RTÉ News and Current Affairs (Irish: Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ), is a major division of Raidió Teilifís Éireann responsible for news programming on television, radio and online within the Republic of Ireland. It is, by far, the largest and most popular news source in Ireland - with 77% of the Irish public regarding it as their main source of both Irish and international news.^[2] It broadcasts in English, Irish and Irish Sign Language.

History[link]

Early history[link]

On January 1, 1926, 2RN started broadcasting. It was Ireland's first radio station. On May 24, 1926, there was the first advertised news bulletin on 2RN. Then on February 26, 1927, the first ever daily news report was broadcast on the station.^[3]

During the Second World War, referred to in Ireland as The Emergency, because of the Emergency Powers Act 1939, media censorship of radio broadcasts effected news bulletins. Before all news bulletins were broadcast, the scripts of the bulletins were read over the phone to Head of the Government Information Bureau, Frank Gallagher. Censorship brought in under the Act was lifted on May 11, 1945.^[4]

1960s[link]

On 31 December 1961 Ireland's first national television station, Telefís Éireann, was officially launched. A new Television Complex was built at Donnybrook in Dublin and the news service was the first to move in. On 1 January 1962 Charles Mitchel read the first television news bulletin at 6:01pm. Andy O'Mahony was the station's other chief newsreader in the early days of the new service. The new studios were still being completed, so construction work was heard during news bulletins.^[5] Later on Telefís Éireann's first full day of broadcasting Broadsheet made its debut. This programme provided a more detailed analysis of topical matters and current affairs. There was a mixture of incisive and light-hearted items, unscripted studio interviews and filmed reports. Presented by John O'Donoghue, Brian Cleeve and Brian Farrell, some of these men would continue broadcasting with the station until the new century. Telefís Éireann's first full day also saw the first broadcast of the Nine O'Clock News, a half-hour bulletin including news, newsview, weather and sports results.

Broadsheet was broadcast for the last time in 1964. It was replaced by Frank Hall's Newsbeat, a news and current affairs programme that focused more on the light-hearted stories from around the country.

In 1966 Maurice O'Doherty joined the newsroom as newsreader. Later that same year the station's new flagship news programme was broadcast for the first time. Seven Days had a production team with people such as Eoghan Harris, Brian Cleeve, Brian Farrell and John O'Donoghue. In 1967 the programme merged with another, Division, and became 7 days.^[6]

RTÉ[link]

Various presenters of Morning Ireland

When Radio Éireann and Telefís Éireann merged, RTÉ News was expanded, providing coverage to new stations RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉ Radio 2.^[7]

In the early 1980s, in the space of two years, there were three general elections. This demanded a larger schedule of current affairs. New programmes Morning Ireland and Today Tonight were launched.^[8]

In 1991, RTE News appointed its first legal affairs correspondent, Kieron Wood.^[9] Also in the 1990s, the first Washington DC correspondent Mark Little was appointed, and Teilifís na Gaeilge, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ.ie were established.^[10]

RTÉ News and Current Affairs[link]

As a major division Ireland's National Broadcaster, RTÉ News and Current Affairs provides a range of national and international news and current affairs programming in Ireland. The station is also a source of definitive commentary on current affairs. RTÉ News is based at the RTÉ Television Complex in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland. However, the station also operates regional centres across Ireland and the world.^[11]

The RTÉ News Studio in 2009

RTÉ News faces competition from within Ireland and abroad. For local news TV3 News provides competition in the television sector; as do Independent Network News, Newstalk, Today FM and 4fm in the radio sector. As Ireland is a predominantly English-speaking nation, international news channels (CNBC Europe, CNN International, EuroNews, France 24, BBC News, Sky News, etc.) compete with RTÉ with regards television news coverage of international events. Despite this competition however, RTÉ News remains the most popular source of news in Ireland.

In September 2003 "RTÉ News" was merged with "RTÉ Current Affairs" to form "RTÉ News and Current Affairs". RTÉ News continues as the brand on regular TV and radio news programming. Also in September 2003, all RTÉ news reports in English on all networks were rebranded to RTÉ News, ending the separate branding of News 2 and 2FM News.^[12]

RTÉ News and Current Affairs produces over 1000 hours of television programming and 2,000 hours of radio programming a year.^[2]

In December 2008, RTÉ News moved out of their usual Studio Three^[13] in RTÉ Studios in Donnybrook, Dublin and moved into a temporary studio, while work was carried out Studio Three for the relaunch. The new look was unveiled at the One O'Clock news programme on Monday 9 February 2009.^[14]

In March 2009, RTÉ was involved in controversy over a report about the placing of naked paintings of Taoiseach Brian Cowen in two Dublin Art Galleries. Initially, the station carried a television news report that displayed the pictures and treated the topic in a humorous light. However, after complaints from within the governing Fianna Fáil party, the station aired an apology to the Taoiseach.^[15]

Due to RTÉ cutbacks, instead of using satellite, reporters on foreign assignments were asked to send reports by internet link. RTÉ's Beijing bureau was closed in June 2009.^[16]

Programming[link]

An interview for Nuacht RTÉ taking place

RTÉ News and Current Affairs is responsible for all the news bulletins on RTÉ One, RTÉ Two, TG4, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, and RTÉ Europe. The division also provides written news updates on RTÉ's teletext service, Aertel, RTÉ Mobile and RTÉ.ie.^[17]

Television[link]

RTÉ News and Current Affairs television programmes include: English-language

Irish-language

Irish Sign Language

• RTÉ News with Signing

The department also broadcasts numerous special programmes such as election coverage and breaking news bulletins.

The current set of TV News programmes began in 1988, as RTÉ re-aligned their programmes. Seán Duignan and Eileen Dunne were the first presenters of Six-One, which began in October 1988^[21]

Radio[link]

RTÉ News and Current Affairs team that have spent time on Morning Ireland

RTÉ News and Current Affairs radio programmes include: English-language

• Morning Ireland
• RTÉ News at One
• Drivetime
• World Report
• This Week
• News bulletins on the hour on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ 2fm.
• News bulletins on the half hour on RTÉ lyric fm.

Irish-language

• Adhmhaidin
• Nuacht a hAon
• Nuacht a Sé
• Regular Irish-language news bulletins on RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ lyric fm and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Online[link]

RTÉ News content is also available worldwide on the internet. In addition to written content, virtually all of RTÉ's radio and television news programming since 1998 is subsequently made available in the form of RealPlayer audio and video clips which can be streamed, also, live news programming can be received live via streaming media in both Real Player and Windows Media Player formats. All television news content is available on the Ireland-only RTÉ player for 21 days.^[22]

RTÉ News Now[link]

See RTÉ News Now for further details.

Since June 12, 2008, RTÉ News is served by RTÉ News Now. The channel airs commercial free 24 hours a day with the latest live news. The station was initially made available on mobile phones and online at rte.ie/news. The channel broadcast in the Irish, English and ISL languages. The channel is also available on Saorview, mobile phone service providers such as O2 Ireland, Vodafone Ireland and Android. The channel also provides a free service to users of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The channel will become more widely available upon the official launch of Saorview in May 2011. The channel is also available in on train services within Dublin city and surrounding regions under a special agreement between Irish Rail, Transvision and RTÉ.^[23] Previously, Sky News provided such a service.

Bureaux[link]

RTÉ have studios and offices in the following locations:^[11]

Regional

• Athlone
• Baile na nGall
• Belfast
• Castlebar
• Cork
• Derry
• Dublin
• Dundalk
• Galway
• Letterkenny
• Limerick
• Sligo
• Waterford

International

• Beijing
• Brussels
• London (to close in 2013)
• Washington, D.C.

The team[link]

News for the Deaf Readers:

Wayne Raphael Reid, Eddie Redmond, Sarah-Jane Moloney, Eileen Coffey, Jean O'Reilly, Caroline Worthington and Wendy Murray.

Nuacht Léitheoirí:

Caoimhe Ní Chonchoille, Mairé T. Ní Mhadaoin, Bríd Óg Ní Bhucualla, Séamus Ó'Scanláin, Áine Lally, Eibhlín Ní Choistealbha, Eimear Ní Chonaola and Maolra Mac Donnchadha.

Reporters[link]

Regional[link]

General[link]

International[link]

Specialist Correspondents[link]

Former newsreaders[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• RTÉ News and Current Affairs website
  • RTÉ Live
  • RTÉ News Now

v t e Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) Services Radio Television RTÉ Aertel RTÉ Guide Departments News Sport Radio Television Subsidiaries RTÉ Libraries and Archives RTÉ Network Limited RTÉ Commercial Enterprises Management RTÉ Executive RTÉ Board Director-General of RTÉ (Noel Curran) Financing Performing Groups RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra RTÉ Concert Orchestra RTÉ Philharmonic Choir RTÉ Cór na nÓg RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet Online RTÉ.ie RTÉ Player

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Sharon Ní Bheoláin (born 15 February 1971)^[1] is an Irish television newsreader with Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). Today, she is best known as co-anchor of RTÉ One's Six One News.

Career[link]

Before joining RTÉ, she worked for the Dublin radio station, 'Raidió na Life'.^[2][3][4]

Ní Bheoláin began her career with RTÉ in 1994, presenting Nuacht RTÉ and in 1997, she became the presenter of News 2.^[2] Throughout the early 2000s, she had sporadic appearances on various RTÉ News programmes, including the Six-One News, the Nine O'Clock programme and on RTÉ Two's News programmes. In 2005, she became permanent co-presenter of the Six One News.

She also presented the short-run RTÉ series Turas Teanga, which helped viewers learn the Irish language.

Personal life[link]

Ní Bheoláin is separated and has one daughter, Faye.^[3] Though not a native Irish speaker, she graduated from Trinity College, Dublin (TCD), with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in early and modern Irish.^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

• RTÉ's Six One News

Bryan Dobson (born 10 February 1960) is a newscaster with RTÉ in Ireland. He has presented RTÉ News: Six One for almost 15 years. He previously presented RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock.

Early life[link]

Dobson was raised in Sandymount. He attended Newpark Comprehensive School, Blackrock, Dublin. It was one of the first schools to introduce the Transition Year programme. In it, he presented a half-hour radio programme.^[2] When he finished school, he attended a media course in the Rathmines College of Commerce.^[3]

Career[link]

Dobson previously worked for the Dublin pirate station Radio Nova, hosting their nightly Dublin Today programme. Before joining RTÉ in 1987, he worked for BBC Northern Ireland.^[4]

RTÉ[link]

Dobson joined RTÉ News and Current Affairs as a reporter in 1992. Before being the main RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock presenter, he was the RTÉ Business Correspondent. In September 1996, he was named as the co-presenter of the flagship early evening news programme, RTÉ News: Six One on RTÉ One, one of the most watched news programmes in Ireland. Since then he has presented that news programme, currently with Sharon Ní Bheoláin. He also presents various special programmes such as RTÉ's coverage of general elections.^[4] In May 2011, he fronted RTÉ television coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland.^[5]

In 2003, he became embroiled in a minor controversy. Dobson was accused of a conflict of interest when it was reported that he had provided some training for senior local authority officials in answering questions in the media, although the controversy was somewhat defused when Dobson expressed regret for what was viewed as a misjudgment.^[6] He interviewed Bertie Ahern in 2006, after which Dobson said "I've never done an interview like it before and I doubt if I ever will again".^[3]

Personal life[link]

He currently lives in Dublin with his wife and their two children.^[4]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Webchat on RTÉ News site

Nicholas Rackard (28 April 1922 - 10 April 1976) better known as Nicky or Nickey Rackard, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local Rathnure club and was a member of the Wexford senior inter-county team from 1940 until 1956. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in the history of the game.

Rackard’s status as one of the all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for sixteen years he won two All-Ireland titles, four Leinster titles, one National Hurling League title and one Railway Cup title. His tally of 59 goals and 96 points from 36 championship games marks him out as one of the top ten scorers of all-time. Rackard is the all-time top-scorer in his native county of Wexford.

Rackard has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. Although his career ended shortly before the prestigious Hurler of the Year award began, he was posthumously named in the full-forward position on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century in 1984.

Early life[link]

Nicky Rackard was born in Killanne, County Wexford in 1922. The eldest son in a family of five boys and four girls.^[1] His parents were Robert (Bob) Rackard and Anastasia Doran,^[1] who had been married in 1918.^[2] He was born into a family that was mildly interested in sport. His granduncle had played with the famous Wexford football team that captured four All-Ireland titles in-a-row between 1915 and 1918. Rackard’s father Bob had planned that his son would play cricket, however, young Rackard was much more interested in Gaelic games. He was educated locally and later attended St. Kierans College, Kilkenny, a virtual academy for young hurling talent. Rackard later attended University College Dublin where he studied to be a veterinary surgeon. In all, his studies took eight years to complete because of his huge commitment to his sporting exploits.

Playing career[link]

Club[link]

Rackard played his club hurling with his local Rathnure club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title in 1948. It was Rathnure’s first ever championship triumph. Two years later in 1950 Rackard captured a second county title, a victory which allowed him to take over the captaincy of the county senior team for the following year. He won his third and final county medal in 1955.

Inter-county[link]

Rackard’s early successes on the inter-county scene were as a footballer with the Wexford team. At the time the county’s hurling team was in the doldrums, however, things were about to change. Rackard made his debut for the county team in 1940 and spent much of the decade at midfield. By the start of the 1950s he had moved into the forward lines and it was here that he captured his first Leinster title in 1951. Wexford later faced Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, a team that was attempting to capture a third championship title in-a-row. The game itself saw Rackard give a remarkable display of hurling artistry; however, Tipp’s forward line ran riot and scored seven goals. The final score of 7-7 to 3-9 tells its own story.

Wexford lost their Leinster crown in 1952, however, two years later in 1954 Wexford regained the title following a huge victory over Dublin. That game saw Rackard score a grand total of five goals and five points from Wexford’s tally of 8-5. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Wexford face Antrim. Once again, Rackard ran riot in the forward line and amassed a personal tally of seven goals and seven points. A 12-17 to 2-3 victory gace Wexford an easy passage to the championship decider where they faced Cork. On this occasion ‘the Rebels’ were attempting to capture a third All-Ireland title on the trot and a record crowd turned out in Croke Park to see Rackard and Christy Ring do battle. In the end it was Johnny Clifford who turned out to be the hero as Cork won the day on a score line of 1-9 to 1-6.

In 1955 Rackard won his third Leinster title, however, an All-Ireland medal still eluded his collection. Wexford later defeated Limerick in the All-Ireland semi-final before later facing Galway in the championship decider. At half-time the men from the West led by 2-5 to 2-3, however a Tim Flood goal nine minutes from full-time gave Wexford a deserved 3-13 to 2-8 win. It was the county’s first championship title since 1910 and it was Rackard’s first All-Ireland medal. In 1956 Wexford captured their first National Hurling League title and breezed through the provincial championship once again with Rackard collecting his fourth Leinster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Wexford aiming to retain their title and gain revenge over Cork for the defeat in 1954. The game has gone down in history as one of the all-time classics as Christy Ring was bidding for a ninth All-Ireland medal. The game turned on one important incident as the Wexford goalkeeper, Art Foley, made a miraculous save from a Ring shot and cleared the sliothar up the field to set up another attack. Rackard scored a crucial goal with two minutes to go giving Wexford a 2-14 to 2-8 victory. In spite of Cork's loss Wexford’s Nick O'Donnell and Bobby Rackard, in an unparalleled display of sportsmanship in any game, raised Christy Ring onto their shoulders and carried him off the field. Wexford had won the game but there was no doubt in their minds that the real hero was Ring. After defeat in the Leinster final of 1957 Nicky Rackard decided to retire from inter-county hurling.

Inter-provincial[link]

By the late 1940s Rackard became a key feature on the Leinster team that participated in the annual Railway Cup inter-provincial series. Munster dominated the competition at this time; however, he captured his sole Railway Cup title in 1956.

Post-playing career[link]

Rackard's personal life away from the hurling pitch was a deeply troubled one, marred by excessive drinking. His problems with alcohol began while he was studying to be a veterinary surgeon in Dublin. In 1951 he suddenly gave up alcohol in a pledge not to drink again after a friend, who was a priest, died. When Wexford celebrated All-Ireland success in 1955 and 1956 Rackard was a tea-totaller. During a visit to New York in 1957, however, Rackard began drinking again and the habit grew progressively worse over the next 12 years. In 1965, then a serious alcoholic, he had his first period of hospitalisation to treat the illness. At that stage he was drinking daily, however, the treatment didn't work. He finally quit by 1970 after joining Alcoholics Anonymous. When Rackard quit drink for the final time he was practically broke. He pieced his life together again, rebuilt his veterinary practice and indulged his passion for horses, enjoying wins in point-to-points and other major race events.

With the AA he travelled the country helping people who were troubled by alcohol. In February, 1974 Rackard noticed strange lumps on his neck which he had later removed. Later that year he was told he needed another operation and was said to be making good progress. In 1975 he spoke out in the Irish Press newspaper about his alcoholism, becoming one of the first people to break the taboo of alcoholism in Ireland. Shortly after this it was revealed that the cancer that had previously troubled him had unfortunately not been completely annihilated and had returned. Rackard died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin in 1976 and was universally mourned by the GAA community throughout Ireland.

Recognition[link]

Nicky Rackard is generally regarded as perhaps one of the greatest hurlers of all-time. He was personally honoured by being posthumously named on the GAA Hurling Team of the Century in 1984. He was not named on the GAA Hurling Team of the Millennium in 2000, with the full-forward position going to Cork's Ray Cummins. His scoring prowess has also earned Rackard a place on the top ten list of all-time scoring greats. In 2005 the GAA further honoured Rackard by naming the Nicky Rackard Cup, the hurling competition for Division 3 teams, in his honour.

In 2006, a Wexford author, Tom Williams, wrote a long-overdue biography of Rackard entitled Cuchullain's Son - The Story of Nickey Rackard. The same author also penned a now well-known song about Rackard many years earlier. It too was called Cuchullain's Son and has been recorded by various artists over the last 20 years and is a lament for the great sportsman.

References & footnotes[link]

Teams[link]