The Old Days on RTE

briany · 24-04-2021 12:55AM

Looking at old clips from RTE, it seems like there was a time when Pat O'Mahoney was everywhere on TV as the hip funky presenter, and then just disappeared off our screens, away back to radio.

DeepBlue · 24-04-2021 01:03AM

briany wrote: »

Looking at old clips from RTE, it seems like there was a time when Pat O'Mahoney was everywhere on TV as the hip funky presenter, and then just disappeared off our screens, away back to radio.

Wasn't it Pat O'Mahoney that did the bizarre interview with Gay Byrne and Deirdre Purcell on the Late Late when Gay released his autobiography? Basically he quizzed Deirdre on whether she had fallen in love with Gay.

Koloman · 24-04-2021 01:10AM

That was Andy O'Mahony who interviewed Gay.

briany · 24-04-2021 01:17AM

Here's Pat on the last episode of The End, being interviewed by another face you don't see on TV anymore, Kara Hanahoe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMM3PFEwgY

It BeeMee · 24-04-2021 02:38AM

Deleted User wrote: »

So, REALLY interested to see who remembers this.

When RTE2 first came on the scene, this was one of it's first soaps it showed- I think it was actually the first programme on most evenings (around 6.30pm ) for about a year - Ryan's Hope

Any takers?

I remember one storyline played out over about a week or two, where Richard Thomas, who played John Boy in the Waltons, kidnapped some nurse or doctor he was infatuated with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFpTGluLb5w

Trying to think of the name of that for yonks!

I remember the kidnap went on for ages, but she was only missing for a few hours or maybe overnight ? It was quite undramatic in the end.

I would have thought it was on One, though. Simply because the (only, b&w) tv in our house would have been on for the news, and maybe left on for whatever came next.

Joe_ Public · 24-04-2021 05:08AM

DeepBlue wrote: »

Wasn't it Pat O'Mahoney that did the bizarre interview with Gay Byrne and Deirdre Purcell on the Late Late when Gay released his autobiography? Basically he quizzed Deirdre on whether she had fallen in love with Gay.

It was Andy O'Mahony as pointed out above. I'm sure i recall him asking Gay if he'd ever cheated on his wife and people being shocked that he asked it. O'Mahony was one of the best broadcasters rte ever had imo, though i dont recall too much tv work.

Hangdogroad · 24-04-2021 05:36AM

Anyone remember Saturday Live, chat show that would have a different host every week? Ran from about 86 to 88. One of the hosts was Ian Paisleys daughter and there was a load of speculation about whether she would have big Ian on as main guest which of course she did. It eventually became Kenny Live with Pat as permanent host.

bobbyss · 24-04-2021 05:58AM

Joe_ Public wrote:

It was Andy O'Mahony as pointed out above. I'm sure i recall him asking Gay if he'd ever cheated on his wife and people being shocked that he asked it. O'Mahony was one of the best broadcasters rte ever had imo, though i dont recall too much tv work.

He was as cool as a mountain stream. (Just like the Consulate ad) I always thought he had that BBC factor about him. Smooth. Professional. Erudite. I don't even know if he is still alive. He was underused in RTE unless it was his choice.
I also enjoyed Paddy Gallagher's book programme. Strange Rte not having a dedicated book/arts programne on tv.

fran38 · 24-04-2021 07:15AM

Deleted User wrote: »

So, REALLY interested to see who remembers this.

When RTE2 first came on the scene, this was one of it's first soaps it showed- I think it was actually the first programme on most evenings (around 6.30pm ) for about a year - Ryan's Hope

Any takers?

I remember one storyline played out over about a week or two, where Richard Thomas, who played John Boy in the Waltons, kidnapped some nurse or doctor he was infatuated with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFpTGluLb5w

That's Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek Voyager, Orange Is The New Black) in the opening credits.

blade1 · 24-04-2021 07:22AM

Bunny Carr with Norman Medcalfe on the organ on Quick Silver.

Cross Country Quizz.

Hall's Pictorial Weekly

Super Stars

The Burke Enigma

Radharc

Hangdogroad · 24-04-2021 07:54AM

Quicksilver with Bunny Carr. Pretty rare home recording from a time when few people in Ireland would have had videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu_T_cPmryE

odyssey06 · 24-04-2021 09:55AM

yuridwyer wrote: »

Anyone remember ENG? Think it was Canadian, from about 94, maybe about a news corporation?

Vague memories of that. RTE used to take a lot of canadian content inc dramas, kids, young adult and docs.

24-04-2021 09:56AM

Hanley at large

with David Hanley.

Relaxed not too lighthearted TV chat show. Later in the night.

Hangdogroad · 24-04-2021 10:43AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Hanley at large

with David Hanley.

Relaxed not too lighthearted TV chat show. Later in the night.

You mean Hanleys People?

24-04-2021 03:35PM

Koloman wrote: »

That was Andy O'Mahony who interviewed Gay.

And a cringe interview from start to finish even for its time

24-04-2021 03:37PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Hanley at large

with David Hanley.

Relaxed not too lighthearted TV chat show. Later in the night.

Davis was the guy “at large” :P

AMTE_21 · 24-04-2021 05:18PM

All those American shows, Mary Tyler Moore, the spin-off Rhoda, The odd couple, loved the theme tune.

24-04-2021 06:54PM

AMTE_21 wrote: »

All those American shows, Mary Tyler Moore, the spin-off Rhoda, The odd couple, loved the theme tune.

Yes indeed-MTMS featured prominently in 70s RTÉ TV

Galwayguy35 · 24-04-2021 08:21PM

The prizes on Murphys Micro Quiz M weren't too bad considering most families barely had the price of a pint at the end of the week back in the 80s.

The Ford Sierra would be very handy for getting around the place.:p

24-04-2021 09:21PM

The Muppet Show.

The Weekend STAPLE for kids, in the days before Nintendo and earlier handhelds. RTE was so reliant on this outside Cartoons like Scooby Doo.

Especially when the Irish Weather was usually bad: This particular Saturday had been rainy all day and I was on holiday with my parents in that Guesthouse in that seaside town.

Why, the waitress hollered up the stairs to the rooms that The Muppet Show was about to begin!!!!

briany · 24-04-2021 09:37PM

How Do You Do? with Mary Fitzgerald. Great arts and crafts programme where we learned that just about anything could be made out of a used toilet roll. I remember trying to make one of the projects which was a magic trick involving a cereal box with a hidden side compartment, that you could place the object to be conjured into.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdo1ssDLE_Q

Hangdogroad · 24-04-2021 09:41PM

Wheres Grandad etc. Public information films about drowned toddlers, rabid dogs, kids getting electrocuted.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLob46ubPO_5r7BmO4fUdVd985Scx21TtA

Declan A Walsh · 24-04-2021 09:43PM

Sesame Street used to be a very popular show for children on RTE and they learnt to spell things the American way!

iamwhoiam · 24-04-2021 09:49PM

Mr Ed the talking horse .

A horse is a horse a horse of course

Mad_maxx · 24-04-2021 10:50PM

briany wrote: »

How Do You Do? with Mary Fitzgerald. Great arts and crafts programme where we learned that just about anything could be made out of a used toilet roll. I remember trying to make one of the projects which was a magic trick involving a cereal box with a hidden side compartment, that you could place the object to be conjured into.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdo1ssDLE_Q

good looking lady was Mary

Mad_maxx · 24-04-2021 10:53PM

briany wrote: »

Looking at old clips from RTE, it seems like there was a time when Pat O'Mahoney was everywhere on TV as the hip funky presenter, and then just disappeared off our screens, away back to radio.

pity he didnt vanish altogether ?

epic tosser

blade1 · 25-04-2021 06:25AM

briany wrote: »

How Do You Do? with Mary Fitzgerald. Great arts and crafts programme where we learned that just about anything could be made out of a used toilet roll. I remember trying to make one of the projects which was a magic trick involving a cereal box with a hidden side compartment, that you could place the object to be conjured into.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdo1ssDLE_Q

Not just toilet rolls and cereal boxes.
Pipe cleaners and egg cartons too.
I think the only thing I ever made though was a spider from a section of egg carton and pipe cleaners.

25-04-2021 09:57AM

RTE also ran Different Strokes on a Sunday Evening lasted long enough
and the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati late at night for a short while.

fluke · 25-04-2021 10:43AM

In even recent years, until around mid 00s I think, RTE's early evening schedule was better when it had US imported shows on. Now those shows seem relegated to 10pm onwards times on RTE2. I'd take most of those shows in place of the lite-reality dross filling up slots.

The more that I think about it, those shows were on 2, when it was known aa Network 2, and in that guise and branding, it was a better channel than it is now.

briany · 25-04-2021 01:54PM

fluke wrote: »

In even recent years, until around mid 00s I think, RTE's early evening schedule was better when it had US imported shows on. Now those shows seem relegated to 10pm onwards times on RTE2. I'd take most of those shows in place of the lite-reality dross filling up slots.

The more that I think about it, those shows were on 2, when it was known aa Network 2, and in that guise and branding, it was a better channel than it is now.

I don't think it's fair to compare the RTE of then with the RTE of now as the media landscape has drastically changed. Many of us who would reminisce about how good RTE used to be are probably those who got into streaming services years ago, leaving RTE totally behind.

The Old Days on RTE

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