1978 in Irish television

The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1978.

Events

 * January – The controversial secondary school drama The Spike goes on air. It was pulled from the schedule following a nude scene in Episode 5 which sparked criticism from Irish conservatives, and has never been retransmitted.
 * March – George T. Waters is appointed as Director-General of RTÉ.
 * 2 November – Ireland's second television channel, RTÉ 2 goes on air. The opening night features a variety gala performance from the Cork Opera House and the 1968 film Bullitt.
 * 6 November – The UK soap Coronation Street is aired for the first time on RTÉ 2. It had previously only been available to those who could receive UTV or HTV Wales.

RTÉ 1

 * January – The Spike (1978)
 * 29 April – 🇯🇵 Fables of the Green Forest (1973)
 * 11 September – 🇺🇸 Hong Kong Phooey (1974–1975)
 * 25 October – The Clifton House Mystery (1978)
 * 24 December – 🇺🇸 Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

RTÉ 2

 * 2 November – RTÉ News on Two (1978–present)
 * 3 November – The Upchat Line (1977)
 * 3 November – Armchair Thriller (1978–1980)
 * 3 November – The Voyage of Charles Darwin (1978)
 * 4 November – Rumpole of the Bailey (1975, 1978–1992)
 * 4 November – Mind Your Language (1977–1979)
 * 4 November – 🇺🇸 Sha Na Na (1977–1981)
 * 4 November – Bruce Forsyth's Big Night (1978, 1980)
 * 6 November – Coronation Street (1960–present)

Ongoing television programmes

 * RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
 * RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
 * The Late Late Show (1962–present)
 * The Riordans (1965–1979)
 * Quicksilver (1965–1981)
 * Wanderly Wagon (1967–1982)
 * Hall's Pictorial Weekly (1971–1980)
 * Sports Stadium (1973–1997)
 * Trom agus Éadrom (1975–1985)
 * The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)

Ending this year

 * Undated – The Spike (1978)

Births

 * 5 May – Paul Byrne, broadcast journalist
 * 31 October – Ella McSweeney, radio and television producer