In announcing the appointment, RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes, said: "This position attracted a strong national and international interest; clearly, RTÉ’s reputation in news and current affairs is a global one. Jon’s CV is exceptional: a proven and award-winning track record in international affairs is coupled with that key domestic experience, which is so important in the Irish context. Jon’s skill as editor, reporter, innovator and leader are unique; I very much look forward to working closely with him in his new role and as a member of the RTÉ Executive Board."
Mr Williams said: "I could not be more excited to join RTÉ - it's the privilege of a lifetime to be asked to lead such a talented team of journalists. "From Brexit to the many domestic challenges facing the country, there's never been a more important time for RTÉ, as the national media service, to lead the conversation, across all of our platforms, on radio, television, online, mobile and social. I can't wait to get started." Mr Williams was born and brought up in Liverpool and will be moving to Dublin to take up his new role with RTÉ. He will take up his position in the new year. Hilary McGouran, Managing Editor, RTÉ Television News, will oversee the news and current affairs division in the interim.
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Guinness Choir
St Patrick's Cathedral
Guest Appearance Paul Brady...
Sunday 4th December 2016 at 6.30pm (Please note early start time) ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN 8 Tickets €15 Unreserved Seating. Bookings Tel: 086 8818044 or visit www.guinnesschoir.org or E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. With Guest Appearance by: PAUL BRADY Featuring works by: Karl Jenkins, Victoria, Gabrieli & Lauridsen, & Christmas Carols @theguinnesschoir Purchase your tickets online with Paypal..
( Many thanks to colleague Patricia Swan for the above information.. CB)
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Our colleague Rhoda Draper sends us the foillowing...
Escape for a while from Brexit, budgets and the busyness of the season in the company of these 16th century polyphonic composers. Here's what we'll be singing:
Richard Dering
Cantate Domino, Ave Virgo gloriosa, O Crux Ave, Factum est silentium
Peter Philips
Cantantibus Organis, In spendenti nube, Ecce vicit Leo, Salve Regina
Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Gaudete omnes, O quam beata lancea, De Profundis, Gaude et laetare
The beautiful acoustic of St Patrick's Cathedral will certainly do justice to the complex counterplay of these choral works for 5 and 8 parts. So come, sit back, relax and enjoy!
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‘BIG WEEK ON THE FARM’ WINS TOP AGRI JOURNALISM AWARDS for INDEPENDENT PICTURES
Left to right, Alan Dukes, Public Affairs Consultant, John Fagan, Farm Host, John Cummins, Independent Pictures,Oonagh O’Mahony (IFP Media)
The Guild of Agricultural Journalists hosted its biennial awards and black tie dinner on Friday evening (4thNovember, 2016) in Dublin’s Castleknock Hotel & Country Club.Supported by FBD Insurance, the awards aim to encourage excellence in the coverage by media of farming, food and rural life on the island of Ireland.
‘Big Week on the Farm’, an Independent Pictures production, broadcast live over five nights by RTÉ television during April 2016, is the overall winner of the Agricultural Journalism Awards for 2016. John Cummins, Independent Pictures, collected the coveted ‘Bull’ prize, a once-off John Behan sculpture commissioned in the 1960s by the Irish Dairy Board (now Ornua), which was donated to the Guild of Agricultural Journalism for the awards.
TVPR - Ann Coughlan 00 353 87 6778045
Many thanks to Ann Coughlan for the above.. CB
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FÉASTA 100...
( With thanks to colleague Mary Fitzgerald)
“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.” ― Pádraig Pearse
On Saturday, December 3rd 2016, the Irish language will be officially celebrated through Féasta 100, one of the main closing events of the 1916 commemorative year. No can deny the power of the Irish language in the penmanship and communication of many of the prominent Easter Rising figures. Therefore this celebratory event offers the Irish people a unique opportunity to formally acknowledge the status of an Ghaeilge and celebrate her significance at the heart of Ireland’s historical and cultural landscape.
The six lead Irish language organisations comprising of Conradh na Gaeilge, Cumann na bhFiann; Gael Linn Gaelscoileanna Teo; Glór na nGael and Oireachtas na Gaeilge in partnership with Foras na Gaeilge have come together to celebrate the Irish language in this historical year of 2016. They are delighted to welcome the President of Ireland Micheal D Higgins as honorary guest on the night. This gala dinner is also an occasion to support and provide a national platform for many Irish language artists, musicians and businesses who have been commissioned as part of this one-off centenary event.
Three of the artists who will perform at Féasta 100 have individually developed artistic projects for the 1916 calendar. Choreagrapher and dancer Fearghus Ó Conchúir from the Rinn Gaeltacht devised and produced The Casement Project, commissioned by the Arts Council with performances in both London and Dublin. Seannós singer Lorcán Mac Mathúna from Dublin was also commissioned by the Arts Council to compose and arrange a work of music inspired by the writings and ideals of the leaders of the Easter Rising. 1916: Visonaries and their Words has been performed in both Ireland and France to date. Harpist Síle Denvir from the Connemara Gaeltacht, recently released an album of music titled Caithréim: Ceol agus Amhráin ó Dhrámaí an Phiarsaigh a work of music inspired by the dramas of Pádraig Pearse.
Féasta 100 will certainly be a significant and memorable event for those in attendance. A unique opportunity to pause and appreciate the Irish language in the utmost spirit of celebration and pride. Féasta 100 aspires to arouse a renewed sense of creativity, energy and growth as the Irish language moves forward into the next one hundred years.
Féasta 100 will take place in our capital city at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, Ballsbridge. The management and staff of the Double Tree Hilton have enthusiastically welcomed Irish language training to provide Irish language service on the night which will include Irish language menus and signage. Hosting 700 Irish speaking guests is a first for the hotel and will undoubtedly have a positive impact upon the relevance of the Irish language in the service industry today.
Tickets for Féasta 100 are currently available to buy from any of the lead organisations mentioned above or through
Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/feasta-100-tickets-25641956783?aff=es2.
Tickets are priced at €80 per person. For further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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RTÉ Archives Weekly
www.rte.ie/archives
www.twitter.com/rtearchives
www.facebook.com/rtearchives
RTÉ Archives Daily Stories are available at www.rte.ie/archives Coming up on www.rte.ie/archives…
( My thanks to colleagues Liam Wylie and Colm Talbot for adapting the content and links they send us each week for us for the RTÉ Archive site..
They should make it easier for you to get into the extensive RTÉ Archive site.. CB )
RTÉ Archives Daily Stories are available at www.rte.ie/archives
On 8 November 1976 RTÉ Radio made its final broadcast from Henry Street in Dublin’s city centre.
As RTÉ Radio makes the move to the new Donnybrook radio centre, Ray Lynott signs off for the last time from the Henry Street studio. Although the Donnybrook radio centre had opened in 1971, continuity and presentation personnel remained on at the Henry Street premises. All announcers gathered in the Henry Street building for the final farewell with the last message being read by Ray Lynott whose name was drawn from a hat for the privileged task.
We say goodbye to you from our Henry Street studios. I think of many people who sat in this chair before me and I would like to say on behalf of all the present announcers and of myself a very good night to you.
In 1976 RTÉ Radio was in its 50th year having begun broadcasting as 2RN on 1 January 1926. The station first began broadcasting from a small studio on Little Denmark Street before moving to the Henry Street and the GPO studio in 1928. RTÉ Radio now joins RTÉ Television on the Montrose campus. Much of the new radio centre is underground.
This footage was broadcast as part of an RTÉ News report on 9 November 1976.
RTÉ Radio Studio at Henry Street (1973)
RTÉ Sound Library at Henry Street (1973)
RTÉ radio studio at Henry Street (1973)
Audio equipment at Henry Street (1973)
Black and white photos by Mary Lee.
RTÉ Radio Centre (1974)
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Start The Week With a Smile...
( With thanks to Colleague Michael Casey)
In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES
WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT.
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In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS...
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In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY
PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN.
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In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT
AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.
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Outside a second-hand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC.
WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
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Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS...
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Spotted in a safari park:
(I sure hope so.)
ELEPHANTS, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR.
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Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT,
THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR.
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Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE,
BUT THE BULL CHARGES.
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Message on a leaflet:
IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS.
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On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR -
THE BELL DOESN'T WORK.)
Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't you say?
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Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife And Daughter
This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room
And asked who wrote this. It took two or three readings before the editor realized
That what he was reading was impossible!!! They put in a correction the next day.
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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
Really? Ya' think?
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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
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Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works better than a fair trial!
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War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
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If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya' think?!
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Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
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Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
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New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!
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Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Boy, are they tall!
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And the winner is...
Typhoon RipsThrough Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Did I read that right?
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Michael Many thanks for the above....
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And Finally many thanks to colleague John Fennessy for this ....
Getting Old Should Require Training ...
I bought a new stick deodorant today.
The instructions said: "Remove cap and push up bottom."
It hurts to walk, but whenever I fart, the room smells lovely.