A brand new exhibition at the Gallery of Photography in Dublin's Temple Bar is charting the fascinating history of Irish television, from Bosco to Eurovision to President John F Kennedy being paraded down O'Connell Street.
Ireland on the Box is celebrating six decades of TV in the country and sees RTE collaborate with the National Library of Ireland (NLI) to curate the free exhibition which explores entertainment, drama, sport, music, education and news and current affairs programming.
Ireland’s first television service Telefis Eireann went on air on December 31, 1961. Since then, there have been many memorable televised moments, from news coverage to entertainment to drama.
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Upon entering the gallery at first, visitors are greeted with Bosco's magic door. After walking through, guests can navigate their way around the exhibition which takes them on a journey from the early days of RTE right up to the present day.
Perhaps some of the most nostalgia-inducing photographs on display are that of late RTE stars such as Gerry Ryan and Gay Byrne.
Some of the beloved moments captured include Gerry's presenting of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994, the debut of Riverdance and Mary Robinson on The Den with Dustin the Turkey, Zig & Zag and Ray D'Arcy.
Director of the National Library of Ireland Sandra Collins told RTE: "This exhibition will appeal to all ages and we welcome everyone to visit and find their own special memory."
Head of RTE Archives Brid Dooley added: "These photographs, taken over the last 60 years and kept in safe keeping by RTE Archives, offer both a record of television production and an insight into life in Ireland through the decades.
"These images reveal changing styles in programming and presentation, and offer a taste of the range of news, sport, music, drama, entertainment, education and events produced and covered by RTE."
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