Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Claire Byrne puts Ireland's cleverest contestants to the test in a new RT One quiz show Ireland's Smartest

22/03/2023

Claire Byrne returns to Irish television screens to present a fresh and original quiz format, that will see Claire put Ireland's most intelligent quizzers through their paces. The producers trawled the length and breadth of Ireland to find contestants with the depth of knowledge worthy of the ultimate accolade Ireland's Smartest.

The new ten part series starts Sunday, April 2nd at 7:30pm on RT one and RT Player.

Presenter Claire Byrne said, Ireland's Smartest has found the cleverest people in this country to compete in a quiz that tests their knowledge and their nerve to the limit. This is a completely new type of show for me, and I was left in awe of these contestants from all over Ireland who can produce correct answers to some really tricky questions under the glare of the lights, in the intensity of the studio, in front of an audience and with the clock ticking all the while. It's great fun, with lots of tension and you'll get to test yourself against the best too from the comfort of your own sofa to see who will be awarded the title of Ireland's Smartest!

This is a show that's not just about knowledge - it's about holding your nerve as well! It's a delicate balance between speed and strategy. Ireland's Smartest will bring lots of fun to Irish living rooms on Sunday nights this Spring.

In front of an enthusiastic studio audience, three contestants compete in each show and as they progress in the tournament structure from the Heats to the Semi-Finals to the Final only one of them can be crowned the series champion.

Ireland's Smartest starts with a general knowledge round followed by a category round, with a chance of a bonus point each time a contestant buzzes in early with an answer. Answering quickly or waiting to see the options makes for a game that balances speed against strategy.

The lowest-scoring contestant is eliminated before the final quickfire round, which sees the last two contestants face off in a head-to-head. This round uses a distinctive time-trial that sees the first contestant set a time that the other contestant must beat. Can their rival stop the clock before it hits zero and win the show?

Who will be awarded the title of Ireland's Smartest?

Tune in on RT One and RT Player on Sunday April 2nd at 7:30pm. The series runs for 10 weeks.
LINK: https://about.rte.ie/2023/03/22/claire-byrne-puts-irelands-cleverest-c...
See more stories from rte

More from RTE

01/05/2026

RT Secures UEFA Champions League Rights from 2027-2031

RT Sport awarded first pick free-to-air on Wednesday nights Champions League and Super Cup finals Highlights on Wednesday nights RT today (Thursday 30 Apri...

30/04/2026

Former Kerry footballer and broadcaster Dara Cinnide investigates the century-old murder of a Kerry man in new RT documentary

Rian na Fola airs on RT One and RT Player on Monday May 4 Rian na Fola is a o...

29/04/2026

Meet the eight finalists for RT Today's TV Home Cook competition

Voting opens at 4pm today RT 's Today show have announced the eight finalists for their TV Home Cook competition. Amateur cooks from Cork, Dublin, Galway ...

29/04/2026

Listen to the birds sing! Experience mother nature in a seven-hour radio marathon

The Dawn Chorus airs Sunday 3 May from midnight to 7am on RT Radio 1 and RT ly...

28/04/2026

RT NEWS ANNOUNCES SEAN WHELAN AS NEW LONDON CORRESPONDENT

RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Whelan as its new London Correspondent. Sean has held the role of Washington Correspondent for the last...

28/04/2026

Six well-known figures delve into the 1926 Census archive

Joseph O'Connor, Eileen Walsh, Louise Duffy, Mick Lynch, Gormfhlaith N Thuairisg and Dermot Bannon take a personal look at life 100yrs ago in new TV docume...

27/04/2026

RT 2FM launches nationwide quest for next superstar DJ to play Forbidden Fruit Festival

RT 2FM is calling on aspiring DJs across Ireland to take their shot at the spot...

27/04/2026

RT is Supporting 32 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this May

RT continues to champion Ireland's creative life this May, supporting a broad range of festivals, exhibitions and performances across music, theatre, liter...

23/04/2026

New RT series Masters: Keepers of Tradition delves into the remarkable world of rare skills and crafts

Six crafts. Six lives. Six reasons to believe that making things by hand still...

23/04/2026

AMATEUR DRAMA TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS THE 2026 RT ALL IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN THE ABBEY THEATRE

The festival programme promises a feast of drama, a bumper packed fringe festiva...

22/04/2026

RT Licenses Stolen Sister to Pushkin

RT Documentary On One 7-part series breaks US market for first time RT Programme Sales has announced its first deal with a US distribution partner for its 7-...

21/04/2026

Cultivating creativity: Super Garden is back for another season

Summer is nearly here and Super Garden is returning to our screens to spark some gardening inspiration. The new series kicks off on Thursday 23 April at 7pm on ...

16/04/2026

RTS Ireland Awards / Gradaim RTS 2026 Winners Announced

RTS Ireland Awards / Gradaim RTS 2026 Winners Announced Awards hosted by RT | Presented by Louise Duffy & Aisling Bonner Thursday, 16 April 2026 | Dublin Roy...

16/04/2026

Midnight in Vegas have been revealed as the fourth act set to compete on The Late Late Show Opening Act

The search for Ireland's newest country music star takes place live on Frida...

15/04/2026

RT announces new crime drama The Yank starring Kate Mulgrew and Colm Meaney

Two Cities Television and Keeper Pictures to produce six-part series in association with Screen Ireland for RT and ITV Studios RT has commissioned Two Citie...

15/04/2026

RT unveils The Signal' a specially commissioned 60-second film to celebrate RT100

RT 100 RT unveils The Signal' a specially commissioned 60-second film ...

13/04/2026

Paddy Treacy is the first act revealed to compete on The Late Late Show Opening Act

The search for Ireland's newest country music star is live on Friday 17 Apri...

13/04/2026

RT Radio 1 unveils new audio identity

RT Radio 1 has today launched a significant step in its ongoing strategic evolution. Following the launch of its brand-new schedule late last year, RT Radio 1...

13/04/2026

The Late Late Show offers a once-in-a-lifetime prize to the winner of next week's Opening Act compet

The Late Late Show Opening Act, the search for Ireland's newest country musi...

13/04/2026

RT appoints new Chief Financial Officer

RT has today announced the appointment of Annemarie Britz to the position of Chief Financial Officer, RT following a public competition. Annemarie Britz is c...

09/04/2026

Brian Fenton Joins RT Sunday Game GAA Panel for 2026 Championship

RT Sport has announced Brian Fenton will join its Sunday Game GAA punditry panel for the 2026 Championship, featuring across video, audio, online including the...

09/04/2026

Time for some fresh air: Tracks & Trails is back

Doireann N Ghlac in returns as presenter, with the first episode airing this Friday at 8.30pm on RT One and RT Player The beloved walking series Tracks & T...

08/04/2026

Kathryn Thomas questions if we can be Young Forever in new RT documentary

Young Forever: The Death of Ageing? airs Monday 13 April and 20 April on RT One and RT Player Around the world, the race to beat ageing is on. From cutting ...

07/04/2026

The GAA Championships on RT

THE GAA CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BACK WITH A BANG LIVE AND FREE TO AIR ACROSS ALL RT PLATFORMS The Sunday Game and The Sunday Game Live return on Sunday 12 April L...

02/04/2026

Continuing to connect with Young Ireland: 2FM Announces Brand-New Daytime Schedule

2FM Breakfast to extend on weekday mornings from 6am to 10am Doireann Garrihy m...

02/04/2026

RT NEWS ANNOUNCES BARRY LENIHAN AS NEW POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

RT News & Current Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of RT Radio 1 reporter, Barry Lenihan, as Political Correspondent. Barry has reported across...

01/04/2026

RT and Virgin Media Television kick off comprehensive freetoair coverage of the 2026 Women's Six Nations Championship

Rugby fans won't miss a moment of the action this spring, with full Women...

01/04/2026

Bluey as Gaeilge starts on RT KIDSjr on Easter Monday

T Bluey ag teacht go RT ! Beginning on Monday 6 April 2026, Bluey will be available as Gaeilge on RT KIDSjr and RT Player. Children will be able to connect w...

27/03/2026

RT is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this April

RT Supporting the Arts RT is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this April RT is proud to support an exciting month of arts and cul...

27/03/2026

Average of 1.37 million viewers watched Irish World Cup heartbreak on RT2

Average of 1.37 million viewers watched Irish World Cup heartbreak on RT 2 Over one million streams on RT Player Highest number of streams for any single eve...

26/03/2026

Fiat to sponsor The Louise Duffy Show on RT Radio 1

RT Commercial today announced Fiat as sponsor of The Louise Duffy Show on RT Radio 1, Weekdays 3pm 4pm. The Louise Duffy Show is the home of daytime music...

24/03/2026

New series of The Young Offenders drops on RT Player on Good Friday

Jock and Conor are back in Cork for series 5 A new series of hit-comedy The Young Offenders will drop on RT Player on Good Friday 3 April. The show, produced...

24/03/2026

New RT podcast explores the hidden stories of modern Irish history

RT 's new history podcast, What Were We Like, is out now. Hosted by historian Diarmaid Ferriter and archivist Catriona Crowe, the series focuses on modern I...

24/03/2026

RT's Today show celebrates 2000 episodes

All three presenters, Maura, D ith and Sinead, celebrate as afternoon chat show filmed in Cork hits milestone. Ireland's longest running afternoon show, t...

23/03/2026

RT Statement on the Death of Sports Broadcaster Michael Lyster

RT is sad today to learn of the death of legendary RT Sport broadcaster Michael Lyster, who died this morning aged 71 years. Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General...

23/03/2026

RT Documentary On One wins its first ever dedicated music award

RT Documentary On One has scooped its first ever dedicated music award. At the 2026 Icelandic Music Awards, composer lfur Eldj rn won Release of the Year in t...

23/03/2026

Czechia v Republic of Ireland live on RT2, RT Player and RT Radio 1

Inside Sport, Liveline, Morning Ireland and 2FM DRIVE will all be in Prague to bring fans to the heart of the action Every Moment, Every GenerationRT | FIFA W...

20/03/2026

RT's Suzanne Kelly to receive the 2026 Murakami Award at Animation Dingle

Dingle, Co. Kerry - Animation Dingle is delighted to announce that Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children's and Young People's Content at RT , will receive the...

20/03/2026

It's time to play The Money List! Baz Ashmawy is back at the helm as the quiz returns for a fourth season

It's time to play The Money List! Baz Ashmawy is back at the helm as the qui...

19/03/2026

Foo Fighters' Other Voices performance to air on RT this Easter Monday

Other Voices presents a legendary night of music as Foo Fighters bring their stadium anthems to St James' Church, An Daingean. The surprise performance teas...

19/03/2026

RTS Ireland Awards / Gradaim RTS 2026 Shortlist Announced

***Issued by RT on behalf of RTS Ireland Awards / Gradaim RTS 2026...

16/03/2026

Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins wins Dancing with the Stars 2026

After a nail-biting Grand Finale, Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins has been announced as the winner of Dancing with the Stars 2026. The four finalists each dance...

16/03/2026

New RT series Welcome to Moore Street gives a glimpse into life on iconic Dublin street

Welcome to Moore Street will begin on RT One and RT Player on Thursday 19 Marc...

13/03/2026

RT announces Rick O'Shea as new presenter on RT Radio 1's Arena

RT has announced today that Rick O'Shea is the new presenter of Arena RT Radio 1's flagship weeknight arts and culture programme. Rick has been pres...

13/03/2026

Lights! Camera! Action! The 98th Oscars set to air live as RT backs the Irish nominees

Lights! Camera! Action! The 98th Oscars set to air live as RT backs the Irish n...

12/03/2026

Jam-packed weekend of Irish entertainment, sport and music across RT for St Patrick's Day

The Late Late Show Show St Patrick's Day special Dancing with the Stars f...

11/03/2026

The 2026 RT Short Story Competition is now open for entries

TELL US YOUR (SHORT) STORIES The 2026 RT Short Story Competition is now open for entries Recognising and rewarding the best new Irish fiction writing for...

11/03/2026

Celtic Media Festival 2026 Nominees Announced

RT 's The Traitors Ireland is among the nominees for the 2026 Celtic Media Festival Torc Awards for Excellence, announced today....

09/03/2026

RT supports launch of The Replay' Bringing the Voice of Mchel Muircheartaigh Back to Irish Homes and reconnecting lost memories

A powerful new national initiative supporting people living with dementia launch...