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RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Women 'invade' the Forty Foot
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (14th - 20th July) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 14th - 20th July. This Week In Irish News Before 1974, the Forty Foot was traditionally a men-only spot until a group of women decided to protest by gathering and swimming there. The Dublin City Women's Invasionary Force protested on the shore with placards and took to the waters located in Sandycove, Dublin. Since the protest, women have been swimming at the Forty Foot. 1979: Cork gets first female bus conductors in Ireland For the first time in Ireland, three female bus conductors were employed by CIE in Cork City. The three women taken on were Geraldine Horgan, a former hospital attendant; Angela Stout, a retired bus conductor on London Transport; and Maura Wallace, who holds a Diploma in Youth and Community Work. The women were employed under the same conditions as the male conductors, earning the same wages and wearing the same uniforms. This Week In Irish Sports 1972: Muhammad Ali wins fight against Al 'Blue' Lewis in Croke Park Heavyweight boxers Muhammad Ali and Al 'Blue' Lewis met in the ring in Croke Park on 19 July 1972 in a non-title fight. The eagerly anticipated fight saw Ali beat Lewis in the 11th round by a technical knockout. After the fight, Ali gave credit to his opponent, saying he was awkward to fight and that he "hit him a lot of times, but he just coming through and through". Ali's next fight would be against former world Champion Floyd Patterson, which he won. 2013: Ireland's women's football team kick off first World Cup campaign Ireland's women's football team arrived for their first World Cup, where they played Australia, Nigeria, and Canada in Group B. Ireland opened the tournament by playing the hosts, Australia, in front of a 75,784-strong crowd. Despite a spirited and hard-fought performance, the hosts won 1-0 thanks to a 52nd-minute penalty from Steph Catley. This Week In Irish Entertainment 1987: Having a Lark in the Park for the fifth time The fifth successive 'Lark in the Park', a free rock music concert, took place in St Anne's Park, Raheny in Dublin. The Lark in the Park was a series of free, open-air music concerts held in public parks, organised by RTÉ Radio 2 and In Dublin magazine. For the first time, the concert had five acts instead of four, with Touchdown, Montage, Blue In Heaven, Lord John White, and The Subterraneans all performing. This Week In Irish Culture 1966: The New Abbey Theatre opens its doors The President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera, officially opened the new Abbey Theatre in Dublin. It marked fifteen years to the day since the old Abbey was destroyed by fire, except for the front offices and the vestibule. The theatre was designed by architect Michael Scott and was built on the site of the old theatre. 1993: Mayo celebrates 5,000 years Ballina in Co Mayo was the site for celebrating Mayo 5000 with pageantry, fireworks and a Beat on the Street. Mayo 5000 was a year-long cultural celebration of 5,000 years of rural settlement in the county. The 2FM roadshow provided entertainment with a three-hour Beat on the Street. Then, there was a colourful pageant telling the county's history throughout the ages with President Mary Robinson as the guest of honour before ending with a spectacular fireworks display. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1972: 'Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day' by Gilbert O'Sullivan The song was the first of three consecutive number ones on the Irish Singles Chart for O'Sullivan. 1986: 'The Lady in Red' by Chris de Burgh The song was responsible for introducing de Burgh to a mainstream international audience, reaching number one in several countries. 2013: 'I'm Glad You Came' by The Wanted The Wanted's second single peaked at number one in the UK and Ireland, and reached number two in the US. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Michael Flatley (67) Former professional dancer and choreographer, best known for Riverdance. Annie Mac (47) DJ, broadcaster, and writer who has hosted shows on BBC Radio 1. James Kavanagh (36) Influencer, and presenter who co-hosts 'The Simpler Life?' podcast. Other Irish Trivia From This Week 2008: When the Smurfs descended onto Castleblayney Castleblayney in Monaghan enters the Guinness Book of Records by holding a meeting of 1,253 Smurfs. To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the popular cartoon characters 'The Smurfs', the people of Castleblayney broke the record for the most Smurfs gathered in one place. The record attempt was conducted as part of a local festival, with the effort exceeding the previous record of just over 500 people, which was set in Croatia. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Rolling Stones play in second ever Slane Castle concert
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (21st - 27th July) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 21st - 27th July. This Week In Irish News Dublin's first electrified train system was opened between Bray and Howth. The Dublin Area Rapid Transit (DART) began public services on 23 July 1984 and was later officially opened by Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerlad in October of that year. The service would see greater expansion over the years, running to Greystones, Malahide and more. 2009: IKEA opens its doors in Ballymun Shoppers queued up overnight to be the first ones to enter the first IKEA store in the Republic of Ireland. Before the grand opening, the queue itself was dotted with references to Sweden, from the flag painted on faces to the Swedish Chef from The Muppets. A traditional IKEA log-cutting ceremony marked the final countdown to the store's opening, and it was estimated that up to 10,000 people visited the store on its first day. This Week In Irish Sports 1998: Ireland U18s win European Championship The Republic of Ireland squad became Under 18 European Champions after beating Germany in a penalty shootout. Ireland won the shootout by four goals to three, marking the second European Championship win for the country that year. It had already won the UEFA Under-16 title eleven weeks earlier. The squad featured many future Irish international stars, including Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne, and Gary Doherty. It was managed by Brian Kerr, who would later go on to manage the men's international team. 2008: Pardraig Harrington does the double Padraig Harrington joined an exclusive club of golf players after winning the British Open for the second year in a row. He became the first European in over a century to retain the Open Championship following his victory at Royal Birkdale. He finished the tournament on three over par, four shots ahead of second-place Ian Poulter. This Week In Irish Entertainment More than 70,000 fans descended to Slane Castle to see The Rolling Stones play in one of the biggest concerts ever staged in Ireland. Hundreds of balloons were released into the air as the Rolling Stones opened their set with 'Under My Thumb' with fans cheering on Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Billy Wyman and Charlie Watts. It was the second concert to be held at the venue in Slane, Co Meath, and saw The J Geils Band, The Chieftains, and George Thorogood and the Destroyers as support acts. This Week In Irish Culture Ulysses was voted the finest English language novel published in the 20th century by a jury of scholars and writers. The book took the top spot in a list of 100 novels drawn up by the editorial board of Modern Library, which is now part of Random House. It was followed by The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' another Joyce novel and 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1982: 'Fame' by Irene Cara The iconic song was re-released to mark the Fame TV series and topped the charts in multiple countries 1999: 'Living la Vida Loca' by Ricky Martin 'Living la Vida Loca' became Martin's biggest hit and is one of the best selling singles of all time. 2012: 'Spectrum (Say My Name)' by Florence and the Machine by Artist The remix of the album version of Spectrum became the group's first single to peak at number one on the UK singles chart, and reached number one in Ireland and Scotland. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Sarah Greene (41) Actor and singer best known for Penny Dreadful, and Bad Sisters Steve Collins (61) Former professional boxer who held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles simultaneously Rhys McClenaghan (26) Artistic gymnast from Northern Ireland who is the pommel horse Olympic champion Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1969: The Cat of The Year show held in Dublin Cat lovers visited the Mansion House in Dublin to see the best felines in the country as part of the Cat of the Year competition. Organised by the Siamese Cat Club of Ireland, the show was held under the rules of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy of Ireland. All cats and kittens could compete in the show, from pedigree cats to household pets, where non-pedigrees were judged on good health and temperament. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Limerick gets its first ever post woman
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (4th - 10th August) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 4th - 10th August. This Week In Irish News Declan Mackell became the first Irishman to sail around the world single-handed. The Belfast man circumnavigated the globe alone in a Contessa 21 named Sean-Ois, completing his journey at Strangford Lough. He eventually sailed up to Portaferry in Co Down, where his parents and well-wishers welcomed him. 2005: Irish woman collects €115 million prize from European lottery Limerick woman Dolores McNamara claimed over €115 million in the Euromillions, the biggest jackpot in European lottery history at the time. The winner arrived at the National Lottery Headquarters to collect her prize, which was the largest ever amount won in a Euromillions draw in Ireland. This Week In Irish Sports 2012: Katie Taylor takes the gold at London 2012 Olympics Katie Taylor completed a lifelong dream by becoming an Olympic champion at the London 2012 Games. Cheered on by a capacity crowd, Taylor dug deep to beat Russia's Sofya Ochigava 10-8 in the women's lightweight final at the ExCel Arena. There was a long delay after the closing bell, making the wait unbearable, before the referee raised Taylor's hand, sending the crowd into rapture. 2024: Armagh edge Galway to win second All-Ireland title Armagh pipped Galway in a tense and suffocating decider to win their second-ever All-Ireland title since 2002. The contest, which was the first Ulster-Connacht decider since 2021 and only the ninth in the association's history, produced a cagey opening 35 minutes. But the crucial difference was a goal from Aaron McKay in the 46th minute. Galway was a point ahead at that point, and the goal gave Armagh the momentum it needed to win. The game finished Armagh 1-11 Galway 0-13 This Week In Irish Entertainment 1987: Cork welcomes U2 for Joshua Tree tour Over 50,000 fans turned out to watch U2 play at Park Ui Chaoimh. The band were riding high after the release of the Joshua Tree, and arrived when the band's single 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for' went number one in the United States. The gig was the final show on the European leg of the Joshua Tree tour, with UB40, The Dubliners, and The Subterraneans providing support. 2019: Aisling Bea's comedy receives rave reviews Irish comedian Aisling Bea's new series This Way Up made its debut on UK's Channel 4 to rave reviews. The show features Bea playing the main character alongside Sharon Horgan, who plays her sister. Bea won a BAFTA for Breakthrough Talent Award and was nominated for Best Female Comedy Performance at the BAFTAs for the second series. This Week In Irish Culture 2004: RTÉ's Irish-language series Scannal makes its debut RTÉ series Scannal makes its debut on Irish television. The Irish-language series examines pivotal moments in Irish social history, tracing the scandals that have shaped the country. The show delved deeper by examining the impact of significant events on individuals, families, and the communities at their heart. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1979: 'I Don't Like Mondays' by The Boomtown Rats From their third album 'The Fine Art of Surfacing', it was the band's second number one in the UK charts. 1995: 'So Good' by Boyzone The song was Boyzone's third consecutive number one single in Ireland . 2006: 'Hips Don't Lie' by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean Shakira's song broke the record for most radio plays in a single week and was the fastest-selling digital download in the US. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week The Edge (64) Lead guitarist for U2 Maïa Dunphy (49) Television producer, broadcaster, writer and radio and TV presenter Roy Keane (54) Football pundit, and former professional footballer for Man Utd and Ireland Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1979: When Limerick got its first post woman Residents in the Ennis Road area of Limerick had their mail delivered by a woman. The first postlady in the city was 18-year-old Patricia Dollard. Before she became one, she was working in the Telegrams section of Limerick's Post Office. When the role of postman was advertised, it was open to both men and women. Following an interview and examination, Dollard was announced as the successful candidate. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
RTÉ News
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (28th July - 3rd August) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 28th July to 3rd August. This Week In Irish News The Transocean Airways DC8 Jet became the first chartered transatlantic flight to fly directly to Cork Airport from New York City. The landing came following a recent extension of a thousand feet to the Cork Airport runway. When the plane landed, The St. Finbar's Pipe Band, along with crowds of people, were there to greet them. The then Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Chrissie Aherne, and Minister of State for Tourism and Transport, Denis Lyons, were also present to welcome its passengers to Cork. 2014: When the Jedi came to the great Skellig Skellig Michael became a part of the Star Wars universe when filming of The Force Awakens took place there. Local boatmen ferried crew members from Portmagee to the World Heritage Site for filming while the cast was brought by helicopter from a helipad on Valentia Island. The island, located off the coast of County Kerry, featured in two Star Wars movies: The Force Awakens in 2015 and again in the following instalment, The Last Jedi, released in 2017. This Week In Irish Sports 2015: Team Ireland finish on a high in Special Olympics Team Ireland finished the Special Olympics in Los Angeles with an incredible 86 medals. On the final day of the competition alone, Irish athletes won six gold, five silver, and five bronze medals. The final medal tally of 26 gold, 29 silver, 31 bronze, 31 personal bests and 43 placement ribbons. The team obtained medals in disciplines such as basketball, soccer, athletics, badminton, equestrian, gymnastics and bowling, 2024: Paris Olympics bring medals for Ireland in multiple disciplines Ireland had an Olympics to remember, with gold medals and more obtained in multiple disciplines. Overall, the final tally was four golds, three bronzes, and 26 top-10 finishes. In swimming, Daniel Wiffen took gold in the men's 800m freestyle and bronze in the men's 1500m freestyle, while Mona McSharry took the bronze in the women's 100m breaststroke. In rowing, Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan took gold in the men's lightweight double sculls, while Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle took bronze in the men's double sculls. Kellie Harrington took gold in the women's lightweight boxing, and Rhys McClenaghan took gold in the men's pommel horse. This Week In Irish Entertainment 2001: Brian Dowling crowned winner of Big Brother 2 The reality TV game show Big Brother saw Brian Dowling crowned the winner of its second series. Over four and a quarter million people cast telephone votes, making Dowling, from Rathangan in Co. Kildare, the winner. The series was the most-watched Big Brother ever, with the final watched by 13.7 million viewers, making it Channel 4's second most-watched show. 2019: Greg O'Shea wins fifth series of Love Island Limerick rugby player Greg O'Shea and his partner Amber Gill, who is from Newcastle in the UK, were announced as the winners of Love Island 2019. They were competing against Longford model Maura Higgins and her partner Curtis Pritchard, Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague, and Ovie Soko and India Reynolds. O'Shea entered the villa on day 43 before coupling up with Gill on day 46 This Week In Irish Culture 1965: The first Grand Canal Festival in Co Kildare The first Grand Canal Festival opened in Robertstown, Co. Kildare in 1965. Created as part of an effort to maintain the canals for boating, the festival evolved into an annual event featuring people dressed in 18th-century costumes, entertainment, archaeological and art exhibitions, and more. The festival centre was the Grand Canal Hotel, which operated as a museum showcasing weapons, Georgian maps and rare books relating to the canal. Funds raised from the festival were used to cover additional repairs to the building. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1976: 'The Boys Are Back in Town' by Thin Lizzy Considered to be the band's best song, the song was the first single from their album Jailbreak. 2003: 'Crazy in Love' by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z The lead single in Beyoncé's debut solo album Dangerously in Love, her song has been ranked in several best-of lists. 2022: 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush The 1985 hit gained a new lease of life after featuring in the fourth season of Stranger Things, reaching number one in eight countries. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Eamon Dunphy (80) Media personality, journalist, broadcaster, author, and sports pundit Frances Fitzgerald (75) Former Fine Gael politician who was Tánaiste from 2016 to 2017 Micheál Martin (65) Taoiseach of Ireland and leader of Fianna Fáil Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1994: Having tea with Daniel O'Donnell Thousands of fans turned out in County Donegal, travelling as far as Australia, to chat and have tea with Daniel O'Donnell. The tea party hosted by the singer in his mother's home in Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, is a highlight of the Mary from Dungloe Festival. Several thousand fans queued up outside his mother's house to have a cup of tea and a chat with the man himself. The tradition began four years previously when he invited some fans to call around. The tradition would continue until 2000 when large numbers made it unfeasible. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
RTÉ News
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
On This Week: Bowie heads Slane and a 1-0 win over England
On This Week: Irish Moments from History (9th - 15th June) Welcome to On This Week, where we delve into the standout stories from the years gone by, featuring standout news stories, major sporting events, and pop culture highlights that helped shape Irish life. Here's your dose of Irish nostalgia from 9th - 15th June. This Week In Irish News 1971: Henry Street takes first steps towards pedestrianisation Henry Street, Dublin's busiest shopping street, was opened as a pedestrianised street for a four-week period. It was the first of its kind in the city, with trees, plants, and park benches in the middle of the road. The street would be permanently pedestrianised in 1982. 1997: Mary Robinson becomes UN's High Commissioner For Human Rights Mary Robinson was appointed as the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights. She was endorsed for the position by the outgoing government under Taoiseach John Bruton. She resigned from the office of President a month later, before her term was to finish, to take the role, which she continued until 2002. This Week In Irish Sports 1987: Stephen Roche wins Giro d'Italia Stephen Roche became the first Irishman to win the Giro d'Italia. The victory didn't come easily. Despite orders from his team, Roche rode ahead of teammate Visentini to take the race lead. For the remaining stages, he had to battle with his own team, the Italian press and the Italian public to win it. Roche became the second of three cyclists to win the Triple Crown of victories within one year, which also included the Tour De France and the World Championships. 1988: Ireland beat England 1-0 In Euro 1988 Ireland marked its first match in a major soccer championship tournament with a 1-0 win against England. In the group stages of the Euro 1988 tournament, Ireland faced England in Stuttgart, Germany. Ray Houghton found the net in six minutes to secure Ireland's victory. This Week In Irish Entertainment 1987: David Bowie heads Slane Concert David Bowie marked his first time playing in Ireland by headlining the Slane Castle concert. He brought his band over as part of the 'Glass Spider Tour' and was supported by Aslan, Big Country, and The Groove. 2024: Kid rappers release viral hit The Spark as single Viral song The Spark, which features the talents of young rappers from Cork and Clare, was released as a single. The song was a hit online, receiving over 350 million views in three weeks. It was made in two days as part of Cruinniú na nÓg, Europe's only national free day of creativity for young people. The children performing are from the Kabin Crew in Knocknaheeny, North Cork and the Lisdoonvarna Crew in Clare. This Week In Irish Culture 1967: Countess Constance Markievicz remembered in Rathmines A plaque in memory of Countess Constance Markievicz is unveiled at her former home in Rathmines. The house was an unofficial meeting point for Na Fianna Éireann, an Irish nationalist youth organisation founded by Bulmer Hobson and Constance Markievicz in 1909. Countess Markievicz was deeply committed to feminism, republicanism, and socialism. She became the first woman elected to the House of Commons and the first female TD in Dáil Éireann. She also served as Minister for Labour in the first Dáil Éireann government. 2021: Ireland's first clock museum opens in Waterford The National Museum of Time, Ireland's first horological museum opened in Waterford city. The museum is dedicated to clocks and watches dating back hundreds of years in some cases, and is located in a refurbished church at Greyfriars in Waterford's Viking Triangle. Along with the oldest Irish clocks, the museum also has pieces from around the world, including from the US, UK, France, Austria, Switzerland, and Japan. What was Number 1 in Ireland This Week? 1984: 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' by Wham! Written and produced by George Michael, the Iconic hit became the band's first UK and US number one. 1992: 'Jump' by Kris Kross The hip-hop duo achieved international success, topping charts in the US, Ireland, Australia, and Canada. 2000: 'Gotta Tell You' by Samantha Mumba Mumba's debut single was a hit internationally, spending 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Irish Celebrities Celebrating Birthdays This Week Stephanie Roche (36) Former Irish footballer who played for the Republic of Ireland and Shamrock Rovers. Mairead McGuinness (66) Former vice-president of the European Parliament. Gary Lightbody (49) Lead singer of the alt-rock band Snow Patrol. Other Irish Trivia From This Week 1986: Birth number 39 for Ireland's oldest cow Big Bertha makes news around the world after successfully completing her 39th pregnancy at home in County Kerry. The cow went on to hold two Guinness World Records, as the oldest cow recorded - she passed away at the age of 48 years and 9 months - and for lifetime breeding, having produced 39 calves. Looking Ahead Each Monday, On This Week will bring you a mix of stories from the last 75 years, to celebrate Volkswagen's 75 year anniversary, featuring the big news stories, sporting highlights and major pop culture moments. Volkswagen has been part of those unforgettable moments - driving families to milestones, memories, and moments that matter. Join us every week as we look back at the moments of yesteryear.
