Ireland media guide

Local, regional and national Irish newspapers seen outside Dun Leary's Last Corner Shop. On Sunday, 27 June 2021, in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland.Getty Images

Ireland's constitution guarantees media freedom

Public Raidio Teilifis Eireann (RTE) provides TV, radio and online services in English and Irish. It is funded by a TV licence fee and by advertising.

Virgin Media One, formerly TV3, is the main national commercial TV station. British public and commercial networks are widely available.

Ireland's free-to-air digital terrestrial TV platform is Saorview and Sky Ireland is the main satellite pay TV provider.

The radio sector includes national networks run by RTE and privately-owned operators, and a strong commercial radio presence at the regional and local levels.

The newspaper sector includes major national dailies, numerous local and regional titles, as well as the Irish counterparts of some UK national titles, including their Sunday editions.

The constitution guarantees media freedom and print and broadcast outlets operate freely within the confines of the law. Broadcasting - including on-demand services - and online media are regulated by the Coimisiun na Mean (The Media Commission).

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised concerns about the high concentration of media ownership. It says much of the newspaper sector is run by Mediahuis Ireland (formally Independent News and Media, or INM), while RTE dominates the broadcasting scene.

There were 4.6 million internet users by July 2022, comprising 92% of the population (Internetworldstats.com). Facebook is the leading social network.

Press

The following Irish editions of British papers are also published:

Television

Radio

  • RTE - public, operates flagship station Radio 1, pop music station 2 FM, Irish-language Raidio na Gaeltachta, classical and cultural station Lyric FM, and digital-only services

  • Today FM - national, commercial

  • Newstalk - national, commercial

Related topics