Broadcaster Miriam O Callaghan performed Ireland’s digital switchover in 2012. In doing so she brought to an end the country’s 50 year old analogue television network. The switchover brought Ireland into line with the rest of Europe.
The first television signals received in Ireland were from the BBC transmitter at Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham in England in 1949. Reception was only available along the east coast of Ireland. It was not until RTÉ Television began broadcasting in 1961 that television signals became widely available in Ireland.
In subsequent years the television service was gradually expanded. A new channel, RTE2 began broadcasting in November 1978. On October 31st 1996 a service for Irish language viewers called TG4 was launched. On September 20th 1998 the first commercial broadcaster in Ireland, TV3 began broadcasting.
The switch over to free-to-air digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Ireland began in October 2010. During the following two years preparations were put in place for the change over which would ensure people would continue to access to free-to-air television. The new service called Saorview was designed to provide viewers with greater viewing opportunities. However upgrades to some television equipment was necessary. By closing down the analogue TV network space was freed up for more mobile broadband services.
Ireland’s analogue broadcasting signal was switched off at 10am in the year 2012 On This Day.
Photo by infomatique 
MONTROSE TV STUDIOS – DONNYBROOK by infomatique on 2008-07-14 13:20:09