebrities and well-known people also featured, including musician Glen Hansard, and cousins of British pop star Lily Allen made an appearance as well. A container of urine belonging to Shane MacGowan was auctioned by Clarke as the show drew to a close. The show was narrated by Stephen Rea, using an ironic tone. Clarke also wrote about her experiences in the Sunday Independent.

1970

V Day

V Day 2021

1

Documentary charting the national coronavirus vaccine campaign in Ireland, beginning in late February as the rollout to the over-85s got under way.

2021

Growing Up Gay

Growing Up Gay 1970

1.00

Growing Up Gay was a groundbreaking two-part documentary series broadcast on RTÉ One, which began on Monday 19 April 2010 at 9.35pm. It explored the experiences of the first generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people growing up in an Ireland where it was legal to be themselves. Filmed over 18 months, it was made by Crossing the Line Films with the ongoing support and advice of Ireland's national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Biseuxal and Trans young people, BeLonG To. It featured LGBT school-goers, Muslims, and young people facing persecution in their hometowns across Ireland. RTÉ courted controversy by recommending that the documentary be suitable for viewing by "mature audiences" only, despite its stars all being teenagers. There was also a delay in the appearance of the second episode on RTÉ player. Growing Up Gay was nominated for "Event of the Year" at the GALAs.

1970

The All Ireland Talent Show

The All Ireland Talent Show 1970

1

The All Ireland Talent Show is a Raidió Teilifís Éireann television series which was billed as Ireland's biggest-ever talent contest. It was first announced in November 2008 and the first series commenced broadcasting on 4 January 2009, completing on 15 March 2009. Modelled on Britain's Got Talent, it is produced by Tyrone Productions. Airing on RTÉ One, it was hosted by Daybreak features editor and Irish media personality Gráinne Seoige. Five judges take part and each regional judge, with the assistance of two other personalities who then disappear from the show, select five acts to be put forward to the live studio heats. In the second season this was changed to eight acts. Louis Walsh was approached to act as a judge before series one but refused to commit. On the opening night of series one, The All Ireland Talent Show had over 500,000 viewers, with Ireland only having a population of over 4 million people.. The opening is similar to the Got Talent series. The twenty-five finalists in series one competed for a first prize of €50,000, which was eventually won by the Mulkerrin Brothers of the Aran Islands.

1970

My Bungalow Bliss

My Bungalow Bliss 2021

1

Hugh Wallace sees four innovative architects, paired with four first time bungalow homeowners, who are desperately seeking a home makeover.

2021

Premier Soccer Saturday

Premier Soccer Saturday 1970

3.50

Premier Soccer Saturday was formally the principal weekly club association football programme on RTÉ. In June 2013 RTÉ Sport confirmed that due to cost cutting initiative's to save the station up to €1.3m a year, it will no longer have the Irish rights to television coverage of the Premier League, with the 2012-13 Premier League season being the final season shown on RTÉ Sport. It was broadcast on RTÉ Two every Saturday evening between 19:30 and 21:00 and occasionally on Sunday during the English league soccer season, showing highlights of Premier League football matches. When the show was aired on a day other than Saturday, it used the appropriately customised title. The programme only showed English association football, as Monday Night Soccer covers Irish association football. The most recent theme tune for the show was a cover of the Republica song, "Bloke".

1970

Would You Believe

Would You Believe 1970

1

Would You Believe is an Irish religious television series broadcast on RTÉ One. It currently airs on Sunday nights at 22:40. A new series of 12 films began airing on September 21, 2008.

1970

Today Tonight

Today Tonight 1970

1

Today Tonight was an Irish news and current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis, robust cross-examination of senior politicians and investigative reporting. The programme was brodacast on RTÉ One for the first time on Monday 6 October 1980. Brian Farrell, Barry Cowan and Olivia O'Leary were the three original presenters. They were subsequently joined by others such as Pat Cox, John Bowman and Pat Kenny. All of these presenters later went on to hold other positions in RTÉ Television. Today Tonight was broadcast from Monday to Thursday on RTÉ One after the main evening news and restored the station's reputation for current affairs broadcasting following the demise of 7 Days in 1976. The last edition of the programme was broadcast on 27 August 1992 and was replaced by Prime Time. It won a number of Jacob's Awards. An in-depth report into the 14 February 1981 Stardust fire broadcast by Today Tonight on 16 February 1981 led to a senior adviser of Taoiseach Charles Haughey accusing RTÉ of undermining the Stardust Tribunal.

1970

Little White Lie

Little White Lie 1970

1

Little White Lie is a feature length IFTA-nominated Irish television romantic comedy drama broadcast on RTÉ One on 4 August 2008 at 21:30. It stars Andrew Scott and Elaine Cassidy. The drama follows the journey of a dejected actor as he searches for love after being discarded by his highflying girlfriend. The title comes from the fact that the main character tells one to his new girlfriend - that he is a psychiatrist instead of an actor. Little White Lie is written by Stuart Carolan and Barry Murphy and directed by Nick Renton. It is produced by Element Pictures, which previously produced Bitter Sweet and Prosperity for RTÉ. The drama featured music from the artist Julie Feeney. The song "You Broke the Magic" was taken from the Choice Music Prize-winning 13 songs.

1970

Des Bishop: Breaking China

Des Bishop: Breaking China 2014

1

This brand new six part series follows the adventures of Irish-American writer and comedian Des Bishop as he moves to China for a year in order to learn mandarin and eventually attempt to perform a one-man stand up comedy show for a Chinese audience. There are a couple of problems though - the locals are unaware of the subtleties of western style comedy and are laughing for all the wrong reasons.

2014

Put 'Em Under Pressure

Put 'Em Under Pressure 1970

1

Put 'Em Under Pressure is an Irish panel game with a sporting theme hosted by Gráinne Seoige which started on RTÉ One on 18 September 2011. The show's name is taken from "Put 'Em Under Pressure", the official song to the Republic of Ireland national football team's 1990 World Cup campaign. It involves a team of well-known sports pundits battle against a team of Irish sports stars answering questions on their own and other sports. Each team has a resident captain, each of whom is joined by two guest stars.

1970

Donal's Road Trip

Donal's Road Trip 2022

1

Donal Skehan sets off on a food-filled road trip around Ireland, ticking off some culinary hotspots on his foodie bucket list.

2022