RTÉ marks 100 years of Irish radio with centenary celebrations

RTÉ is celebrating its centenary, marking 100 years since the first radio broadcasts in Ireland. To commemorate the milestone, the national broadcaster hosted ‘RTÉ 100: In Concert’ at the National Concert Hall. The event featured music, spoken word, and archival material, with performances by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and various artists including Zoe Conway and Edwina Guckian. Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended the event, describing the introduction of radio a century ago as a transformative moment for Irish broadcasting.

Historical reflections during the centenary period have highlighted past controversies in Irish broadcasting. In the 1930s, a significant campaign emerged against the introduction of jazz music. Demonstrators, including members of the Gaelic League and figures such as Fr. Conefrey, organized marches to protest jazz, labeling it an ‘engine of hell’ and a threat to religious and national morality. The movement sought to ban foreign dances and close dance halls, with some leaders criticizing the government for allowing jazz to be broadcast on Radio Éireann.