Window & Mirror

December 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast by RTE television and Irish culture and society were irrevocably changed. Window and Mirror presents a critical overview of the national television station, an insider’s ‘warts and all’ account of RTE and its fifty-year history. The infant service became a significant player in Irish politics, culture and media, the ‘voice of the nation’ through some turbulent recent periods and key moments in many areas of life. Contentious issues covered include: RTE’s relationship with the Church, the GAA, the Government, the effect RTE had on the Irish language and coverage of Northern Ireland. Also discussed is controversial and influential programming, from investigations into clerical abuse and money lending, to the The Riordans, a pioneer in serial drama. RTE was not only a window on the wider world but also a mirror to Irish society. Photographs, cartoons, documents, and other graphics, many not seen before, help capture key moments. Window and Mirror highlights how RTE television had and continues to have unparalleled influence on Irish society.