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Colm Connelly, who passed away in recent days, presenting the News for the Deaf in 1982 RTÉ

'Milestone' news for the Deaf bulletin marks 50 years on the screen

The bulletin is now watched by close to 100,000 viewers each day.

RTÉ HAS MARKED the half-century of its news for the deaf bulletin, which was the first in Europe when it launched in 1975.

Featuring a news announcer summarising the day’s news accompanied by an on-screen script, the bulletin has evolved today to RTÉ News with Irish Sign Language (ISL), which is broadcast seven days a week and watched by close to 100,000 viewers each day.

The news bulletin, developed in consultation with the National Association for Deaf People (now Chime), was the first of its kind, delivering a dedicated daily news service for the Deaf and hard of hearing.

Ahead of the launch on 6 January 1975, deaf children and adults came to RTÉ to experiment with newsroom staff in the types of presentation style that suited them. This work covered everything from reading the script on screen to lip reading what the presenter was saying.

unnamed (42) Lianne Quigley signing RTÉ News ISL this year. RTÉ RTÉ

It has been credited as a “milestone” by the Irish Deaf Society, which said it paralleled a societal shift in attitudes toward Irish Sign Language.

“Before 1992, RTÉ began its journey with news presented through lip-reading, but the launch of daily ISL news in 1992 was groundbreaking,” said chair of the Irish Deaf Society Lianne Quigley.

Quigley, who is also a member of the RTÉ ISL news team, noted the “challenging and long path” to ISL recognition in 2017 as further major progress for inclusion and equality.

unnamed (6) Sarah Jane Maloney signing RTÉ News with Signing 2012. RTÉ RTÉ

The current daily ISL news “remains vital in providing the Deaf community in Ireland with full access to national news in their own language”, Quigley added.

Speaking on the anniversary, managing director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs Deirdre McCarthy said the “50-year journey is a testament to inclusivity and innovation”, further paying credit to Chime and The Irish Deaf Society for their collaboration with the station.

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    Jul 21st 2015, 3:28 PM

    that august hirt guy looks like somthing out of a horror movie

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    Jul 21st 2015, 8:42 PM

    He’s very creepy looking. Wikipedia says that he was shot in the jaw in WWI. Pity it wasn’t two inches higher.

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    Jul 21st 2015, 3:47 PM

    History is repeating itself… We sit back and watch until thousands die then it becomes part of our history.. ISIS 70 years from now…Jeez.!

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    Jul 21st 2015, 2:22 PM

    RIP

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    Jul 21st 2015, 3:35 PM

    WW11 The war that keeps om giving.

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    Jul 21st 2015, 6:49 PM

    Jee Larry. World War Eleven – the Hindu v’s Buddhist meditators go at it? A movie you’re making perhaps?

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