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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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    Mute Declan Byrne
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    Feb 4th 2015, 5:04 PM

    Ulster Bank are the worst bank I ever dealt with. Absolute no interest in talking just red tape after red tape and applies the same rules no matter what the circumstances is.

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    Mute Ian Walsh™
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    Feb 4th 2015, 5:39 PM

    Personally speaking I found UB a pleasure to deal with. Staff could not have been more helpful. The so call ‘red tape’ you refer to is in this day and age essential in the banking sector. The ‘ah sure it’ll be grand’ for of banking is well and truly over. If they bend the rules for you, where does it stop? Then (hypothetically) if down the road something happens and you had to be chased for money. They wouldn’t have a leg to stand on with the courts or central bank because they broke procedure.

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    Mute Pat Golden
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    Feb 4th 2015, 6:34 PM

    Couldn’t agree more Ulsterbank staff the most helpful of the three big banks

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    Mute Paul Carey
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    Feb 4th 2015, 4:50 PM

    Don’t support this bank as they are closing branches in rural areas.

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    Mute Mike
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    Feb 4th 2015, 5:07 PM

    No private business will support a town to lose money. Ridiculous comment. Speak to the government. British companies brought so much competition to Ireland. Love my tracker. Irish companies have to try and complete. They’re the ones that ripped you off for years.

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    Feb 4th 2015, 5:19 PM

    Back in 2006 I was coming off my 2 year fixed introductory mortgage rate,the Irish bank I was with declined to give me a tracker.Ulster bank give me a tracker and paid my legal fees to move.My tracker has saved my family from serious financial headaches.Thank you Ulster Bank.

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    Mute The Galloping Major
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    Feb 4th 2015, 7:29 PM

    Hooray for the banks. Wonderful news :)

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    Mute lunadoran
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    Feb 4th 2015, 9:50 PM

    Woohoo every little helps

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    Mute Clive Hand
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    Feb 5th 2015, 12:20 AM

    These rates are applicable for new customers. We need to see a start to interest rate reductions for existing customers.

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