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RTÉ marked 100 years of radio with a multimedia concert at the National Concert Hall on Saturday, combining live performance, spoken word and archival audio. The evening, billed as RTÉ 100: In Concert, aimed to show how radio has shaped public life in Ireland across a century.
Night at the National Concert Hall
The event was presented by Lyric FM host Aedín Gormley, who opened by reflecting on radio’s role during moments of joy and sorrow, saying that “through it all, it has connected us to one another.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the audience as well, calling it an “honour” to be part of the centenary celebrations and describing the arrival of radio a century ago as a turning point for Irish broadcasting.
Highlights and contributors
Musical and spoken contributions were threaded together with historic recordings and narration, supported throughout by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Performers and participants included a wide mix of voices and musicians.
- Zoe Conway
- Edwina Guckian
- Olivia O’Leary
- Iarla Ó Lionáird
- Cathy Jordan
- Piaras Ó Lorcáin
- Loah
- John Francis Flynn
- Oliver Callan
- Shobsy
Broadcaster Myles Dungan contributed a reading about Delia Murphy, the Irish singer who helped Jewish people in Rome evade Nazi persecution.
Producer Kay Sheehy said it was challenging to select material from a century of broadcasts. She noted, however, that some moments—like Shobsy’s memorable performance of “Small Town Boy” at a Liveline anniversary—were straightforward additions to the programme.
Closing moment and reactions
Shobsy closed the concert with a rendition of Radio Ga Ga, a performance RTÉ described as “a fitting end to our celebration of 100 years of broadcasting at the National Concert Hall.”
Reflecting on the show, Aedín Gormley said: “It’s the story of 100 years of broadcasting, but it is also the story of the last 100 years of life in Ireland.” She added that the evening would be emotional and entertaining: “you will laugh, you will cry, you will be entertained.”
How to watch or listen
RTÉ has made the concert available for catch-up. The programme can be accessed on RTÉ Radio 1, Lyric FM and via the RTÉ Player for viewers who missed the live event.
