Coordinates	37°46′45.48″N122°25′9.12″N
Name	RTÉ One / RTÉ a hAon
Logofile	RTE One logo.png
Logosize	267px
Logoalt	RTÉ One logo since September 2003
Launch	31 December 1961
Picture format	PAL I standard
Share	24.8%
Share as of	31/12/2010
Share source
Owner	Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Slogan	"Fuel Your Imagination"
Country	Republic of Ireland
Language	EnglishIrishIrish Sign Language
Broadcast area	Republic of IrelandNorthern IrelandWorldwide ''(online)
Headquarters	Montrose, Donnybrook, Dublin
Former names	Telefís Éireann (1961–1966) RTÉ Television (1966–1978) RTÉ1 (1978–1995)
Sister names	RTÉ Two, RTÉ Two HD, RTÉjr, RTÉ News Now
Timeshift names	RTÉ One +1
Web	www.rte.ie/tv/rteone.html
Terr serv 1	Irish analogue
Terr chan 1	Normally tuned to 1
Standard	PAL I standard
Terr serv 2	Saorview
Terr chan 2	Channel 1Channel 8 (+1)
Sat serv 1	Sky
Sat chan 1	Channel 101 (IRL)Channel 161 (NI)
Sat serv 2	SCTV Digital
Sat chan 2	Channel 101
Cable serv 1	UPC Ireland
Cable chan 1	Channel 101
Cable serv 2	Virgin Media (UK)
Cable chan 2	Channel 875 (NI only)
Adsl serv 1	Magnet Entertainment
Adsl chan 1	Channel 101

RTÉ One (Irish: RTÉ a hAon) is the flagship television channel of Radío Teilifís Éireann(RTÉ), and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ Two in 1978. RTÉ is funded partly by the licence fee, the remainder of the funding is provided by commercial advertising, because RTÉ is funded partly by the licence fee it shows considerably fewer advertisements than most other channels available in Ireland.

Its headquarters is at Donnybrook, Dublin.

RTÉ One is almost universally available on the VHF and UHF bands in the Republic of Ireland (though VHF has mostly been phased out), and it is also available on the most digital television services available in the Republic of Ireland such as Sky Ireland, UPC Ireland, Magnet Networks, and Saorview. It is available in most of Northern Ireland via analogue overspill, Sky and Virgin Media.

History

The station began life as Telefís Éireann in 1961. The very first show of all to be pre-recorded for the new television service was The School Around the Corner a show created and presented by Paddy Crosbie , produced by James Plunkett . It was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, upon the renaming of the Radio Éireann Authority to RTÉ, and became RTE1 upon the launch of RTÉ2 in 1978. Originally the station broadcast in black and white using the 405-line television system in the North and East of the country but also across the country using the preferred European standard 625-line, but began 625-line PAL colour transmissions in 1968. The first Outside Broadcast made in colour for RTE Television was when Ireland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1971. The UK national broadcaster BBC provided RTÉ with an OB Unit which could broadcast in colour for the event. In 1972, the first studios in RTE's Donnybrook headquarters were equipped for colour, and this was followed by the news studios in 1974, drama studios in 1975 and finally Studio 1 (the largest Studio, hosting shows such as The Late Late Show) in 1976. Since 1998 RTÉ One also competes with TV3.

RTÉ One since it began broadcasting has competed with BBC One and UTV and in 1980s RTÉ began competing with other satellite and cable channels that are widely available across Ireland through cable subscription services due to the high take up of cable TV for UK channels since the 1960s, and the continued roll out of MMDS and satellite during the 1980s and 1990s.

Unlike many other national broadcasters, RTÉ One was late to begin broadcasting in the mornings, and 24 hour transmission only began in the early 1990s. From 1961, RTÉ Television would only broadcast from 17:35 until around 23:30 during the Winter months. In 1975 this changed slightly with transmission starting at around 15:30 and concluding around midnight (00:00). In 1988 RTÉ One launched a schedule with a new news bulletin at 13:00. To this day RTÉ One still does not offer a "breakfast television" programme, content to let commercially run TV3 to broadcast Ireland AM since 1999. RTÉ One instead shows repeats of different home produced shows such as The Afternoon Show, and imports such as Are You Being Served?, Neighbours, Dallas etc. Euronews provides RTÉ One viewers with early morning news coverage, with RTÉ One's first news bulletin of the day airing at around 10:00am. However during the Olympics and special breaking news or election coverage, RTÉ One would provide a special bulletin in the morning.

RTÉ One +1

A timeshift channel for RTÉ One (RTÉ One +1) was launched on 27 May 2011 and shares channel space with RTÉjr. The channel is available on Saorview.

It was referred to as RTÉ One Deferred in the Easy TV commercial DTT multiplex application, Easy TV was made up of RTÉ NL and UPC Ireland. RTÉ had also plans to create a third channel called RTÉ Three along with RTÉ One Deferred as reported in the Sunday Business Post in May 2008.

RTÉ Three was dropped for the alternative RTÉ Plus/RTÉjr. RTÉ Plus would have initially been a time shift channel for RTÉ One's prime time schedule, starting each night at 7pm after RTÉjr ends for the night. This "Phase 1" of RTÉ plus will begin broadcasting in May 2011. "Phase 2" of RTÉ Plus was to be made up of an entirely different schedule to that of RTÉ One, RTÉ had hoped that this would be made available in May 2012. Minister Pat Carey gave the go ahead for RTÉ One +1 for a maximum of 4 years at which point it will be reviewed. He did not give permission for the second phase in the channel as he was advised by the BAI that it may cause problems for commercial service providers such as TV3.

Budget

In 2008 RTÉ One received €58.44 from each license fee or 40.9% of the total €160 licence fee from the public. This is equal to €81,992,000 in total from the licence fee.

RTÉ One spent in total €147,999,000 on Indigenous programming, of that a total €93,454,000 was produced by RTÉ internally (In-house productions), and €54,545,000 was produced by independent producers of which 50% is a requirement under Irish law. RTÉ spends a total of €13 million on International productions and a further €378,000 on non-RTÉ Irish produced shows for RTÉ One. €106,496,000 was received by RTÉ in advertising revenue from RTÉ One. RTÉ One had a net surplus of €3,842,000 in 2008, however RTÉ broke even in 2008. Other costs included Network transmission and other broadcasting operation costs which amounted to €31,387,000 in 2008.

The table below outlines RTÉ One's total in-house and commissioned programming by genre in 2008:-

{| width="50%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="border:1px solid #aaa" !width="33%" bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Genre !width="33%" bgcolor="C0C0C0"|Budget |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Arts |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€1,081,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Education |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€833,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Religious |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€4,199,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Other Factual |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€36,838,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1"|Total Factual |colspan="1" rowspan="1"|€42,951,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"| Drama |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"| €38,776,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Entertainment |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€23,918,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Music |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€2,215,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|News,Current Affairs and Weather |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€38,834,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|Sport |colspan="1" rowspan="1" bgcolor="a4f49e"|€1,305,000 |- align=center |colspan="1" rowspan="1"|Total |colspan="1" rowspan="1"|€147,999,000 |}

Programming

RTÉ One airs a variety of programmes each week, both homegrown programming and imported programming. A typical week of programming on RTÉ One would be as follows: On Sunday they would air repeats of old American sitcoms such as The Cosby Show, A Sunday Service is aired every Sunday morning around 11:00. Farming weather is aired, a host of cookery and lifestyle programmes are also shown. RTÉ One's Sunday night primetime line up usually consists of one of RTÉ's flagship talent shows such as The All Ireland Talent Show or . The long running soap opera Fair City is shown Sunday nights. The weekday schedule consists of repeats of soaps and old sitcoms and/or dramas, every weekday from 16:00 to 18:00, RTÉ One air two daytime chat and lifestyle shows, Four Live hosted by Maura Deranne, and the Daily Show hosted by Dáithí O'Sheá and Claire Byrne. Weekday Primetime usually consists of Soaps such as EastEnders and Fair City and various lifestyle programmes, and current affairs programming airs after 21:00. On Friday night RTÉ One airs their flagship and longest running Chat Show in the world, The Late Late Show. RTÉ One also air a host of films throughout the week including the midweek movie on Wednesday at 21:30 and the big big movie (usually a children's film) Saturdays at 18:30. RTÉ One also air news coverage throughout the week including a 13:00, 18:00, and 21:00 news broadcast every day.

News and current affairs

RTÉ News and Current Affairs provides all of RTÉ ONE's News and Current Affairs Programming.

RTÉ News and current affairs television programmes include:

News programming {| |

|

Nuacht RTÉ

RTÉ News with Signing

|

RTÉ News on Two

|}

Current Affairs Programming {|

Prime Time

Prime Time Investigates

The Frontline

|

The Week in Politics

Nationwide

Capital D

|

Pobal

One To One

Oireachtas Report

|

Euro Report

|}

RTÉ News and Current Affairs coverage of all major political events such as General Elections, Budgets, Local and European Elections and Referendums. Since 2000 RTÉ has covered the US Presidential Elections live. It also covers major political stories from the Northern Irish Assembly, including elections.

Diversity

RTÉ as a public service broadcaster is committed to providing awareness about the diverse communities found within the Republic of Ireland. RTÉ aims to providing access to different groups through different mediums.

RTÉ Diversity provides awareness of Ireland's multicultural society. From 2002, RTÉ produced a weekly multicultural show called Mono. The show aired between 2002–2005 and had a similar format as Nationwide; but focused more on multicultural issues and had reports from all parts of the country. The show was produced by Kairos Communications for RTÉ

Diversity has also been showcased on RTÉ Dramas: The Riordans and Glenroe featured several characters from the Irish Travelling Community. Fair City and The Clinic have showcased a broader range of diversity which includes members of the Roma community, LGBT movement, African heritage, Eastern Europe and other ethnic minorities groups in Ireland.

In April 2010, RTÉ revealed a new multicultural programme which will air from March 2011. The show has a budget of 45,000€ per episode.

Cláracha Gaelige

In 1967 RTÉ produced a number of Irish programmes to help people learn the Irish Language, Buntús Cainte was presented by Máire O’Neill and Aileen Geoghegan. In the early 1990s they co-produced a similar show with BBC Northern Ireland called Now You're Talking it was based around the Ulster Dialect of Irish. In they early 2000s they produced a new series called Turas Teanga presented by newsreader Sharon Ní Bheoláin.

During Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) continuity is provided through the Irish Language. During this week they also have a range of shows that promote the learning or use of the Irish language. In 2010 they produced An Cór with Fiachna O Braonáin.

RTÉ also produce the highly successful Irish Language documentary strands Leargás, Scannál and CSÍ (These are first shown on RTÉ One with repeats on TG4). Nuacht RTÉ provides around up of the days events at 17:40 each weekday.

Education

In the early years of Teilifís Éireann most of the educational shows were aimed at children such as Dáithí Lacha. In more recent years they have produced literacy programmes for adults such as Read, Write, Now presented by Derek Mooney.

Regional

Nationwide is RTÉ's main regional programme, in 2010 Gala began sponsoring the show. The shows average audience for 2009 was 400,000 viewers. The show began airing in the early 1990s. In 1999 RTÉ tested opt out for Dublin, Cork and Galway on UHF signals, however Chorus (a Dublin cable operator at the time) aired the Galway edition, while NTL (the other Dublin cable operator aired the Dublin version). RTÉ do not provide local opt-out or regional news. However RTÉ Cork produces a number of other Irish shows. Capital D is the main show for Dublin, presented by Anne Cassin, it is broadcast Nationwide, it takes a look at issues in Dublin, while Ear to the Ground is a farming magazine show. Both Nationwide and Capital D are produced by RTÉ News and Current Affairs while Ear to the Ground is produced by Independent Films for RTÉ. Pobal is also a regional show focusing on news items from around the country it is produced by Nuacht RTÉ and Nuacht TG4.

Drama

In 1961 as Teilifís Éireann got ready to begin broadcasting it appointed Hilton Edwards as head of Drama, he was heavily involved in Irish theatre at the time. At this early stage they produced many international and local plays for television audiences such as Antigone, The Wild Duck, The Fire Raisers, The Government Inspector, The Physicists, Martine, The Well of the Saints, Candida, The Man of Destiny, In the Shadow of the Glen, Church Street, The Field, The Plough and the Stars, The Shadow of a Gunman and The Hostage. Both of Edwards' successors Jim Fitzgerald and Chloe Gibson would continue with stage play adaptations but would also look for original dramas for television. Hugh Leonard adapted James Joyce's Dubliners under the title Dublin and in 1966 he wrote Insurrection an 8 part real-time series which depicted the events of the 1916 Easter Rising which was broadcast on Easter Week on the 50th anniversary of the rising, it was RTÉ biggest drama production of the 1960s, involving on location filming and the Army. In its first ten years on the air RTÉ produced 103 plays of which 66% were Irish and 50% began life as stage plays. Half of the drama produced came from serials such as the Dublin based urban soap Tolka Row which began broadcasting in 1964 and finished in 1968. In terms of population RTÉ was one of Europe's biggest producers of television drama.

In 1965 The Riordans began broadcasting, this would begin the Wesley Burrowes trilogy of Irish Agrisoaps (Agricultural based dramas), it was followed by Bracken in 1978 (and was aired on RTÉ One) as Gabriel Byrne's character (Pat Barry) moved from Kilkenny to Wicklow and in 1982 two of Bracken's main characters Dinny and Milie Byrne moved to Glenroe which ran until 2001.

In the 1970s RTÉ produced several urban dramas set outside Dublin. Southside was based in a suburb of Cork City, its second series was renamed Newpark Southside and took on a more comic tone to the original serious social tone, while retaining underlying social stories. The series was created by David Hayes. The Burke Enginma began in 1975 and was RTÉ's first police procedural something that they did not return to very often. Partners In Practice was RTÉ's first medical drama and was loosely based on successful TV formats from aboard such as Emergency Ward 10, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Marcus Welby M.D. and Dr. Kildare. Partners in Practice was set in the new sprawling suburban Dublin in the fictional town of Sallybawn. Sallybawn was based on the new 1970s sprawling developments such as Tallaght. The series was set in the fictional Sallybawn Health Centre. It ran for one season in 1972 and was written by Carolyn Swift. In 1978 Louis Lentin became head of RTÉ Drama. He started Thursday Playdate, these were once of plays which dramatized current events and current affairs in Ireland. He would also be responsible for The Spike a controversial drama that was to run for 10 weeks only to be taken of the after the fifth episode. Problems surrounded both the content (A very critical look at the VEC system in Irish Education) and poor scriptwritting to deal with major issues.

RTÉ One had a major success with 1980s Strumpet City based on the novel by James Plunkett about the 1913 Dublin Lockout. It was successfully sold around the world to various countries including the USSR. Also in the 1980s they co-produced The Irish R.M. and Echoes with Channel 4 the newly established UK public service broadcaster.

In 1989, RTÉ returned with a new drama series based in Dublin city called Fair City. In 2010, the show has celebrated its 20th anniversary since it first broadcast. The show continues to air four nights a week on RTÉ One. In 1993, RTÉ One began to broadcast TG4's soap Ros na Rún. The show initially broadcast for a short season each year. The show no-longer airs on RTÉ One, but instead airs each night on TG4. The show is also airs on television in Scotland and America. In 1994 RTÉ broadcast Family by Roddy Doyle, a co-production with the BBC. In the late 1990s RTÉ co-produced many period dramas based on novels by significant modern day Irish novelist such as Falling for a Dancer and Amongst Women. They all produced the police procedural Making the Cut and its spin off series .

As a replacement for the axed rural soap Glenroe RTÉ commissioned On Home Ground, surrounding a rural GAA club. The series was not well received and was replaced in 2003 by The Clinic. The Clinic was an award-winning primetime television medical drama series produced by Parallel Film Productions for RTÉ. The show ran for seven seasons between September 2003 to November 2009. The last ever episode aired on RTÉ One on Sunday, 15 November 2009. The show was so successful that it also aired in Finland, New Zealand, Iceland, Scotland and Portugal.

Since 2000 RTÉ has increased its output of specialized dramas. These drama's have discussed a broad range of issues such as the Irish Hepatitis C scandal in No Tears (2002) which featured Academy Award Winner Brenda Fricker. In 2004 RTÉ co-produced with Denmark's TV2 a gritty drama series based on criminality in Dublin City. Proof aired for two seasons and starred Orla Brady. In 2006 RTÉ broadcasted a fictional drama based on a nuclear fallout called Fallout. Following this another drama appeared on RTÉ One in September 2006, the docudrama about the Stardust disaster, entitled Stardust, to mark the 25th anniversary of the incident. In 2007, RTÉ began the drama series Single-Handed. The series returned for a second season in 2008 with the forth season to air in 2011. In 2007, RTÉ aired Damage a drama which focused on rape and sexual abuse. In 2008, RTÉ produced Whistleblower this drama highlighted irregular obstetric practices within Irish hospitals. Another drama in 2008 included Bitter Sweet. This drama follows the difficulties encountered by three female friends who undergo difficult changes to their respective lives. In June 2009 RTÉ broadcast Father & Son co-produced with ITV. In 2010 their drama series Raw moved from RTÉ Two to RTÉ One.

Future RTÉ Drama includes a 3rd series of Raw, a 4th series of Single-Handed to be co-produced with ITV and a drama surrounding the Irish banking crisis. Autumn of 2010 will also include Love/Hate (starring Aidan Gillen), When Harvey met Bobby (surrounding the relationship between Bob Geldof and Harvey Goldsmith), Wild Decembers (based on the novel by Edna O'Brien) and Hardy Bucks.

Entertainment

Chat shows

The Late Late Show (1961 to present)

RTÉ One is home to the world's longest running chat show, The Late Late Show. It began broadcasting in 1961 and was presented for over 30 years by Gay Byrne. In September 1999, Pat Kenny took over the role and after hosting nine seasons as Late Late host he stepped down to host a new political programme. In September 2009, Ryan Tubridy took over as host.

Saturday Live and Kenny Live! (1980s and 1990s)

Before hosting The Late Late Show Pat Kenny hosted a weekly chat show Saturday Live. He went on to host the show permanently and its title was changed to Kenny Live!.

Limelight (1990s)

Carrie Crowley hosted a talk show during the summer months for two seasons. The show aired every Saturday night at 21:30 between June and August.

Tubridy Tonight (2004–2009)

Ryan Tubridy hosted his own Saturday night chat show between 2004 and 2009. He would later go onto to host The Late Late Show from September 2009.

Saturday Night with Miriam (2005–Present)

Saturday Night with Miriam is hosted by Miriam O'Callaghan and airs during summer months on RTÉ One when programmes such as The Late Late Show is off air. The show is well-known for its wide variety of guests, which often include musicians, who usually perform on the show. The Duckworth Lewis Method made their television debut on Saturday Night with Miriam in 2009's season opener.

The Saturday Night Show (2010)

In January 2010, RTÉ produced a new chat show hosted by Brendan O'Connor called The Saturday Night Show it has been given an initial run of 8 weeks. RTÉ revealed it will not be renewing the show.

Tonight with Craig Doyle (2010)

Craig Doyle has also been given his own chat show. This show will replace The Saturday Night Show. Both of these shows are aimed to replace the highly successful Tubridy Tonight which ended in 2009. Tonight with Craig Doyle will begin on RTE One from 18 April 2010.

Game shows/quiz shows

In the 1960s and 1970s RTÉ ran the Quicksilver quiz show presented by Bunny Carr. The show would tour the country and visit different towns. The contestants were picked at random to answer the questions, due to this random selection process the show is fondly remembered for questions such as "What the term for a male bee?" and the answer "a wasp?". It also coined an Irish phrase "stop the lights", usually stated when something is surprising.

In the 1980s RTÉ produced game shows like Play the Game, and Gerry Ryan's Secrets and quiz shows "Murphy's Micro-Quiz-M" (hosted by Mike Murphy), Where in the World? (hosted by Theresa Lowe), Rapid Roulette (hosted by Maxi) and Know Your Sport (hosted by George Hamilton).

Since 1989 RTÉ have produced a game show with the Irish National Lottery. Winning Streak was the first such show originally hosted by Mike Murphy, who had had previous success with his chat show The Live Mike and the Irish version of Candid Camera. He had also present Mike's Micro Quiz a family quiz show that included a "hi-tech" games machine. Winning Steak started of as a half hour show on Friday nights in the late 1980s and by the mid-1990 was an hour long Saturday night game show. In the mid-1990s Winning Streak was joined by other National Lottery game shows including Millionaire and Fame and Fortune hosted by Marty Whelan, Telly Bingo hosted by Liz Bonnin.

In the 1990s RTÉ had international success with The Lyrics Board, while it was derided by the critics the format was sold in many European countries. The show was originally presented by Aonghus McAnally during its initially run and in the 2000s by Linda Martin. Quiz shows included Challenging Times (hosted by Kevin Myres) and Dodge The Question (hosted by Jonathan Philbin Bowman). The 1990s saw RTÉ's verision of Talkabout hosted by Ian Dempsey and later by Alan Hughes.

After Gay Byrne's decision to leave The Late Late Show, he was brought back by the station to host the Irish version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire however after two seasons the show was drop as RTÉ were unable to find a sponsor after Vodafone Eircell pull its sponsorship, the producers (Tyrone Productions) and RTÉ were in discussions with the National Lottery for a scratch card version of the show, ironically the National Lottery had defended the use of the term Millionaire a number of years previously due to its scratch card and TV game show Millionaire hosted by Marty Whelan for RTÉ. RTÉ One broadcast two editions of the Irish version of Test the Nation presented by Miriam O'Callaghan in 2006 and 2007.

Music

RTÉ One has shown many Irish traditional music shows including The Pure Drop and Come West Along The Road.

Number 1 was a pop music quiz show from the 1980s and they also aired Top of the Pops.

During the 1980s they had several live music shows with famous Irish stars of the time including The Sandy Kelly Show.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Marty Whelan hosted a popular talent search called GFI: Go For It. In the mid-1990s RTÉ co-produced a talent series with BBC Northern Ireland called Let Me Entertain You hosted by Gerry Ryan, a 16 year old Samantha Mumba was one of the finalists.

RTÉ One has also several documentaries about Irish Country Music and the Showband era entitled A Little Bit Country/Showband, hosted and produced by Shay Healey. In 2009 they broadcast All Ireland Choir Competition 2009.

Reality TV

Since the start of the 2000s RTÉ have produced several Reality TV programmes for RTÉ One. In 2001, RTÉ One broadcast the successful Popstars format to find Ireland's next top pop band. The eventual winners were the band members of Six (band), including on Nadine Coyle however due to her age at the time she had to be drop from the band, she went on to appear in on ITV1 and through that became a member of the girl band Girls Aloud. Due to the success in the Popstars format RTÉ set about looking for a new series for 2002, You're A Star was a similar show to American Idol and X-Factor running from 2002 to 2008, during which they select acts to go to the Eurovision song contest. In 2008 it was replaced by the All Ireland Talent Show. In 2010 they broadcast a reality TV talent search for stars of the stage version of the highly successful film and TV series Fame.

Other reality shows include 2 seasons (2001 and 2002) of Treasure Island similar in format to Survivor. Senator Mark Daly appear in the second series coming 3rd overall. Cabin Fever (2003) which had a group of people set sail around the Irish coast, this caused controversy when the ship ran aground half way through the series.

RTÉ One has also produce celebrity versions of their reality TV shows. Charity You're A Star, Celebrity Farm and Fáilte Towers have all gained respectable audiences but critics have been less than impressed. RTÉ's most successful celebrity reality TV is The Restaurant.

Factual

Garda Patrol ran for a number of years on RTÉ One. It was a fifteen minute weekly show asking for help with crimes from the public. In the early 1990s RTÉ revamped the show as a monthly hour long show called Crime Line, hosted by David Harvey and Marian Finucane (Towards the end of the series was hosted by Anne Doyle). In the mid-2000s RTÉ replaced CrimeLine with a similar show Crime Call. Crime Call is presented by Anna Cassin and Con Murphy. Radharc (an Irish term for view, vision, spectacle or sight) aired from the 1960s and the 1990s. They were documentaries filmed by Catholic priests. The series produced 400 documentaries which focused on some regional stories but mainly international stories about Catholic Missionaries around the world and world events. The series came about during the 1950s as public discussion centred around the new television services. The documentaries all took a religious angle on events. The Irish Film Institute(IFI) are the custodians of the Radharc documentaries.

To the Waters and the Wild

Waterways

Who Do You Think You Are?

Blood of the Irish

History

Reeling in the Years is one of RTÉ most popular history strands, it provides a history of Ireland from 1960 to 1999, it began as part of RTÉ Autumn 1999 schedule as Reeling in the Years 1980s. It was archive clips from Irish and international archives showing the big events of the world from an Irish perspective including 2 Eurovision wins, 3 Irish general elections in one year, the Recession, Migration, Delorean Motor Company, GUBU, Ronald Reagan's visit to Ireland, All Ireland Championship wins etc. 1960 - 1969, 1970–1979 and 1990 - 1990 were all broadcast, events included the Dublin/Monaghan bombings, U2's first TV appearance, Slane Concerts, the axing of The Riordans, Riverdance, Miley and Fidelma's hay shed love in Glenroe, Twin Peaks to more serious news such as the Omagh bombings, The Good Friday Agreement, The resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Ray Burke and the inauguration of president Mary Robinson etc.

It is expected that the series will return for Reeling in the Years 2000s as part of RTÉ Television's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2011.

True Lives

Hidden Histories

Arts

Arts Lives is a series of arts documentaries produced by independent producers for RTÉ. They may also be co-funded by other broadcasters from around Europe. Some of the documentaries include: The Riordans: Tea, Taboos & Tractors about the successful rural soap opera, John O'Conor's Beethoven Boot Camp, Hugh Leonard: Odd Man In, Patrick Collins: Through Sligo Eyes, Graham Linehan - Funny Business and Ronnie Drew - September Song

The View is a weekly arts and cultural review programme broadcast each Tuesday night. It was original broadcast on RTÉ Two as Later On 2.

Young people's programmes

Up to 1988 the majority of RTÉ's children's programmes were aired on RTÉ One. In the early years these shows included Dáithí Lacha an Irish Language animated series about a duck. In the 1970s they produced Wanderly Wagon which was developed for RTÉ by Eugene Lambert and a spin off show in the 1980s called Fortycoats & Co. however Eugene Lambert is on the record as saying that he was not involved and that RTÉ just rehashed old Wanderly Wagon stories. The 1980s saw RTÉ's first Saturday morning children's strand called Anything Goes, this was followed by Action Station Saturday and Pajo's Junkbox. In the 1990s their Saturday mornings included Pajo's The Whole Shabang and Scratch Saturday which included The Fanta Roadshow Chart with Andy Ruane, various changes took place on Saturday mornings during the 1990s with the final RTÉ One children's morning strand coming from RTÉ Cork called The Swamp. In the late 1990s all children's weekend programming was fully moved to Network 2 with T/X and The Disney Club. Dempsey's Den aired on the channel from 1986 to 1988, Zig and Zag made their debuts on RTÉ One. Since 1988 the majority of RTÉ's children programming airs on its sister channel RTÉ Two. RTÉ Two provide different strands of programming tailored at different age groups these include: Den Tots (1-4 year olds), The Den (5-16 year olds), TwoTube (16 - 22 year olds).

Every Saturday night RTÉ ONE at 18:30 airs The Big Big Movie this strand features movies which a tailored towards a family audience.

Daytime

In the early 1980s, RTÉ began testing daytime television for audiences on RTÉ One. This was a major commitment since RTÉ Two was failing to gain audience that it required. Their first daytime show was hosted by Thelma Mansfield - one of their regular continuity announcers - Good Afternoon was a mix of live interviews, music, children's television and soap operas.

In 1986, RTÉ debuted its new afternoon show which featured a mixture of daytime chat and children's television. In September the channel aired Live at 3 broadcasting from 15:00 each weekday. This was followed by a new children's series Dempsey's Den. Live at 3 was presented by Derek Davis and Thelma Mansfield from 1986 to 1997. It included a broad range of topics (healthcare, cookery, DIY, fashion and culture). It was a major departure for the daytime schedule and in an interview with TV Now Derek Davis described how many other European broadcasters were travelling over to Ireland to visit this mix genre daytime TV chat show.

In 1997 with the departure of Derek Davis, Live at 3 was merged with another TV series called 12 to 1. 12 to 1 was similar in style to Live at 3 only it concentrated on Light chat with hosts Marty Whelan and Ciana Campbell. Ciana Campbell had prior to this tested out a live afternoon phone in show (called Over to You), similar in format to RTÉ Radio's successfully Liveline, this eventually led to 12 to 1.

In the late 1990s Marty Whelan, Ciana Campbell and Thelma Mansfield all remained as part of the daytime TV line-up and featured on PM Live. In 1999, Thelma Mansfield retired from RTÉ to concentrate on her art career. This later led to the demise of PM Live, which was replaced in September, 1999, with Open House.

Open House was the first time that RTÉ had an independent producer produce their daytime TV service. Tyrone Productions produced the show in the RTÉ studios and it was hosted by Mary Kennedy and Marty Whelan from 1999 to 2003.

In 2003, RTÉ revamped their daytime schedule and axed Open House and replaced it with two new shows, The Afternoon Show and The Big Bite. The Big Bite was an unusual departure for RTÉ's daytime schedule as it had heavier content than previous shows which aired in this time-slot, it was hosted by economist David McWilliams. The Big Bite was replaced with Seoige and O'Shea, which was also produced by Tyrone Productions. Joe O'Shea and Grainne Seoige presented the show together for 2 seasons until Joe O'Shea left in 2007, he was replaced by Grainne's sister Síle Seoige and the show was rename Seoige. Seoige lasted one season and was replaced by an extended version of The Afternoon Show produced by Green Inc Productions for RTÉ.

The Afternoon Show was first presented by Anna Nolan, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh and Sheana Keane. Anna Nolan left the show after a year to focus on more serious TV such as RTÉ's Would You Believe series of documentaries. Blathanid and Sheana both worked on the show together for a number of years until 2008 (when it was reported they had had a falling out), various presenters stepping into either Blathanid's or Sheana's shoes, with the final series being presented by Sheana and Maura Derrane (former Ireland AM presenter).

In 2010, RTÉ One revamped its afternoon schedule, which will debut in September 2010. RTÉ set about seeking tenders from independent producers, as a consequence of this process RTÉ axed The Afternoon Show. Two new afternoon shows will begin in September 2010 they are 4 Live and The Daily Show. 4 Live will be presented by Maura Derrane (former co-presenter of The Afternoon Show), while The Daily Show will be presented by TG4 Weather Man Dáithí Ó Sé and former Ireland AM presenter Claire Byrne. Both shows will broadcast from 16:00 to 17:45 GMT. Both new daytime shows are produced by Green Inc. for RTÉ.

Lifestyle

In the 1980s RTÉ One's lifestyle programming consisted of shows such as

Check Up - A weekly health show

Head 2 Toe - A weekly fashion series

See Here - A weekly consumers show

Family Matters - A weekly issue based show for parents, hosted by Eamon Lawlor and Caroline Murphy.

Much of RTÉ's lifestyle output was produced in-house until the 1990s when Independent Producers began producing shows such as: -

About the House - An Educational/Lifestyle show about home renovations

Ear to the Ground - A weekly Agricultural magazine show

Beyond The Hall Door - A studio based Interior design show by the 2000s it had left the studio to do up homes

Bon Voyage - A travel show

Darina Allen - A cookery Show

Most of RTÉ's Lifestyle programming is air Monday to Friday between 19:00 and 21:00, and repeated on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Their current set of lifestyle programmes include About the House, Showhouse, Heat and Rachel Allen: Bakes.

Imported programming

1961 - 1969

RTÉ One has always relied on a certain amount of programming from abroad and they have also always been under pressure from UK TV channels to provide programming from other countries. The 1960s on RTÉ is characterized by American and British imports such as Annie Oakley, Everglades, Have Gun Will Travel, The Donna Reed Show, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Batman, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Andy Williams Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Robinson Crusoe, Lucy Show, Dr Finlay's Casebook, The World Around Us, The World of Wooster and Sherlock Holmes. Children's programming at this time consisted of such shows as The Road Runner Show, The Flintstones, Skippy and Quick Draw McGraw. In 1963 they also broadcast Italian lessons Parliamo Italiano.

1970 - 1979

RTÉ began expanding its schedule during the 1970s with Educational and Children's programming being broadcast from 11am. Children's shows imported for the channel included Tarzan, Modern Madcaps, The Road Runner Show, Land of the Giants, Apple's Way, Babar, Noddy, Sesame Street, Gemini Man, Clue Club and Scooby-Doo, while educational programming included Education: Zarabanda, First Steps in First Aid and German Lesson other daytime shows included South Riding, The Pallisers and Thrill Seekers. Prime time imports included Lights Out, The Spanish Farm, The Brady Bunch, Bridget Loves Bernie, Fawlty Towers, Little House on the Prairie, The Muppet Show, Anne of the Thousand Days, Midnight Is a Place, Are You Being Served?. In 1978 RTÉ One began broadcasting many UK TV show such as ITV's Sale of the Century and Match of the Day which was simulcast with the BBC. RTÉ Two began broadcasting on the 2 November 1978.

1980 - 1989

During the 1980s many of the language courses on during daytime hours moved to the weekend, children's was presented first as Good Afternoon with many Adult daytime shows mixed in, until 1986 when Dempsey's Den started to broadcast, imports for Children included The World of Jules Verne, Ludwig, Yogi's Treasure Hunt, Danger Bay, Arthur and the Square Knights of the Round Table, Supergran, European Folk Tales, Kaboodle and The Real Ghostbusters. Other daytime shows included Upstairs Downstairs and Emmerdale Farm. Prime time imports included American shows such as The Cheryl Ladd Special, Here's Lucy, Ride on Stranger, Falcon Crest, Miami Vice, Benson, Magnum, P.I., The Paul Anka Show, Remington Steele, Murder, She Wrote, Spenser for Hire, The Cosby Show, The Twilight Zone, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Evening Extra, Turning Point, On the Town, Our House, The Ray Bradbury Theatre. British imports included Are You Being Served?, Codename Icarus, The Paper Lads, Dempsey & Makepeace, Tomorrow's World and Executive Stress.

In 1988 RTÉ Two re-branded as Network 2 which saw RTÉ move many of its children's and imported shows over to Network 2.

1990 - 1999

Children's shows remained on RTÉ 1 on Saturday morning for most of the 1990s imports included DuckTales, Batman, Family Ties, The Disney Hour, Katts and Dog, Nellie the Elephant and The Pink Panther Show. Daytime TV consisted of repeats and daytime soaps such as Little House on the Prairie, The New Adventures of Black Beauty, CHiPs, Delia Smith's Cookery Course, Emmerdale, Knots Landing, A Country Practice, Perry Mason, Carson's Law, The Love Boat, G. P., The Sullivans, Santa Barbara, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Take the High Road, Forever Green and Highway to Heaven. American prime time show imported at the time included , Mancuso, F.B.I., The Cosby Show, St. Elsewhere, MacGyver, Masquerade, Father Dowling Mysteries, Dallas, Midnight Caller, Home Improvement, , JAG, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, , , ER and The Practice. British shows broadcast included Bergerac, Agatha Christie's Poirot, After Henry, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, An Audience with... Victoria Wood, Lovejoy, Hearts and Minds, Ballykissangel and from 1992 to 2001 Coronation Street. Educational programming at the time moved to Sunday morning including Espana Viva, A Vous La France and Russian Language and People. 28 January 1991 saw the last episode of cult favourite Twin Peaks broadcast on RTÉ 1.

2000 - 2009

Since the late 1990s RTÉ One's Prime Time schedule is made up of nearly 100% Irish programming, some exceptions include EastEnders, The Midweek Movie, The Big Big Movie and with a few classic repeats intermittently such as Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses. Since 2001 RTÉ One's daytime imports are made up of Soap Operas (such as the Australian soap's Neighbours and Home and Away, the New Zealand soap Shortland Street, the English soaps Doctors and EastEnders), American Detective Dramas (including the Highly repeatable Murder, She Wrote) and since 2001 they have broadcast American daytime chat shows (including The Doctors and Doctor Phil, they also broadcast Oprah but that is now shown on TV3). During the 2000s RTÉ broadcast the ITV soap The Bill over 2 half hour episode Monday to Friday at 17:30, rather than the original hour long episodes. American dramas broadcast from 2000 to 2009 included ER, The Practice, Damages, Shark, Angel, Two and a Half Men, Medium, Mad Men, and The West Wing. English Drama's Spooks and Waking the Dead'' have also aired on the Channel.

2010 - Date

RTÉ One Launched their 2010 schedule with The Mentalist as a replacement for the long running Sunday night drama ER. Other imports included Who Do You Think You Are? both the British and American versions which coincided with their broadcast of the Irish version. On the 4th of August 2010 RTÉ launched their schedule which included imports Mad Men and Masterchef Australia. RTÉ One also broadcast Packed To The Rafters, The Bill, Medium and McLeod's Daughters. Daytime repeats now include Desperate Housewives, The Good Wife and Brothers & Sisters.

On-air identity

Throughout the years, RTÉ One has gone through many changes to its on-air identity, mostly in tune with the changing of the statutory logo of the cooperation that operates it, as in the early years. The average life of an RTÉ One ident is around three years, with modifications and changes along the way.

1961 to 1978

Early idents prominently featured the original name of Telefís Éireann, and the St. Brigid's Cross which would become the symbol of the channel for years to come. In 1966, the radio and television stations adopted the common brand Radio Telifís Éireann in line with the renamed broadcasting authority, and the ident used the initialism RTE, with no síneadh fada diacritic over the E of Éireann. The 1995 logo was the first to read RTÉ rather than RTE.

1978 to 1988

As colour television was introduced. The station became RTE 1 in 1978, when RTE 2 was launched. A new ident in 1980 featured the characters "RTE1" wrapped within a stylized St. Brigid's Cross. This design, along with a variant with slight colour changes, were used until 1987, when another ident was formed. The ident featured the St. Brigid's Cross, which was blended into the "T" in "RTE". The "T" also resembled the digit 1 of the channel's number.

The first time the channel left out the St. Brigid's Cross from its idents was in 1989, when an ident that featured the letters "RTE" revolving around the number 1, against an emerald green background, was released. This was to last until 1993, with minor revisions.

1993 to 1998

1993 saw the return of the St. Brigid's cross to the RTÉ One Idents. It was seen floating across a stone background that resembled cave walls. This ident lasted until 1995, when a new ident that featured the new corporate logo was released. The logo also saw the return of the fada on RTÉ's "E" in a stylistic manner. The ident started with a misty background, with the new RTÉ logo peering through, eventually fading into the station's name. At the beginning, the St. Brigid's Cross was left out, but it was restored to the screens after viewers complained.

1998 to 2000

1998 saw the end of single ident templates for RTÉ One. In a rebranding, three idents were released, and all revolved around nature. The St. Brigid's Cross continued to grace the screen, but now has to share its airtime with other idents. During this time, a special ident for overnight programmes and the celebration of the milliennium were created. The original three idents were gradually phased out in late 2000, but was featured in other new idents thereafter.

2000 to 2003

In September 2000, a new set of idents were gradually introduced to RTÉ One, with all the old idents from 1998 phased out by December of that year. The new idents featured Irish places and people, and all were set to a common set of background music. One of the original three idents were featured in seven of the new idents, subtly playing in the background.

A promotions video, featuring snippets of the idents, was shown as a part of the campaign.

2003 to 2006

On 1 September 2003, RTÉ One launched a new set of idents, with a new style for its "RTÉ One" branding. The ident showed Ireland's old face first, and then flashed into images of Ireland today. New ident sets were introduced in 2004, and deviated from the "Ireland Old And New" theme. Subsequent edits on the original idents also took away the "old" element from the idents.

As was before, a promotions video was aired before the launch of the new idents.

2006 to present

At 6:00 am on 3 November 2006, RTÉ One unveiled its latest set of new idents, designed by Red Bee Media.

RTÉ One Main Analogue Transmitters

:Main article: RTÉ Network Limited

:Source: (Accessed 18 October 2006)

Notes

References

McCaughren, Samantha (9 February 2006). ”Irish Viewers to get a '6' Sense Soon!” Irish Independent, Business p. 10. Accessed 10 December 2009.

External links

RTÉ One at RTÉ.ie

Category:Raidió Teilifís Éireann Category:RTÉ television channels Category:RTÉ television Category:Television channels and stations established in 1961

The Irish people (, na hÉireannaigh) are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years (according to archaeological studies, see Prehistoric Ireland), with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians.

The main groups that interacted with the Irish in the Middle Ages include the Scottish people and the Vikings. Due to this contact, Icelanders are especially noted for having some Irish descent. The Anglo-Norman invasion of the High Middle Ages, the English plantations and the subsequent English rule of the country introduced the Normans and Flemish into Ireland. Welsh, Picts, Bretons, and small parties of Gauls and even Anglo-Saxons are known in Ireland from much earlier times.

There have been many notable Irish people throughout history. The 6th century Irish monk and missionary Columbanus is regarded as one of the "fathers of Europe", followed by Kilian of Würzburg and Vergilius of Salzburg. The scientist Robert Boyle is considered the "father of chemistry". Famous Irish explorers include Brendan the Navigator, Ernest Shackleton, and Tom Crean. By some accounts, the first European child born in North America had Irish descent on both sides; while an Irishman was also the first European to set foot on American soil in Columbus' expedition of 1492.

Large populations of people of Irish ethnicity live in many western countries, particularly in English-speaking countries. Historically, emigration has been caused by politics, famine and economic issues. An estimated 50 to 80 million people make up the Irish diaspora today, which includes Great Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Jamaica, Trinidad, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico, France, Germany and Brazil. The largest number of people of Irish descent live in the United States—about ten times more than in Ireland itself. However, it had been recognised that the estimated numbers of the Irish dispora could be hugely inaccurate, including the majority of ancestral censuses conducted within the United States and Canada, in which it requires self-reported ancestry, often at times completely inaccurate. The majority of people living within immigrated populations (i.e. Australia, United States, Canada etc.) are of mixed ancestry due to decades, at times centuries, of inter-breeding with other immigrants or indigenous populations, hence claiming one specific ancestry is often at times personal preference or perceived ancestry rather than fact. The author Jim Webb also suggests that a large number, he suspects near half of claimed Irish-American ancestry, especially for Protestants, are actually Ulster Scots (Scottish people who populated Northern Ireland, not to be confused with Scottish People)

Origins and antecedents

In its summary of their article 'Who were the Celts?' the National Museum Wales note "It is possible that future genetic studies of ancient and modern human DNA may help to inform our understanding of the subject. However, early studies have, so far, tended to produce implausible conclusions from very small numbers of people and using outdated assumptions about linguistics and archaeology."

Prehistoric and legendary ancestors

tomb, 6000 BC]] During the past 8,000 years of inhabitation, Ireland has witnessed many different peoples arrive on its shores. The ancient peoples of Ireland—such as the creators of the Céide Fields and Newgrange—are almost unknown. Neither their languages nor terms they used to describe themselves have survived. As late as the middle centuries of the 1st millennium the inhabitants of Ireland did not appear to have a collective name for themselves. Ireland itself was known by a number of different names, including Banba, Scotia, Fódla, Ériu by the islanders, Hibernia and Scotia to the Romans, and Ierne to the Greeks.

Likewise, the terms for people from Ireland—all from Roman sources—in the late Roman era were varied. They included Attacotti, Scoti, and Gael. This last word, derived from the Welsh gwyddel (meaning raiders), was eventually adopted by the Irish for themselves. However, as a term it is on a par with Viking, as it describes an activity (raiding, piracy) and its proponents, not their actual ethnic affiliations. The term Irish and Ireland is derived from the Érainn, a people who once lived in what is now central and south Munster. Possibly their proximity to overseas trade with western Great Britain, Gaul, and Iberia led to the name of this one people to be applied to the whole island and its inhabitants. A variety of historical ethnic groups have inhabited the island, including the Airgialla, Fir Ol nEchmacht, Delbhna, Fir Bolg, Érainn, Eóganachta, Mairtine, Conmaicne, Soghain, and Ulaid. In the cases of the Conmaicne, Delbhna, and perhaps Érainn, it can be demonstrated that the tribe took their name from their chief deity, or in the case of the Ciannachta, Eóganachta, and possibly the Soghain, a deified ancestor. This practise is paralled by the Anglo-Saxon dynasties claims of descent from Woden, via his sons Wecta, Baeldaeg, Casere and Wihtlaeg.

The Greek mythographer, Euhemerus, originated the concept of Euhemerism, which treats mythological accounts as a reflection of actual historical events shaped by retelling and traditional mores. In the 12th-century, Icelandic bard and historian Snorri Sturluson proposed that the Norse gods were originally historical war leaders and kings, who later became cult figures, eventually set into society as gods. This view is in agreement with Irish historians such T. F. O'Rahilly and Francis John Byrne; the early chapters of their respective books, Early Irish history and mythology (reprinted 2004) and Irish Kings and High-Kings (3rd revised edition, 2001), deal in depth with the origins and status of many Irish ancestral deities.

One legend states that the Irish were descended from one Míl Espáine, whose sons supposedly conquered Ireland around 1000 BC or later. The character is almost certainly a mere personification of a supposed migration by a group or groups from Iberia to Ireland. It is from this that the Irish were, as late as the 1800s, popularly known as "Milesian". Medieval Irish historians, over the course of several centuries, created the genealogical dogma that all Irish were descendants of Míl, ignoring the fact that their own works demonstrated inhabitants in Ireland prior to his supposed arrival.

This doctrine was adapted between the 10th and 12th centuries, as demonstrated in the works of Eochaidh Ua Floinn (936-1004); Flann Mainistrech (died 25 November 1056); Tanaide (died c. 1075) and Gilla Cómáin mac Gilla Samthainde (fl. 1072). Many of their compositions were incorporated into the compendium Lebor Gabála Érenn.

This tradition was enhanced and embedded in the tradition by successive historians such as Dubsúilech Ó Maolconaire (died 1270); Seán Mór Ó Dubhagáin (d.1372); Giolla Íosa Mór Mac Fir Bhisigh (fl. 1390–1418); Pilip Ballach Ó Duibhgeannáin (fl. 1579–1590) and Flann Mac Aodhagáin (alive 1640). The first Irish historian who questioned the reliability of such accounts was Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (murdered 1671).

Genetics

The frequency of Y-DNA haplogroup R1b (the most common haplogroup in Europe) is highest in the populations of Atlantic Europe and, due to European emigration, in North America, South America, and Australia. In Ireland and the Basque Country its frequency exceeds 90% and approaches 100% in Western Ireland. The incidence of R1b is 70% or more in parts of northern and western England, northern Iberia, western France, Wales and Scotland. R1b's incidence declines gradually with distance from these areas but it is still common across the central areas of Europe. R1b is the most frequent haplogroup in Germany, and is common in southern Scandinavia and in Italy. This led to writers, such as Stephen Oppenheimer and Brian Sykes, to conclude that the majority of Irish people (and indeed all natives of the British Isles) primarily descend from an "Iberian refugium" population bottleneck dating back to the last ice age.

However, this haplogroup is now believed by some to have originated over 12,000 years more recently than previously thought. It thus follows that Irish and many other R1b subclades will be considerably younger than the maximum age of 18,000 years. The previous estimates, based on inaccurate dating methods (30,000+ years BP), made R1b and its subclades seem to be more useful indicators of the paleolithic era populations of western Europe than they actually are. According to recent 2009 studies by Bramanti et al. and Malmström et al. on mtDNA, related western European populations appear to be largely from the neolithic and not paleolithic era, as previously thought. There was discontinuity between mesolithic central Europe and modern European populations mainly due to a extremely high frequency of haplogroup U (particularly U5) types in mesolithic central European sites.

That there exists an especially strong genetic association between the Irish and the Basques, one even closer than the relationship between other west Europeans, was first challenged in 2005, and in 2007 scientists began looking at the possibility of a more recent Mesolithic- or even Neolithic-era entrance of R1b into Europe. A new study published in 2010 by Balaresque et al. implies either a Mesolithic- or Neolithic- (not Paleolithic) era entrance of R1b into Europe. However, all these genetic studies are in agreement that the Irish and Basque (along with the Welsh) share the highest percentage of R1b populations.

History

Early expansion and the coming of Christianity

imparting his blessing to the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland"]]

One Roman historian records that the Irish people were divided into "sixteen different nations" or tribes. Traditional histories assert that the Romans never attempted to conquer Ireland, although it may have been considered.

Among the most famous people of ancient Irish history are the High Kings of Ireland, such as Cormac mac Airt and Niall of the Nine Hostages, and the semi-legendary Fianna. The 20th century writer Seamus MacManus wrote that even if the Fianna and the Fenian Cycle were purely fictional, it would still be representative of the character of the Irish people:

The introduction of Christianity to the Irish people during the 5th century brought a radical change to the Irish people's foreign relations. The only military raid abroad recorded after that century is a presumed invasion of Wales, which according to a Welsh manuscript may have taken place around the 7th century. while Saints Kilian and Vergilius became the patron saints of Würzburg in Germany and Salzburg in Austria, respectively. Irish missionaries founded monasteries outside Ireland, such as Iona Abbey, the Abbey of St Gall in Switzerland, and Bobbio Abbey in Italy.

Common to both the monastic and the secular bardic schools were Irish and Latin. With Latin, the early Irish scholars "show almost a like familiarity that they do with their own Gaelic". There is evidence also that Hebrew and Greek were studied, the latter probably being taught at Iona.

Since the time of Charlemagne, Irish scholars had a considerable presence in the Frankish court, where they were renowned for their learning. The most significant Irish intellectual of the early monastic period was the 9th century Johannes Scotus Eriugena, an outstanding philosopher in terms of originality. He had considerable familiarity with the Greek language, and translated many works into Latin, affording access to the Cappadocian Fathers and the Greek theological tradition, previously almost unknown in the Latin West. The first name of Njáll Þorgeirsson, the chief protagonist of Njáls saga, is a variation of the Irish name Neil. According to Eirik the Red's Saga, the first European couple to have a child born in North America was descended from the Viking Queen of Dublin, Aud the Deep-minded, and a Gaelic slave brought to Iceland. It is very common for people of Gaelic origin to have the English versions of their surnames beginning with "O'" or "Mc" (less frequently "Mac" and occasionally shortened to just "Ma" at the beginning of the name).

"O'" comes from the Gaelic Ó which in turn came from Ua, which means "grandson", or "descendant" of a named person. Names that begin with "O'" include Ó Briain (O'Brien), Ó Cheallaigh (O'Kelly), Ó Conchobhair (O'Connor), Ó Domhnaill (O'Donnell), Ó Cuilinn (Cullen), Ó Máille (O'Malley), Ó Néill (O'Neill), Ó Sé (O'Shea), Ó Súilleabháin (O'Sullivan), and Ó Tuathail (O'Toole).

"Mac" or "Mc" means "son". Names that begin with Mac include Mac Diarmada (MacDermott), Mac Cárthaigh (MacCarthy), Mac Domhnaill (MacDonnell), and Mac Mathghamhna (MacMahon, MacMahony, etc.). However, "Mac" and "Mc" are not mutually exclusive, so, for example, both "MacCarthy" and "McCarthy" are used. While both "Mac" and "O'" prefixes are Gaelic in origin, "Mac" is more common in Scotland and in Ulster than in the rest of Ireland; furthermore, "Ó" is far less common in Scotland than it is in Ireland.

There are a number of Irish surnames derived from Norse personal names, including Mac Suibhne (Sweeney) from Swein and McAuliffe from Olaf. The name Cotter, local to County Cork, derives from the Norse personal name Ottir. The name Reynolds is an Anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Raghnaill, itself originating from the Norse names Randal or Reginald. Though these names were of Viking derivation some of the families who bear them appear to have had Gaelic origins.

"Fitz" is an old Norman French variant of the Old French word fils (variant spellings filz, fiuz, fiz, etc.), used by the Normans, meaning son. The Normans themselves were descendants of Vikings, who had settled in Normandy and thoroughly adopted the French language and culture. With the exception of the Gaelic-Irish Fitzpatrick (Mac Giolla Phádraig) surname, all names that begin with Fitz - including FitzGerald (Mac Gearailt), Fitzsimons (Mac Síomóin/Mac an Ridire) and FitzHenry (Mac Anraí) - are descended from the initial Norman settlers. A small number of Irish families of Gaelic origin came to use a Norman form of their original surname—so that Mac Giolla Phádraig became Fitzpatrick — while some assimilated so well that the Gaelic name was dropped in favor of a new, Hiberno-Norman form. Another common Irish surname of Norman Irish origin is the 'de' habitational prefix, meaning 'of' and originally signifying prestige and land ownership. Examples include de Búrca (Burke), de Brún, de Barra (Barry), de Stac (Stack), de Tiúit, de Faoite (White), de Londras (Landers), de Paor (Power). The Irish surname "Walsh" (in Gaelic Breathnach) was routinely given to settlers of Welsh origin, who had come during and after the Norman invasion. The Joyce and Griffin/Griffith (Gruffydd) families are also of Welsh origin.

The Mac Lochlainn, Ó Maol Seachlainn, Ó Maol Seachnaill, Ó Conchobhair Mac Loughlin and Mac Diarmada Mac Loughlin families, all distinct, are now all subsumed together as MacLoughlin. The full surname usually indicated which family was in question, something that has being diminished with the loss of prefixes such as Ó and Mac. Different branches of a family with the same surname sometimes used distinguishing epithets, which sometimes became surnames in their own right. Hence the chief of the clan Ó Cearnaigh (Kearney) was referred to as An Sionnach (Fox), which his descendants use to this day. Similar surnames are often found in Scotland for many reasons, such as the use of a common language and mass Irish migration to Scotland in the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries.

Late Medieval and Tudor Ireland

, from a drawing of 1521 by Albrecht Dürer]] The Irish people of the Late Middle Ages were active as traders on the European continent. They were distinguished from the English (who only used their own language or French) in that they only used Latin abroad—a language "spoken by all educated people throughout Gaeldom". The explorer Christopher Columbus visited Ireland to gather information about the lands to the west.

An English report of 1515 states that the Irish people were divided into over sixty Gaelic lordships and thirty Anglo-Irish lordships. The English term for these lordships was "nation" or "country". The various branches of Irish learning—including law, poetry, history and genealogy, and medicine—were associated with hereditary learned families. The poetic families included the Uí Dhálaigh (Daly) and the MacGrath. Learning was not exclusive to the hereditary learned families, however; one such example is Cathal Mac Manus, the 15th century diocesan priest who wrote the Annals of Ulster. Boyle was an atomist, and is best known for Boyle's Law. The hydrographer Sir Francis Beaufort (1774–1857), an Irish naval officer of Huguenot descent, was the creator of the Beaufort scale for indicating wind force. George Boole (1815–1864), the mathematician who invented Boolean algebra, spent the latter part of his life in Cork. The 19th century physicist George Stoney introduced the idea and the name of the electron. He was the uncle of another notable physicist, George FitzGerald.

The Irish bardic system, along with the Gaelic culture and learned classes, were upset by the plantations, and went into decline. Among the last of the true bardic poets were Brian Mac Giolla Phádraig (c. 1580–1652) and Dáibhí Ó Bruadair (1625–1698). The Irish poets of the late 17th and 18th centuries moved toward more modern dialects. Among the most prominent of this period were Séamas Dall Mac Cuarta, Peadar Ó Doirnín, Art Mac Cumhaigh, Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna, and Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill. Irish Catholics continued to receive an education in secret "hedgeschools", in spite of the Penal laws. A knowledge of Latin was common among the poor Irish mountaineers in the 17th century, who spoke it on special occasions, while cattle were bought and sold in Greek in the mountain market-places of Kerry.

For a comparatively small population of about 6 million people, Ireland has made an enormous contribution to literature. Irish literature encompasses the Irish and English languages. Notable Irish writers include Jonathan Swift (1667–1745), Laurence Sterne, Oliver Goldsmith, Bram Stoker, James Joyce. Among the famous Irish poets are William Butler Yeats, Francis Ledwidge, "A.E." Russell and Seamus Heaney. Irish playwrights include Oscar Wilde, Lady Gregory, John Millington Synge, Edward Plunkett, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Sean O'Casey, Brendan Behan and Brian Friel. Some of the 20th century writers in the Irish language include Brian O'Nolan, Peig Sayers, Muiris Ó Súilleabháin, and Máirtín Ó Direáin.

19th Century

The Great Hunger

20th century

In 1921, with the formation of the Irish Free State, six counties in the northeast remained in the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland. It is predominately religion, historical, and political differences that divide the two communities of (nationalism and unionism). Four polls taken between 1989 and 1994 revealed that when asked to state their national identity, over 79% of Northern Ireland Protestants replied "British" or "Ulster" with 3% or less replying "Irish", while over 60% of Northern Ireland Catholics replied "Irish" with 13% or less replying "British" or "Ulster". A survey in 1999 showed that 72% of Northern Ireland Protestants considered themselves "British" and 2% "Irish", with 68% of Northern Ireland Catholics considering themselves "Irish" and 9% "British". The survey also revealed that 78% of Protestants and 48% of all respondents felt "Strongly British", while 77% of Catholics and 35% of all respondents felt "Strongly Irish". 51% of Protestants and 33% of all respondents felt "Not at all Irish", while 62% of Catholics and 28% of all respondents felt "Not at all British".

Ulster people surnames tend to differ based on which community families originate from. Ulster Protestants tend to have either English or Scottish surnames while Catholics tend to have Irish surnames, although this is not always the case. There are many Catholics in Northern Ireland with surnames such as Emerson, Whitson, Livingstone, Hardy, Tennyson, MacDonald (this surname is also common with Highland Roman Catholics in Scotland), Dunbar, Groves, Legge, Scott, Gray, Page, Stewart, Roberts, Rowntree, Henderson, et al., due to intermarriage.

Recent history

Religions

In the Republic of Ireland, as of 2006, 3,681,446 people or about 86.83% of the population claim to be Roman Catholic. In Northern Ireland about 53.1% of the population are Protestant (21.1% Presbyterian, 15.5% Church of Ireland, 3.6% Methodist, 6.1% Other Christian) whilst a large minority are Catholic at approximately 43.8%, as of 2001.

The 31st International Eucharistic Congress was held in Dublin in 1932, that year being the supposed 1,500th anniversary of Saint Patrick's arrival. Ireland was then home to 3,171,697 Catholics, about a third of whom attended the Congress. It was noted in Time Magazine that the Congress' special theme would be "the Faith of the Irish." The idea of faith has affected the question of Irish identity even in relatively recent times, apparently more so for Catholics and Irish-Americans:

}}

This has been a matter of concern over the last century for followers of nationalist ideologists such as DP Moran.

Europe

Ireland joined the European Community in 1973, and Irish citizens became additionally Citizens of the European Union with the Maastricht Treaty signed in 1992. This brought a further question for the future of Irish identity; whether Ireland was "closer to Boston than to Berlin:"

Celebrities

Famous Irish singers and musicians have included the harpist Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738), Catherine Hayes and Count John McCormack; and more recently U2, Enya, The Script, Clannad, Christy Moore, Planxty, Thin Lizzy, The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, The Corrs, Dónal Lunny, Van Morrison, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Rory Gallagher, Phil Lynott, Gary Moore, Sinéad O'Connor, Bob Geldof, Shane MacGowan, David King, The Cranberries, James Galway, Colm Wilkinson, Johnny Logan, Damien Rice, Chris de Burgh, Glen Hansard, Kíla, Boyzone, Westlife and The Dubliners.

Famous Irish actors include Maureen O'Hara, Peter O'Toole, Jeremy Renner, Liam Neeson, Richard Harris, Greer Garson, Pierce Brosnan, Spike Milligan, Stephen Boyd, Brendan Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Colm Meaney, Colin Farrell, Robert Sheehan, Saoirse Ronan and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. One of the most significant national Irish media figures is Gay Byrne, who presented the Late Late Show from 1962–1999. There are several other Irish broadcasters of note who developed careers outside of Ireland, such as Terry Wogan, Graham Norton and Eamonn Andrews, who are well known internationally.

Famous Irish film directors include Pat O'Connor, Terry George, Brian Desmond Hurst, and Neil Jordan.

Famous Irish news personalities include Soledad O'Brien of CNN.

In sport, modern Irish figures include Colm Cooper, Peter Canavan, Darragh Ó Sé and Pádraic Joyce (Gaelic football), Henry Shefflin, Joe Canning and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín (hurling), George Best, Richard Dunne, Robbie Keane, Roy Keane, Steve Staunton and Martin O'Neill (soccer); Pádraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke (golf); Steve Collins, Barry McGuigan and Bernard Dunne (boxing); Keith Wood, Brian O'Driscoll, and Paul O'Connell (Rugby Union); Mary Peters, William Porterfield (cricket), Eamonn Coghlan, John Treacy and Sonia O'Sullivan (athletics); Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche (cycling), Michelle Smith, Andrew Bree (swimming), Niall O'Brien (cricket) , Dave Finlay, Sheamus O'Shaunessy (wrestling) and Brian Carney (Rugby League)

Ireland has produced many famous comedians, known both nationally and internationally. Many of them draw their humour from being Irish, or from their province, county or locality. Irish comedians who were born or raised in Dublin include Dave Allen, Frank Kelly, Dermot Morgan, Ed Byrne, Andrew Maxwell, and Jason Byrne. Ulster-born comedians include Colin Murphy, Patrick Kielty, and Ardal O'Hanlon, while Leinster has also produced, Neil Delamere, Tommy Tiernan, Deirdre O'Kane and Dylan Moran. Munster and Connaught have produced comedian Pat Shortt, Graham Norton, and comedienne Pauline McLynn respectively. Comedians of Irish descent, born outside Ireland, include George Carlin, Des Bishop (who performed the first live stand up gig in Irish), Conan O'Brien, Stephen Byrne (broadcaster) and Jimmy Carr.

Irish diaspora

, Marshal of France and first elected President of the French Third Republic]] The Irish diaspora consists of Irish emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and nations of the Caribbean such as Jamaica and Barbados. These countries, known sometimes as the Anglosphere, all have large minorities of Irish descent, who in addition form the core of the Catholic Church in those countries. People of Irish descent also feature strongly in Latin America, especially in Argentina and important minorities in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. In 1995, President Mary Robinson reached out to the "70 million people worldwide who can claim Irish descent." Today the diaspora is believed to contain an estimated 80 million people. In the early years of the English Civil War, a French traveller remarked that the Irish "are better soldiers abroad than at home". Later, Irish brigades in France and Spain fought in the Wars of the Spanish and Austrian Succession and the Napoleonic Wars.

The most famous cause of emigration was Irish Potato Famine of the late 1840s. A million are thought to have emigrated to Liverpool as a result of the famine. For both the Irish in Ireland and those in the resulting diaspora, the famine entered folk memory and became a rallying point for various nationalist movements.

visiting the John Barry Memorial in Wexford, Ireland]] People of Irish descent are the second largest self-reported ethnic group in the United States, after German Americans. Nine of the signatories of the American Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin. Among them was the sole Catholic signatory, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, whose family were the descendants of Ely O’Carroll, an Irish prince who had suffered under Cromwell. At least twenty-five presidents of the United States have some Irish ancestral origins, including George Washington. Since John F. Kennedy took office in 1961, every American President has had some Irish blood. An Irish-American, James Hoban, was the designer of the White House. Commodore John Barry was the father of the United States Navy.

In the mid-19th century, large numbers of Irish immigrants were conscripted into Irish regiments of the United States army at the time of the Mexican-American War. The vast majority of the 4,811 Irish-born soldiers served honorably in the American army, but some defected to the Mexican Army, primarily to escape mistreatment by Anglo-Protestant officers and the strong anti-Catholic discrimination in America. These were the San Patricios, or Saint Patrick's Battalion—a group of Irish led by Galway-born John O'Riley, with some German, Scottish and American Catholics.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, 300,000 free emigrants and 45,000 convicts left Ireland to settle in Australia. Today, Australians of Irish descent are one of the largest self-reported ethnic groups in Australia, after English and Australian. In the 2006 Census, 1,803,741 residents identified themselves as having Irish ancestry either alone or in combination with another ancestry. However this figure does not include Australians with an Irish background who chose to nominate themselves as 'Australian' or other ancestries. The Australian embassy in Dublin states that up to 30 percent of the population claim some degree of Irish ancestry.

It is believed that as many as 30,000 Irish people emigrated to Argentina between the 1830s and the 1890s. Today Irish-Argentines number over 1,000,000—about 1.25% of the population. Some famous Argentines of Irish descent include Che Guevara, former president Edelmiro Julián Farrell, and admiral William Brown. There are people of Irsh descent all over South America, such as the Chilean liberator Bernardo O'Higgins and the Peruvian photographer Mario Testino. Although some Irish retained their surnames intact, others were assimilated into the Spanish vernacular. The last name O'Brien, for example, became Obregón.

People of Irish descent are also one of the largest self-reported ethnic groups in Canada, after English, French and Scottish Canadians. As of 2006, Irish Canadians number around 4,354,155.

See also

European ethnic groups

Irish martial arts

List of expatriate Irish populations

List of Ireland-related topics

List of Americans of Irish descent

The Ireland Funds

Notes

References

External links

Irish surname origins

Irish ancestors on Ireland.com

Category:Celtic culture Category:Ethnic groups in Europe Category:Ethnic groups in Ireland