25 years old but it’s still seismic.
There are certain moments in Irish history that are so iconic that people can still clearly remember where they were when they took place.
The glorious three weeks that Ireland spent in Italia ’90 have become engrained in the nations psyche and every step of the journey was covered by RTE.
Here’s some of the reasons why that footage will always have a special place in Irish hearts.
1) They tapped into what everyone was feeling
The producers at RTE were clever enough to know that a World Cup wasn’t just strictly a sporting entity. The much missed Bill O’Herlihy was so incredibly skilled skilled as a presenter because he had that unique ability to represent the ‘everyday’ man on the street.
This opening link is so brilliantly constructed because it captures everything that makes a World Cup so special.
As a country, we were nervous, excited, happy, curious and a little bit afraid that England would beat us. Bill settled our nerves though in this cracking piece of television. It’s impossible not to get swept along in the excitement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy902b5hm38
2) Their panel created drama
RTE will never have the money, technical wizardry or sprawling coverage that Sky has but their sports department have consistently kept an ace up its sleeve.
They understood that drama on the panel would get people talking but their level of honesty, passion and debate was second to none.
I’d argue that no other pundit could make a game that was as sinfully boring as Ireland v Egypt as memorable and culturally-iconic like Eamon Dunphy did.
BBC, ITV and even Sky still have pundits who seem timid or shy when it comes to expressing their opinion, this is why RTE’s coverage was superb. They knew how to make an ugly game of football seem interesting.
People may argue with Dunphy’s analysis of a game but there’s no denying that he knows how to produce ‘moments’ like this.
3) George Hamilton’s commentary against Romania
Commentary is an art form and very few people will understand just how difficult it is.
Commentators can’t be biased, preachy or distant which is why George Hamilton’s work during the shoot-out against Romania is one of the finest examples of the craft.
He’s an Irishman so obviously George shared all of our nerves, fears and hopes. It’s impossible to tell though because he was so professional.
Football lovers will know certain those famous pieces of commentary uttered by the incredible Barry Davies or Kenneth Wolstenholme. I’d argue that Hamilton’s words have just as much power and iconography as theirs.
4) Their nostalgic news bulletins
The news editors in RTE weren’t afraid to give sport as the top billing on their news bulletins, which isn’t always the norm. I’ve some experience of working on the news desk in TV and sport is often seen as the little brother. Yes, it gets its time to shine but the importance of sport is rarely given as much prominence as the more important global affairs.
Kudos to RTE for sending some of their more ‘news-focused’ reporters around Ireland to capture the nations wonderful zeitgeist.
Take a look at some of the scenes at 16:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKp0psnZdp8
5) Bill O’Herlihy
It takes a truly special broadcaster to make the nation feel positive after enduring the crushing blow of losing a World Cup quarter-final.
This small anecdote about Aer Lingus’ plans to fly the team back still makes me laugh. Kudos also to the editors also – who rarely get praised because they remain behind the scenes- because this closing montage is wonderful.
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