PJ Gallagher explores Ireland’s fight for mental wellness in new RTÉ documentary, PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind

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Comedian PJ Gallagher turns mental health warrior in PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind, a candid RTÉ documentary exploring mental health in Ireland with the humour and heart that define him.

Following a lifesaving stay at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, PJ Gallagher embarks on a mission to sustain his mental health and long-term well-being, while facing the joys and challenges of welcoming twins. He powerfully admits that he very nearly “died of shame” – he was too embarrassed to talk about being depressed, to the point of becoming suicidal.

PJ Gallagher said: “When I started out doing comedy 25 years ago, the last thing I thought I would be doing was talking about mental illness. In fact, I was trying to do the exact opposite. But my mission now is to have a conversation and try to get other people to have their own discussions on mental illness, and to know the difference between mental illness and your day-to-day mental health. I’ve learned that there is no right or wrong way to talk about it. No one is going to tell you that just talking will make you better, but you have to start talking to find what will make you better. I hope this documentary might in some small way help people to do that.”

PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind is a celebration of his progress and his commitment to extend that lifeline to those navigating their own mental health journeys, by partnering with advocacy groups and working to dismantle the stigma of facing mental health difficulties. That stigma can be life-threatening for men in particular – suicide is the leading cause of death in men under 25, and yet Pieta House says that 70% of its service users are female.

PJ talks to researchers and psychotherapists, as well as meeting men’s groups that create connection and space to talk about the issues they are facing. He investigates whether he has a diagnosis of ADHD, makes a fresh venture into mindfulness and talk therapy, and explores the potential of ground-breaking therapies like psilocybin, an emerging psychedelic treatment.

PJ Gallagher: Changing My Mind is a raw dive into Ireland’s fight for mental wellness, airing on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Monday 20th May at 9.35pm.  

New landmark documentary series Stardust on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player

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  • New compelling eye-witness testimony of Stardust fire in RTÉ documentary
  • Series filmed over three years includes interview with Charlie Bird filmed in 2021 

New eye-witness testimony from the night of the Stardust fire from bar staff, emergency responders and survivors comprehensively recount the events of the night of the disaster in the first episode of a new landmark documentary series on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player from Sunday at 9.30pm.

Stardust, a three-part documentary series, tells the full and unvarnished story of the Stardust nightclub fire and the 43-year search for justice undertaken by the families of those killed in the fire. The series will be broadcast across three consecutive nights, Sunday May 12th at 9.30pm and continues tomorrow night and Tuesday at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Three years in the making by RTÉ, this definitive account of the Stardust nightclub tragedy  chronicles the night of the fire and the fall-out from it, the initial investigation into the fire, the relatives’ fight for justice up to the point of a second inquest and concludes with the historic decision of ‘unlawful killing’ delivered into the Coroner’s Court on April 18th.

Tonight’s episode features a sit-down interview with the late Charlie Bird about the nightclub fire that he attended as an RTÉ News journalist in 1981. After campaigning for decades on behalf of the Stardust families, Charlie spoke to RTÉ’s documentary crew in 2021 to recall the night.

Charlie Bird said: “I remember getting the phone call that night – my boss he told me to get my backside out to Artane – there had been a fire in a disco called the Stardust, I hadn’t a clue where it was. I remember jumping in my car and going over Butt Bridge and I just followed the ambulances from there out to the Stardust… So many people there – ambulances, fire brigades, reporters, onlookers from all over the place – it was absolutely chaotic.” 

He continued: “It was a dream – the whole thing was a dream or a nightmare – that was unfolding – as dawn came you began to see the shell of the Stardust – that charred and the smell the smoke was still rising from it.” 

“In a way we didn’t know then what the scale of the tragedy was, how many people had died and the numbers who were injured. Charlie Haughey arrives and the most bizarre thing of all – we walked through the Stardust! We were allowed in – talk about forensics, it’s the most bizarre thing! We were actually allowed to trudge through it!” 

In a rare interview, survivor of the Stardust fire Valerie Deasy describes  first seeing the blaze in the nightclub: “I looked around for my sister to see where she was and I went up to her and said ‘c’mon we better go’ and she said ‘sure it’s only a little fire.’  We could see it… It was in a corner on a seatthat’s what it looked like to me anyway and we walked over and we were standing quite close to the exits – but they were chained.” 

Valerie talks about how the fire grew quickly and in the chaos, she ended up on the floor. She says: “Everyone was standing on me, trampling on me but then I thought I had died – because everything went deathly silent – there wasn’t a sound and it was pitch black.” 

She adds: “You could see the light coming from a door being opened and slowly but surely there was people just pulling people out and eventually somebody pulled me out. There was guy who worked in the community centre, the youth leaders, and I went over to him and said ‘Mick will you bring me home’. I actually thought I was going to sneak back into the house and my mother wouldn’t realise that I’d been out – so he said to me ‘Who are you?’ because he didn’t recognise me.  And I said ‘it’s Valerie’ and he said to me – ‘what’s that?’ And all the skin off my face was here …it was in my hand, and I just held it in my hand while we got in the car and he drove me into Jervis Street.” 

Phyllis Campbell was 16years old on the night of fire and was working as bar staff in another part of the Stardust venue. In Sunday night’s documentary, Phyllis recounts for the first time in a television interview the first signs of fire and the panic in the venue as they discovered the doors wouldn’t open.

Phyllis Campbell tells the Stardust documentary: “We were lounge girls and we would serve the drink to the tables, clear the glasses, we would wear a white blouse, black skirt, we were supposed to – that was our uniform.” 

“Everybody was excited to be going to the Stardust on Valentine’s night with a disco competition because most of the people that were in the disco competition – we knew” 

“We were in the Lantern Rooms tidying around, that function was coming to an end – one of the lounge staff came in to say there was a fire in the Stardust and we went into see.” 

She continues: “The flames was going across the ceiling then there was a gush of fire and it was like the material from the ceiling was falling on fire” 

“The lights went out… People screaming, glasses smashing, the roars of the fire – so we held on to each other and we went through the bar – I slipped and fell.” 

Phyllis says: “When we got outside it was as bad outside – the screams coming from inside… People that did go to exit doors had no chance – there was no way that they would have got out those doors because they were chained and because the toilet windows had bars on – there was no way out there. ‘Jesus help us get us out’ and then silence. Seeing people that you had spoke to a couple of minutes beforehand coming out black, covered in smoke and there was others trying to get back in cos their families were in there.” 

“I remember my aunt saying is it really really bad – and she saying half of Coolock is gone.” 

RTÉ’s Stardust documentary project is a comprehensive telling of the story of the tragedy, with candid testimony from eyewitnesses, contributions from survivors, bereaved families and first responders. As a companion to the documentary series, RTÉ invited families who delivered ‘pen portraits’ at the Inquest to record these testimonies and allow the wider public to know more about their loved ones who were lost on that night. The resulting collection of almost thirty such ‘pen portraits’ are available to watch now at www.rte.ie/stardust.

Across  the three-part documentary series, directed by Máire Kearney for RTÉ’s Documentary Unit, and the collection of ‘pen portraits’, Stardust consists of almost ten hours of personal testimony and aims to offer a comprehensive account of the events of the night, of those killed in the fire, and the experiences of those left to fight on their behalf.

Stardust starts on Sunday May 12th at 9.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Ballyduff Drama Group hailing from Co. Waterford Scoops Top Award in 2024 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival

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RTÉ Marks 20 Years as Title Sponsor of the Festival with special anniversary video

 https://youtu.be/fK99YKtxV8c

Ballyduff Drama Group, directed by Ger Canning, were crowned RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival champions for their performance of ‘The Ferryman’ by Jez Butterworth at the Gala Awards ceremony in Athlone’s Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday May 11th as the curtain came down on the 2024 RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival. The festival is held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (ADCI).  2024 is a special year as it marks the 20th Year of RTÉ as title sponsor of the festival, and Adrian Lynch, Deputy Director General of RTÉ, presented the final award.

Dalkey Players, directed by Emma Jane Nulty, who presented ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Millar, were placed second, and first-time qualifiers Ballycogley Players, directed by Pat Whelan, who performed the farce ‘Out of Order’ by Ray Cooney were placed third.

Mark O’Brien, Executive Director, The Abbey Theatre, said they were delighted to continue their partnership with the festival. He announced that after much deliberations the winner of the Abbey Award for 2024 are Dalkey Players who presented ‘The Crucible’. He said that the Abbey looked forward to hosting the group on the Peacock stage in a number of weeks.

There was great excitement when the results were announced. No strangers to Athlone, Ballyduff Drama Group last won the All-Ireland in 2022. Their director Ger Canning also won the Best Director award. In addition, John Stack, playing Quinn Carney, won the award for best actor, and Mary Colbert, won the award for the best actress in a supporting role while Noel Hayes, won the award for the best stage management, and Donie O’Sullivan, took home the award for best stage setting.

Ballyduff Drama Group has been performing on the Three Act circuit for over forty years. During that time, they won the All Ireland on two occasions, in 2004 and in 2022 with ‘Rabbit Hole’. Last year they came second with their production of ‘The Welkin’. In performing the ‘Ferryman’ Ballyduff threw all caution to the wind when it came to the saying ‘never work with children or animals’! Their performance included appearances by a live and very engaging baby boy, a local baby named Paidi, a live goose and a rabbit!

‘The Ferryman’, by Jez Butterworth is set in Northern Ireland, 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor.

20th Year of RTÉ as Title Sponsor – The Bride Rosney Award

To mark the 20th year of RTÉ as title sponsor of the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival, a special one-off prize, the Bride Rosney Award, was awarded to newcomers from each group. Bride Rosney served as Director of Communications at RTÉ from 2002 to 2009. During her tenure, the partnership with the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival began and it was she who laid the foundations for the 20 years of success which followed. The inter-generational aspect of amateur drama groups was something Bride often referred to. She saw it as a torch that was carried through the generations and a fountain on which great communities would flourish.

To honour the memory of Bride Rosney and mark two decades of the partnership, the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival presented an award to the best newcomer from each group. Bride’s partner Peter McMenamin presented the awards. Awards in the category went to Shay Hannon, Ballycogley Players Drama Group, Seán Foley, Ballyduff Drama Group, Sam Asaylee, Ballyshannon Drama Society, Joseph Sunderland, Bridge Drama, Claudia Verdecchia, Clontarf Players, Rachel McConnell, Dalkey Players, Mickey Brannigan, Newpoint Players, Lauren Mitchel, Prosperous Dramatic Society and Naoise O’Connor, Wexford Drama Group.

Other award winners on the night included, Rachel O’Connor, Ballyshannon Drama Society, who took home the award for best actress for her role as Margaret Thatcher in the premiere of ‘Margaret’ by Shaun Byrne. The award for best actor in a supporting role went to Sean Carty, Ballycogley Players Drama Group.

The award for best stage lighting went to Cian Redmond, Wexford Drama Group. The Drama League of Ireland (DLI) Summer School Scholarship was awarded to Hannah Clabbey of Dalkey Players for her performance as Mary Warren in the Crucible.

Speaking at the awards the Festival Director, Regina Bushell, said that all the finalists are true masters of their craft. Quoting Kevin Bakhurst of RTÉ who said that in the same way that our national sports generate passion on the fields, the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival creates passion on the boards. Liam Hannaway ADCI Chair said that the standard was so high that any of the groups could grace a professional stage. He thanked RTÉ and the other sponsors for their support of drama. He commended the Abbey Theatre for their continued support of drama. He commended the adjudicator, Tom Byrne.

This year’s adjudicator at the festival was Mr Tom Byrne. He has over 45 years involvement with amateur drama and competed in his first festival in 1979. He has won numerous awards as a director, Since taking up adjudicating in 2011 he has adjudicated at ADCI qualifying festivals throughout Ireland. Commenting on the festival, Tom Byrne praised the 9 extraordinary groups singling out their talent and creativity.

Tom Byrne awarded the Adjudicator Award to Alison Rogers, Newpoint Players, for her truly exquisite masks for ‘In the Shadow of the Glen Reimagined’ by Sean Treanor after JM Synge.

Audiences were indeed treated to a fine display of theatre this year. Amongst the finalists were several premieres, that of a new Irish play, ‘Margaret’ about Margaret Thatcher in her final years, ‘In the Shadow of the Glen: Reimagined’ (after JM Synge), and a festival premiere of ‘Radium Girls’. Two Arthur Miller plays ‘A View from the Bridge’ and ‘The Crucible’ also featured. There were performances by two first time qualifiers, as well as performances by former winners and qualifiers!

NOTES

Award Categories:

  • RTÉ Perpetual Trophy to the Overall Winner – Ballyduff Drama Group
  • Best Director – Ger Canning, Ballyduff Drama Group
  • Best Actor – John Stack, Ballyduff Drama Group
  • Best Actress – Rachel O’Connor, Ballyshannon Drama Society
  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Sean Carty, Ballycogley Players Drama Group
  • Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Mary Colbert, Ballyduff Drama Group
  • Best Stage Management – Noel Hayes, Ballyduff Drama Group
  • Best Stage Lighting – Cian Redmond, Wexford Drama Group
  • Best Stage Setting – Donie O’Sullivan, Ballyduff Drama Group
  • Adjudicator Award – Alison Rogers, Newpoint Players
  • Drama League of Ireland (DLI) Summer School Scholarship – Hannah Clabbey, Dalkey Players,
  • The Abbey Theatre Award – Dalkey Players, who presented ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller.

The special one-off Bride Rosney Awards for newcomers went to Shay Hannon, Ballycogley Players Drama Group, Seán Foley, Ballyduff Drama Group, Sam Asaylee, Ballyshannon Drama Society, Joseph Sunderland, Bridge Drama, Claudia Verdecchia, Clontarf Players, Rachel McConnell, Dalkey Players, Mickey Brannigan, Newpoint Players, Lauren Mitchel, Properous Dramatic Society and Naoise O’Connor, Wexford Drama Group.

RTÉ Supporting the Arts: What’s On this May

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RTÉ Supporting the Arts: What’s On this May

Watch our YouTube promo here

This May RTÉ is delighted to support Dublin Dance Festival along with 20 other arts and cultural events nationwide.

RTÉ is supporting an array of fantastic events spanning from theatre, music, dance, literature, art, film and more. From music in Kilkenny, Galway, Waterford and Limerick to several diverse exhibitions and a series of theatre productions in Belfast, Dublin and across the country. 

During 2023, RTÉ supported a record 170 arts and cultural events all over Ireland through the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme. Spanning film, music, dance, opera, festivals, literature, theatre and exhibitions, and with dedicated promotion on RTÉ’s television, radio and digital services, and extensive support across RTÉ’s social channels, the RTÉ Supporting the Arts scheme is a lifeline to Ireland’s creative and cultural sectors.

To find out more information about RTÉ Supporting the Arts and to apply click here. 

Find out what’s happening near you on www.rte.ie/culture

Doireann Garrihy to leave RTÉ 2FM

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RTÉ has today announced that Doireann Garrihy has decided to leave RT 2FM after five years. Doireann will present her final 2FM Breakfast with Doireann, Donncha and Carl on RTÉ 2FM on Friday 31st May.
Explaining her decision, Doireann Garrihy said:
 
“After 5 years of 2FM Breakfast it’s time for ventures new.  Donncha and Carl, I have found brothers for life in you both. What an absolute blast of craic, ridiculous immaturity and lifelong bond building. Anyone would be blessed to work with one gentleman every day, I was beyond blessed to work with two. To the loyal 2FM listeners, through thick and thin you’ve been there. Your support has meant everything. There wasn’t a day I didn’t hop out of the bed at 5am. Thank you for welcoming me with open ears back in 2019 and every day since. Producer Grace, you’re a boss, a queen, a friend for life. Willem, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Thank you to Dan Healy for meeting me in 2019 and taking a chance on me. I’m so glad you did. 
 
“Now, it’s time for my podcasts Doireann and Friends and The Laughs Of Your Life, to travel, to give more to the people who have been on this journey with me since the viral impressions video of 2016 and to pursue the projects I’ve been dreaming about. As we would say to our lovely callers on air, good luck and thanks.”
Head of RTÉ 2FM, Dan Healy said:
“Doireann is an exceptional broadcaster and has been a very important part of team at 2FM. Everyone in the station is sorry to hear that she has decided to leave. I am very proud of the breakfast show that Doireann presented with Donncha and Carl which has been loved by the audience and very successful in the JNLRs. Personally, I’m sorry to see her leave, but I respect Doireann’s decision. I wish her the very best for the future in everything she does. Doireann leaves 2FM in good shape and we look forward to building on the success of the breakfast show over the summer months and beyond.”

RTÉ welcomes publication of reports

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RTÉ has today welcomed the publication of three reports by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and the Media, Catherine Martin TD: The Report by the Expert Advisory Committee on Contractor Fees, HR and Other Matters and the Report by the Expert Advisory Committee on Governance and Culture, as well as the Mazars Report into RTÉ’s use of its barter account.

You can view all three reports here.

RTÉ accepts in principle the recommendations made in the two Expert Advisory Committee Reports. To ensure we can formally respond in full within the timeframe suggested, the Board of RTÉ and RTÉ’s Interim Leadership Team will now take time to fully review all three reports, including the recommendations. RTÉ has begun a programme of works to deliver on the recommendations, as outlined in Note 2 below.

On behalf of the RTÉ Board, Chair Terence O’Rourke, said: “RTÉ has supported both Expert Advisory Committees and Mazars in their work and we welcome the publication of their reports by Government today. Their analyses and their recommendations, all of which we accept in principle, will make a significant contribution to the task of rebuilding trust in RTÉ. RTÉ is tasked with providing a vital public service. The organisation’s corporate governance, transparency and operations must be of a standard commensurate with that mandate.   The Board is focused on returning RTÉ to levels of corporate governance and transparency that should define it.  We look forward to working with Government, staff in RTÉ and all our stakeholders, in delivering the process of transformation that commenced last year.”

RTÉ Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst said: “We welcome the publication of the three reports by the Minister and accept in principle the recommendations included in both Expert Advisory Committees. We have worked closely with both Committees and with Mazars since last year to provide all information available and enable the completion of the reports.

We understand the need to restore trust in RTÉ following a succession of revelations last year and I hope it is clear that we take the issues which have emerged very seriously. It is in this context that we are publishing today, in Note 1 below and line with our previous commitment, details of the total amount of compensation paid to key management personnel in 2023, usually reported in RTÉ’s annual reports. The termination benefit amount includes legal fees. The events of last year are a source of deep frustration and disappointment to all of us in RTÉ and those connected to this organisation. We have already undertaken major reform of RTÉ and addressed many of the recommendations included in the reports and we are committed to continuing on this process of reform, now with the benefit of recommendations set out in the reports today. We will respond formally and in full when we have taken time to give the reports full consideration.

I would like to thank everyone who has continued to support RTÉ by paying their TV Licence and I would also like to acknowledge our employees and partners in the independent sector for their ongoing dedication and commitment to delivering important and engaging public service programming and content to audiences, every single day, across RTÉ’s television, radio and online services during a very challenging period.”

Details of the total amount of compensation paid by RTÉ to key management personnel in 2023, including legal fees, are included in Note 1 below, following RTÉ’s previous commitment to publish these details in advance of publication of RTÉ’s Annual Report 2023. None of the former members of the RTÉ Executive, written to by RTÉ, has consented to waiving their right to confidentiality regarding exit payments. A list of the changes introduced since July 2023 as part of RTÉ’s agenda of reform and transformation is included in Note 2 below.

Notes:

Note 1: Transactions with key management personnel

For the purposes of the disclosure requirements of IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, the term “key management personnel” (i.e. those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the company) comprises the RTÉ Board, the Director General, the RTÉ Executive/Interim Leadership Team and the corporate functions reporting directly to the Director-General. The total amount of compensation paid to key management personnel in 2023 was €4.0 million (2022: €3.3 million), comprising salaries and other short-term employee benefits of €2.9 million (2022: €2.6 million), post-employment pension benefits of €0.4 million (2022: €0.4 million) and termination benefits €0.7 million (2022: €0.3 million).

Note 2: RTÉ Reforms since July 2023

Communications at board level:

– The Board Handbook is being updated to collate in one place all the legislative, regulatory and codes of practice obligations of RTÉ.
– The Board is undertaking a review of its skillset.
– The Terms of Reference for the Remuneration and Development Committee have been updated to include such matters as (but not
limited to):

> Approval of the remuneration of executive management and any amendments, including exit packages;
> Approval of the remuneration of RTÉ’s top 15 highest earners;
> Consideration of the remuneration of any non-Government appointed members of Boards of RTÉ subsidiary companies;
> Setting and periodically reviewing the objectives, role and reporting line of the Group Secretariat;
> Overseeing any major changes in employee benefit structures throughout the RTÉ group.

– The Remuneration Committee met 7 times in 2023, compared to 5 times in total in the period 2017-2022.
– The Terms of Reference for the Audit and Risk Committee, Remunerations Committee and Programme Committee have all been
reviewed and updated.
– All committee and sub-committee meetings are minuted and the chairs of each committee prepare a written report on their activities which is
presented at scheduled Board meetings.
– The Audit and Risk Committee has committed to review the Internal Audit Charter and RTÉ’s approach to compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Communication between RTÉ Board and management

– The Director General now provides a full written monthly report to the Board.
– All Minutes from the meetings of the Interim Leadership Team are now submitted to the Board.
– Increased and regular communication between the Board and Executive on all corporate activity.
– Integrated planning and engagement sessions regarding next Statement of Strategy between Board Sub Committee and members of the ILT.

Leadership Change

– In July 2023, the Director General stood down the former Executive Board and appointed a new Interim Leadership Team, comprising a combination of existing and new Senior Executives, to lead the organisation, pending the expected appointment in 2024 of a permanent leadership.
– Following an external competition the appointment of a new Director of Commercial and a new Chief Financial Officer.
– Appointment of a new Company Secretary as a new and distinct role in January 2024
– Finalisation of all other roles for the Permanent Leadership Team anticipated to be completed later in 2024.
– The full Interim Leadership Team now formally considers all significant matters and decisions from across the organisation (including top presenter salaries).
– A new terms of reference has been developed for the Interim Leadership Team and has been ratified by all serving members.
– During his term of engagement, the governance expert appointed by the Director General has attended meetings of the Interim Leadership Team and advised them on best practice.
– The full Interim Leadership Team now approves the salaries and contracts of new presenters, before approval by the Board’s Remuneration Committee

Staff Engagement

– A new senior management group comprising over 65 employees has been established.
– A new staff consultative forum has been established to meet periodically with the DG and members of the Interim Leadership Team.
– RTÉ initiated three surveys seeking staff feedback on health and wellness; governance concerns, perceptions and suggestions; and feedback on the New Direction document.
– Since July, the Director General and representatives from the Interim Leadership Team have maintained an ongoing dialogue with representatives from the Trade Union Group and with RTÉ’s Managers’ Association.
– Director General has made a commitment to monthly ‘Town Hall’ briefings across 2024 on a range of key organisation issues and staff suggestions.

Risk management

– A new enterprise risk management programme will be introduced in 2024 to better integrate risk management into decision-making and ensure risks are managed appropriately.
– RTÉ is reviewing risk management resourcing
– The Interim Leadership Team now reviews the organisation’s Risk Reports on a monthly basis
– A new Risk Management Policy is in development.
– Ongoing reporting to the Audit and Risk committee.

Improved Financial Controls

– A new formal approval process has been established for significant expenditure projects, which goes through both the Interim Leadership Team and the Board.
– All submissions to the Board relating to expenditure approvals must now include a risk assessment and a business case.
– The level above which Board authorisation is required has also been lowered to €1 million. This applies to sports rights, programme acquisitions, programme commissions and operating expenditure.
– Operation of RTÉ’s barter account is now subject to signed Agency Deal Memoranda and restricted to airtime trading; the proceeds are transferred quarterly to an RTÉ bank account.
– Any expenses are now budgeted for and recorded under the overall RTÉ general expenses procedure, overseen by Finance.
– RTÉ is currently developing and will implement a new policy around the Contra account to formalise the process and framework around any contra deals (such as ticket purchase and sales; buying learning packages etc.).

Development of a new Strategy and Vision for RTÉ

– In November 2023, RTÉ published A New Direction – a Strategic Vision document that provides the framework for the development of the Statement of Strategy 2024 – 2028, and which it opened to public & stakeholder consultation.
– A New Direction sets out a 10-point plan for RTÉ over the coming years, including a new approach to financial management and a commitment to develop a new framework for better governance.
– The Vision document also sets out that RTÉ will develop and implement a new Commercial Strategy from 2024, with a new Commercial Director appointed.

Transparency Measures

– A Register of Interests, A Register of Gifts, and Register of External Activities has been developed and formally communicated to staff.

Review of governance and development of a new governance framework

– In July 2023, RTÉ engaged a governance expert to support the organisation in reforming its governance framework.
– It is expected that the new governance framework will be finalised in June 2024

RTÉ Announces Series of Major TV Debates as part of its European Parliament Election Coverage

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RTÉ has announced details of its coverage across digital, TV and Radio in the run up to the European Parliament Elections. These details are included below.

The RTÉ Election Steering Group has separately published our broad approach to the elections taking account of past court and regulatory decisions and the updated guidance issued by the Coimisiún na Meán. That document can be viewed here.

The overall consideration in our coverage is fairness – however fair treatment does not mean equal treatment between parties, groups and candidates.

RTÉ’s television, radio and digital election coverage

In addition to its extensive digital coverage, RTÉ will host three major live television debates on the European Elections across three consecutive weeks in the lead up to polling day. Presenters Katie Hannon, Miriam O’Callaghan, Sarah McInerney and Fran McNulty will host the TV debates.

Beginning on Monday 20th May, Upfront with Katie Hannon  will focus on the Midlands North-West constituency. On Thursday 30th  May, a Prime Time Election Debate special will focus on the Ireland South constituency. The final of RTÉ’s major TV debate of the campaign will see candidates in the Dublin constituency feature on a  Prime Time  Election Debate  on Tuesday 4th June.

With over 20 candidates in each constituency and more than 70 across the three European constituencies, RTÉ has set criteria for inviting candidates to the debates to ensure they are as informative and coherent as possible to best serve the audience.  The criteria will see a maximum of eight candidates in each of the above television debates.

In addition, RTÉ will broadcast a live TV special from Limerick for the first ever Mayoral Election. Upfront with Katie Hannon will be broadcast live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Monday 27th May.

RTÉ’s comprehensive election campaign coverage will also see flagship current affairs programmes Six One News, Today with Claire Byrne,  Drivetime, The Week in Politics and This Week broadcast a range of European constituency based programmes featuring candidates in various formats, including live and pre-recorded reports, along with analysis by RTÉ’s journalists on each of the European constituencies.

Across television and radio, there will be a total of 15 European constituency based programmes in varying formats. There will be a fair allocation of live coverage that recognises electoral record, but also provides scope for RTÉ to provide airtime to a diverse range of views, in accordance with election rules set out by the regulator, Coimisiún na Meán.

RTÉ programmes including Morning Ireland, Six One News and This Week will broadcast on location from a number of towns and cities across the regions. Coverage of the upcoming local elections will also be featured across all RTÉ platforms in the coming weeks.

RTÉ’s extensive digital elections campaign coverage will include constituency profiles, explainer videos, articles and live blogs of key events across the RTÉ News app, RTÉ.ie and RTÉ’s social media channels.

Upfront with Katie Hannon Election Debate (Midlands Northwest) - Monday 20th May, on RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

Prime Time Election Debate (Ireland South) - Thursday 30th May, on RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

Prime Time Election Debate (Dublin) - Tuesday 4th June, on RTÉ One & RTÉ Player

Today with Claire Byrne (Ireland South) –  RTÉ Radio 1  

Drivetime (Dublin) – RTÉ Radio 1  

Drivetime (Midlands North West) – RTÉ Radio 1 

Six One News (South) –  RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

Six One News (Dublin) – RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

Six One News (Midlands North West) – RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

The Week in Politics (South) – RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

The Week in Politics (Midlands North West)- RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

The Week in Politics (Dublin) – RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

This Week (South) – RTÉ Radio 1 

This Week (Midlands North West) – RTÉ Radio 1 

This Week (Dublin) –  RTÉ Radio 1 

Upfront with Katie Hannon (Limerick Mayoral) - Monday 27th May, on RTÉ One & RTÉ Player 

Further programme details will issue in due course.

Programme details outlined above are as currently planned but may be subject to change.

The Dawn Chorus 2024: Sunday 5th May from midnight to 07:00

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The Dawn Chorus 2024

Sunday 5th May from midnight to 07:00 on RTÉ Radio 1 and RTÉ Lyric FM & BBC Radio Wales 

Love nature, love the Dawn Chorus!

Listen to the birds sing: in the early hours of Sunday 5th May, International Dawn Chorus Day, Ireland’s airwaves will come alive with birdsong

RTÉ Radio One’s live Dawn Chorus is one of the most ambitious and innovative radio projects to have hit the Irish airwaves. For almost three decades now, Derek Mooney and his team of experts have been bringing the uplifting and fascinating strains of early-morning birdsong to listeners. Ireland’s biggest annual radio event, celebrating the loudest sound in nature.

Winner of both the National PPI Radio Award for Innovation and the coveted International Rose d’Or award, the programme has become one of the key broadcast highlights of the year, not just in Ireland but right across Europe and beyond. Featuring live birdsong and expert commentary, it offers an unmatched live celebration of our natural heritage.

Interest in the natural world has never been higher. People have a greater appreciation of our flora and fauna, and in particular for the songs of our wild birds. The joy and optimism engendered by birdsong has become a crucial source of comfort and entertainment for a great many of us. During the height of the Covid crisis, the restrictions that were in place meant that most of us found ourselves suddenly confined to our homes, and the lack of background noise from traffic meant that the dawn chorus stood out to us like never before. It had always been there; it’s just that we had never really noticed it before and now it seems we love it.

The dawn chorus is one of the most magical experiences in nature: a multitude of birds of many different species all singing together in harmony as morning breaks and light begins to fill the skies. As our natural world’s most impressive and renowned concert, it is almost as though it has been tailor-made for radio. It never ceases. It moves, with the early morning light, like a great wave on the face of the Earth. At this moment, somewhere in the world, the birds are waking up and bursting into song.

International Dawn Chorus Day will take place on Sunday 5th May, and this year the Mooney Goes Wild team will once again be bringing listeners across Ireland and, thanks to RTÉ’s online presence, the world a celebration of Irish birdsong from midnight through to 7:00am on RTÉ Radio One, in a simulcast with RTÉ Lyric FM & BBC Radio Wales

While Derek Mooney steers the ship from the RTÉ studios in Dublin, ‘home base’ for the live broadcast once again this year will be BirdWatch Ireland’s Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve in Cobh, Co. Cork, where our main presentation team of Jim Wilson and Niall Hatch will introduce the dawn chorus and, while the birdsong builds in real time, explain to listeners what our feathered friends are getting up to as the sun rises.

Across the country, Richard Collins, Éanna Ní Lamhna, Eric Dempsey and Terry Flanagan will also bring us the birdsong from their parts of Ireland, as the sun gradually breaks the horizon and the birds begin their performances.

The first birds are expecting to sing around 4am so what better way to pass the time that in the company of or colleagues on RTÉ Lyric FM. Lorcan Murray will present his 30 minute selection of bird related music and Peter Curtin bring us a 30 minute sequence based on the Ambient Orbit series which often features birdsong and ambient sounds from the natural world. Lorcan Murray, RTÉ Lyric Classic Drive will present his 30-minute selection of bird related music including Dawn by Ola Gjeilo, Lon Dubh by Laoise Kelly and The Cuckoo of Neffin by Colm Mac Con lomaire. These pieces highlight Lorcan’s appreciation for nature on all things natural, especially when it comes to the beautiful relationship that exists between all birds and the dawning of the day. Peter Curtain will bring us a 30-minute sequence based on the Ambient Orbit series which often features birdsong and ambient sounds from the natural world. Liz Nolan’s classical contribution to the Dawn Chorus, includes larks and swallows, blackbirds and baby chicks – a symphony of birdsong for your May morning! With music by Vaughan Williams, Rameau, Michael Head and more composers you’ll hear on The Full Score, RTE Lyric FM.

Sinéad Wlyde, Head of RTÉ lyric fm commented: ‘’The Dawn Chorus is very close to our hearts in RTÉ lyric fm and as we celebrate our 25th birthday this May it’s worth mentioning that birdsong is how RTÉ lyric fm first came into being when the new station was tested in 1999 before the first broadcast. Dawn with the awakening chorus of birds is a time of hope and joy – it has been an inspiration for musician and composers throughout time. We are delighted to be part of this wonderful initiative again this year and bring you some carefully selected music by RTÉ lyric fm presenters, Lorcan Murray, Liz Nolan and Peter Curtain to celebrate our natural world’’.

Most importantly of all, we want to hear from you! We are counting on our listeners to send us their own recordings and live feeds of the birdsong performance happening near them. It could be the sound from your garden, your local park or woodland . . . or even just your open bedroom window.

Executive producer/presenter of the Dawn Chorus Derek Mooney, said: “The dawn chorus is the highlight of my year, professionally and personally. I absolutely love it and I find the whole experience refreshing. I always eagerly look forward to hearing the first song of the morning. In Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve, where we’ve done our live broadcast for many years now, that first singer is usually the Blackbird, typically followed closely by the Robin and then Wren. No two dawn choruses are the same, however. It really all depends on where you are in the country and which species happen to be close to you. People ask me if I’m excited to hear the birds singing during the programme. I always tell them that I’m more relieved than excited! This programme is literally broadcast around the globe, completely live, and it would be pretty awkward to say the least if our dawn chorus didn’t feature any birds. Thankfully that’s never happened. Regardless of the weather conditions on the morning, they always come through for us.”

“All of us at BirdWatch Ireland are delighted one again to be hosting the Dawn Chorus at our Cuskinny Marsh Nature Reserve,” said Niall Hatch, Head of Communications and Development with the conservation charity.

“We know that more people than ever before have come to appreciate birds, and especially birdsong, over the past few years, so it’s particularly special once again to be able to share the rich sounds of our very own avian orchestra with listeners across Ireland and the world. The Dawn Chorus connects so many people to nature in a very special way, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

So, join us on RTÉ Radio One and RTÉ lyric FM from 00:00-07:00 on Sunday 5th May 2024 for a very special celebration of our wild birds, an exploration of our shared natural heritage and the finest free concert you will hear all year.

Love nature, love the Dawn Chorus!

RTÉ lyric fm turns 25!

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RTÉ lyric fm turns 25!  

Music station “Where Life Sounds Better” celebrates birthday with a gala concert  

RTÉ lyric fm celebrates 25 years today Wednesday, May 1st. The debut broadcast on the dedicated classical and arts music station started at 12noon on May 1st 1999 and RTÉ lyric fm has continued to grow in popularity over those 25 years.

The 25th birthday celebrations will be marked by a gala concert in Limerick, home of RTÉ lyric fm, tonight. The concert features the RTÉ Concert Orchestra conducted by David Brophy and a host of performers and lyric presenters. It will broadcast live on lyric fm from 7.30pm and listeners can join the party.

President Michael D. Higgins sent a message of congratulations ahead of the birthday, and said: “Over the past quarter-century, lyric fm has truly enhanced the cultural landscape of Ireland, showcasing the beauty and diversity of not just classical music but also such a wide range of music that includes traditional, jazz, world music, musicals and film scores.

It has drawn on such an incredibly diverse range which is one of the station’s greatest strengths. In embracing contemporary compositions, also and bringing innovative, insightful programming to audiences nationwide, the station has become an integral part of our artistic tapestry. It represents public service broadcasting at its best.” 

Presenters from some of the station’s best-loved shows gathered to mark the birthday at rehearsals for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra’s performance earlier this week, with Marty Whelan, Aedín Gormley, Paul Herriott, Niall Carroll, Liz Nolan and Lorcan Murray on hand to raise a cheer to RTÉ lyric fm

The concert will feature the music of Puccini, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Bizet, Morricone, Bernstein, John Williams, Strauss, Copland, Mascagni, Mancini and many more. Celebrating the joy of music and its power to connect, performers on the night include soprano Celine Byrne, tenor Emmet Cahill and the Our Lady Queen of Peace choir from Limerick who won the RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas competition in 2023.

Ann-Marie Power, Group Head of Arts and Culture said: “Lyric fm is at heart of RTÉ’s arts and cultural offering for Irish audiences sitting alongside our TV programming, RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena, live performances from the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, RTE.ie/culture, specialist folk and traditional music programmes and events such as Culture Night and the RTÉ Folk Awards. As the national public service media organisation, RTÉ is proud to provide a unique range of arts and cultural content and is delighted that audiences have connected and grown with lyric fm over the past 25 years and look forward to it continuing to flourish into the future.”

As well as a host of much-loved favourites, the lyric’s birthday concert will debut three new pieces of music that were commissioned by RTÉ lyric fm in their birthday year and written by Irish artists. The new works for orchestra focus on themes of nostalgia, hope and rebirth.

Limerick composer and Cranberries drummer Fergal Lawler’s work The Curragower Falls reflects on memories of childhood by the River Shannon. Cork composer Paul Frost’s A New Day Rising captures the feeling of waking up to a new day to the sounds of nature and the irrepressible sense of optimism. Dundalk composer and fiddle player Zoe Conway’s Bualadh an cheoil, bualadh an chroí (Music playing, heart beating) is about the powerful connection of Irish music to the body and dance.

Head of RTÉ lyric fm Sinéad Wylde said: “RTÉ lyric fm emerged from a chorus of birdsong on May 1st, 1999 and the celebration of our 25th birthday is a very nostalgic time for me, having been part of the original RTÉ lyric fm team. On behalf of everyone at lyric fm, I would like to thank our listeners on this special anniversary. We have grown and connected with our audience to become an integral part of our listeners’ lives – birthdays, marriages, new beginnings, first days at school, the morning and evening commute, candlelit dinners, times of despair and times of happiness – RTÉ lyric fm is proud and privileged to provide the musical backdrop.

Central to our service is the experience of live music and we are dedicated to bringing the wonderful music making that takes place throughout the country in Cork, Wexford, Dublin, Limerick, Galway and elsewhere directly into our listeners’ homes.

On this special anniversary, I would like to pay tribute to everyone at lyric fm, colleagues past and present who are dedicated to serving our listeners. From those who helped shape the identity of the station from the earliest days to the present. Our growing audience numbers reinforce the fact that RTÉ lyric fm has a valued place in the lives of Irish audiences.”

RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright Competition 2024 Winner Announced

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Congratulations to Amelia O’Donnell from Loreto College, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, who won the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright Competition 2024, with her play ‘Gan Didean’

The RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright Competition, which is in its 11th year, is open to Transition Year students to pen an original one-act play.

This year’s theme was ‘Home’ and had record entries from all over Ireland including Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and Wexford.

The winning play, Gan Didean was performed live on stage at the renowned Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone, the home of the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festiva, at yesterday’s prize-giving ceremony.

Speaking about her success in this year’s RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Schools Playwright Competition to Barry Gallagher in an interview in News2Day on RTÉ2 today, Amelia said:

“This competition was a great opportunity to discuss what ‘home’ really means to us. A lot of people are without refuge, that’s the name of my play ‘Gan Didean’, who don’t feel that sense of home and belonging and I wanted to portray that in my play.  Every single one of us has a story to tell and not everyone is given the chance to tell their story, so I wanted to act as a voice for them. Playwriting and any form of art is a great way of expression of activism and it’s through organisations and  competitions like this that young people get their voice and it’s important to extend that to others”

Nine amateur drama groups will battle it out in this year’s RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone from  this Thursday 2nd May to Friday 10th May.

Tickets are now on sale on the Dean Crowe website at http://www.deancrowetheatre.com/  and at the theatre box office, phone (090) 6492129. Admission €22. Concessions (€20) are available.

The RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival is held under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland.

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