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THIS COUNTRY is one of a kind. And if you need reminding, just think: would any of these happen anywhere else?
12. Pat Kenny gets the hump when a caller doesn’t want to come to his Toy Show
Hell hath no fury like a €900,000-a-year Late Late host scorned.
YouTube/linkman3100
11. Jimmy Magee dispensing health advice to an enormous, half-naked soccer fan
He’s like a cross between a commentator and a disapproving mammy. Which is what makes him great.
YouTube/stitchkaboodle999
10. The Safe Cross Code
A cracking tune, obviously. But also can we take a moment for the fact that (a) it was sung by Brendan Grace, and (b) there were obviously almost no cars to avoid in 1970s Ireland?
YouTube/dinadangdong
9. Fianna Fáil members want to eat your brains
David Davin-Power reports from the 2009 Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis. The men around him are staring at you. This is the party that held power for most of the last century, remember!
YouTube/AssetTracker
8. Bosco goes through the Magic Door
A classic that brought joy to children around the country, as RTÉ’s special effects department pulled out all the stops. Dublin Zoo you say? Well, blow me down.
YouTube/marianphilips
7. Jesus In Da House
Brendan O’Connor is the editor of part of possibly Ireland’s most influential newspaper, and a leading opinion columnist on current affairs.
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YouTube/tuwoa
6. Peter Casey is looking forward to a special cuddle
Enough said.
YouTube/JimJimNugent
5. Gay Byrne vs The KLF
Early-90s hitmakers the KLF burned a million pounds sterling in banknotes, just for the hell of it. A little later they were interviewed by Gay Byrne. Gay was (perhaps understandably) baffled.
Che Guevara’s flight was diverted to Dublin due to fog, and he was interviewed for RTÉ. This being Ireland in 1964, the only interpreter available was an Aer Lingus stewardess named Felima Archer. So she stepped in and translated for the world.
YouTube/RamblinTroubadour
2. These men
Two things about this: 1. They appeared on the country’s biggest TV show without rehearsing; in clothes taken directly from the dressing-up box; and with no idea what kind of groin movements are acceptable in public. 2. They then became one of the world’s biggest boy bands.
YouTube/haribokey
1. A turnip, Bill
They’re far better than the BBC pundits, because they’re not really pundits. They’re just grumpy old men. And they make Ireland great.
Sunday 22 December, 2024
Sunday 22 December, 2024
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12 classic TV moments that make Ireland… unique
THIS COUNTRY is one of a kind. And if you need reminding, just think: would any of these happen anywhere else?
12. Pat Kenny gets the hump when a caller doesn’t want to come to his Toy Show
Hell hath no fury like a €900,000-a-year Late Late host scorned.
YouTube/linkman3100
11. Jimmy Magee dispensing health advice to an enormous, half-naked soccer fan
He’s like a cross between a commentator and a disapproving mammy. Which is what makes him great.
YouTube/stitchkaboodle999
10. The Safe Cross Code
A cracking tune, obviously. But also can we take a moment for the fact that (a) it was sung by Brendan Grace, and (b) there were obviously almost no cars to avoid in 1970s Ireland?
YouTube/dinadangdong
9. Fianna Fáil members want to eat your brains
David Davin-Power reports from the 2009 Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis. The men around him are staring at you. This is the party that held power for most of the last century, remember!
YouTube/AssetTracker
8. Bosco goes through the Magic Door
A classic that brought joy to children around the country, as RTÉ’s special effects department pulled out all the stops. Dublin Zoo you say? Well, blow me down.
YouTube/marianphilips
7. Jesus In Da House
Brendan O’Connor is the editor of part of possibly Ireland’s most influential newspaper, and a leading opinion columnist on current affairs.
YouTube/tuwoa
6. Peter Casey is looking forward to a special cuddle
Enough said.
YouTube/JimJimNugent
5. Gay Byrne vs The KLF
Early-90s hitmakers the KLF burned a million pounds sterling in banknotes, just for the hell of it. A little later they were interviewed by Gay Byrne. Gay was (perhaps understandably) baffled.
To watch the video, click here.
4. This man
Just a young fella from Midleton made good.
YouTube/pddybrry
3. Interpreter improvisation at Dublin Airport
Che Guevara’s flight was diverted to Dublin due to fog, and he was interviewed for RTÉ. This being Ireland in 1964, the only interpreter available was an Aer Lingus stewardess named Felima Archer. So she stepped in and translated for the world.
YouTube/RamblinTroubadour
2. These men
Two things about this: 1. They appeared on the country’s biggest TV show without rehearsing; in clothes taken directly from the dressing-up box; and with no idea what kind of groin movements are acceptable in public. 2. They then became one of the world’s biggest boy bands.
YouTube/haribokey
1. A turnip, Bill
They’re far better than the BBC pundits, because they’re not really pundits. They’re just grumpy old men. And they make Ireland great.
YouTube/RTEWC2010
Read: 10 Irish TV shows that should be brought back>
More: 6 memorable moments from 50 years of the Late Late Show>
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Aer Lingus Bill O'Herlihy bosco boyzone Brendan O'Connor Che Guevara classic moments Crystal Swing David Davin Power Dublin Airport Eamon Dunphy Fianna Fáil Gay Byrne Highlights jesus in da house Jimmy Magee Johnny Giles Late Late Show Liam Brady Louis Walsh magic door National Pride Pat Kenny Peter Casey RTE Panel rté sports safe cross code Television the klf Translation TV