1979 in Irish television

The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1979.

Events

 * January – RTÉ establishes an internal working party to investigate the representation of women in news reporting. Their findings are published in April 1981.
 * 8 April – UK children's television series Worzel Gummidge begins airing on RTÉ 1 two months after its screening debut in its original country.
 * May – The Riordans is aired on television for the final time. It switches to radio and continues until 1985.
 * 4 June – The long-running children's television series Bosco begins an eight-part pilot series.
 * 29 September – 1 October – Coverage of Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland is broadcast on RTÉ radio and television.
 * 2 October – Mary McAleese debuts as a reporter on the current affairs programme Frontline.
 * 12 December – Albert Reynolds is appointed as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.

RTÉ 1

 * 7 January – Children of the New Forest (1977)
 * 8 April – Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981)
 * 5 June – 🇺🇸 Jana of the Jungle (1978)
 * 2 October – To the Manor Born (1979–1981, 2007)
 * 12 October - 🇯🇵 Science Ninja Team Gatchaman
 * 9 November – The Live Mike (1979–1982)

RTÉ 2

 * 4 June – Bosco (1979–1996)
 * 8 July – The Sunday Game (1979–present)

Ongoing television programmes

 * RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
 * RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
 * The Late Late Show (1962–present)
 * 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)
 * RTÉ News on Two (1978–2014)

Ending this year

 * May – The Riordans (1965–1979)

Births

 * 20 March – Amy Huberman, actress and writer
 * 16 August - Brian Ormond, singer and television presenter
 * 9 October – Chris O'Dowd, comedian and actor
 * 17 October – Leigh Arnold, actress
 * 24 November – Kirsteen O'Sullivan, television presenter
 * Undated – Aisling O'Loughlin, journalist, newsreader and presenter