TV50


TV50 was a series of special events throughout 2012, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the launch of RTÉ Television, then known as Telefís Éireann, on 31 December 1961.

Launch

TV50 was officially launched on 26 December 2011 when a pre-launch placeholder website went online at RTÉ. The full TV50 site went live at noon on New Year's Eve 2011. The broadcaster intended TV50 to be a year-long celebration. The festivities saw as many as twenty archive programmes launched each month on RTÉ Player.

Controversy

RTÉ offended viewers by depicting a dog having its legs tied together and being tossed overboard into the sea off the coast of County Donegal as part of its TV50 celebrations in a broadcast on 3 January 2012.

List of ''TV50'' programmes

The following is a list of programmes broadcast under the TV50 label.
DateProgrammeDescription
31 December 2011New Year's Eve Show LiveA special programme of music and chat presented by Miriam O'Callaghan. The programme promoted many of the upcoming TV50 events.
1 January 2012Kneeling in the YearsMary Kennedy and Fr. Dermod McCarthy look at the role of televised worship
1 January 2012The EntertainersDocumentary looking back at 50 years of entertainment
2 January 2012Country Brass – Cork Butter Exchange BandDocumentary first aired in 1979 following a Cork brass band
2 January 2012Rural Portrait: King of the RoadFirst broadcast in 1968, this is a profile of Michael Cleary, a road-worker from near Cahir in County Tipperary and his father
2 January 201250 Years in the GlowPat Shortt explores the history of RTÉ through the eyes of the viewers and the importance of television in the lives of ordinary people and families
2 January 2012The Philip Lynott ArchiveProfile of the Thin Lizzy frontman, exploring his life and career
3 January 2012Terminus: Gola IslandDocumentary from 1970 highlighting the magic island of the song
3 January 2012Oileán: Anam ClochBroadcast in 2008 as part of the Oileán series, this show brings us up to date with Gola Island
5 January 2012A Little Bit TVThe first in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: Bill O'Herlihy
5 January 2012John Molloy's DublinActor John Molloy provides a combination of comedy sketches and mime in a specially restored and remastered programme from 1976
5 January 2012Self-Portrait – Sylvia BeachAn archive interview from 1962 with Sylvia Beach
6 January 2012Scope – the Four RoadsA 1973 film which follows the life of 70-year-old Winnie Mongan
6 January 2012Wheels of the World – Life in North KerryFilmed in 1974, this documentary captures the sounds and rhythms of rural life
12 January 2012A Little Bit TVThe second in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: Gráinne Seoige
19 January 2012A Little Bit TVThe third in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: Bunny Carr
26 January 2012A Little Bit TVThe fourth in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh
February 2012Music Makers MonthClassic performances from Boyzone, Paul Brady, Joe Dolan, The Dubliners, Rory Gallagher, Horslips, Dolores Keane, Christy Moore and Westlife
2 February 2012A Little Bit TVThe fifth in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: Derek Davis
9 February 2012A Little Bit TVThe sixth in a series of eight profiles of well-known television presenters: Mark Cagney
April 2012Children's Classics Month
TBAInto the Light: the Battles that Shaped Our TVThe first in a two-part series in which John Bowman charts RTÉ's relationship with church and state
TBAInto the Light: the Battles that Shaped Our TVThe second in a two-part series in which John Bowman charts RTÉ's relationship with church and state
22 July 2012Weather PermittingWhy are the Irish so obsessed with the weather?
23 July 2012Battle StationFeaturing John Bowman
24 July 2012Battle StationFeaturing John Bowman
21 October 2012Fleadh Cheoil ThurlesThe Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann at Thurles in 1965
22 October 2012Flights of Fancy World of the Pigeon MenMargaret Gleeson's 1985 documentary offering a revealing insight into the world of pigeon fanciers as they prepare for a big race.
22 October 2012What's Happening to Television?A one-hour documentary on the future of TV, presented by Miriam O'Callaghan.
22 October 2012Bells and Blue BeretsJohn Skehan's 1966 Christmas visit to Irish UN troops in Cyprus.
23 October 2012Isles of AranLouis Lentin's documentary revealing life in the Aran Islands in 1963 before mass tourism, new employment initiatives and the building of an airstrip helped the islanders to modernise.
24 October 2012Country Brass Boherbuoy Brass and Reed BandA film highlighting the Boherbuoy Brass and Reed Band, including its respect for musical traditions and reverence for the landscape of urban Limerick.
24 October 2012Maam CrossThe impact of a poor day of trading at a County Galway horse fair in 1990, presented by Mairéad Ní Nuadháin.
26 October 2012Lifestyle: Living Like Lords1971 documentary examining the lifestyles and West of Ireland ancestral homes of three Irish lords, with Cathal O'Shannon.
4 December 2012The Radharc SquadPart one of a two-part documentary revealing the story of film-making priests who planned to project a Catholic influence by offering programmes to Telefís Éireann.
6 December 2012Radharc: Down and Out in DublinA story of social exclusion in Dublin, exploring the lives of people who slept rough on the capital's streets. First broadcast in 1964.
11 December 2012The Radharc SquadConcluding part of a documentary revealing the story of a group of film-making priests, featuring selections from the Radharc Archive and interviews with key figures.
13 December 2012Radharc: Pain Is the PriceA classic episode of the documentary series exploring the work of missionary priest Shay Cullen, a priest who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times.
18 December 2012StrippedBroadcast on RTÉ Two, Stripped won the RTÉ TV Documentary Unit/Filmbase TV50 "Doc on the Box" award. It follows a week in the life of 29-year-old Sligo bodybuilder Joe Gallagher who, jobless and in negative equity, becomes a stripper for birthdays, hen parties and nightclubs.
20 December 2012God on the BoxContributors including Alice Taylor, David Quinn, Arthur Matthews, Patsy McGarry, Biddy White Lennon, David McSavage, Bill O'Herlihy and Maureen Gaffney look back at the impact of fifty years of TV on religion in Ireland. This was also the last TV50 programme broadcast before the Mayan apocalypse.
23 December 2012The School Around the CornerThe only known copy of the original series of the show, first broadcast exactly fifty years ago on this day.
27 December 2012Nighthawks Rehashed
28 December 2012Sup as an Tobar
30 December 2012Weather PermittingRepeat of programme broadcast earlier in the year.

Associated events

Books

There was a nationwide search initiated by RTÉ.

''Doc on the Box''

RTÉ described this as "a forward-looking initiative designed to encourage a fresh, emerging voice in video documentary direction and production". However, it was only open to those over the age of eighteen years and with experience.