RT PUBLISHES THOUSANDS OF EARLY RADIO RECORDINGS ONLINE
Over 5,300 RT radio recordings from the 1927 - 1970s now available online
Rare insight into the voices, sounds and topics from our past
RT Archives | Acetate Disc Collection (rte.ie)
Highlights include:
Opening of the Cork radio station 6CK (1927)
Maud Gonne Recalls Evictions (1947)
Provincial News Round Up (1957)
Sean McBride jokes about the merits of radio (Wexford Festival 1952)
Christmas in Amiens Street (1949)
RT is delighted to announce the publication of some of its earliest radio recordings from the RT Archives, which are now available online for the public to enjoy.
The collection, available at RT Archives | Acetate Disc Collection (rte.ie), includes over 5,300 recordings made for RT Radio between 1927 (see below) and 1970s and gives a fascinating and rare insight into the voices, sounds, topics and processes involved in the creation of early radio broadcasting at RT .
Over the last three years, RT Archives has been creating digital files from thousands of fragile acetate discs which contained the original recordings.
The recordings are now preserved for the long term thanks to the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Archiving Scheme, which has now been incorporated into the recently established, Coimisi in na Me n.
The acetate disc is the earliest sound recording format held by RT Archives. These discs were used in the production, recording and broadcast of programmes for Radio ireann.
Among the collection are full programmes and news broadcasts. There are also sound effects, inserts, performances, interviews and reports, all created for use in the production of radio programmes.
Commenting on the publishing of the Acetate Collection, Br d Dooley, Head of RT Archives said: We are delighted to open up this hugely evocative collection from the earliest decades of broadcast recording technology. It will take audiences back to the mores, sounds and voices from 1927 onwards as the new Irish State was emerging, many decades before television itself came along. It provides a unique insight our audiences can now enjoy and will be a source of important discovery for researchers, programme makers, historians and educators alike.
We are very grateful to Comisi in na Me n for its support of the very specialist preservation and cataloguing development work involved under the Archive Funding Scheme, and to our partners at the Irish Traditional Music Archive who, together with our team of archive specialists, developed the catalogue and the online publication. At the beginning of this project we had the labels and recordings, whereas now we have a rich and searchable resource. We will continue to enhance the collection as we learn more about these recordings.
WHAT IS IN THE COLLECTION?
>>>FIVE HIGHLIGHTS:
Opening of the Cork radio station 6CK (1927)
The earliest recording from the collection features the opening of the Cork radio station 6CK on the 26 April 1927.
In opening the Cork station tonight, I hope to bring before the world a new and largely unexplored vein of Irish talent. (Minister for Posts and Telegraphs J.J. Walsh)
LISTEN HERE: RT Archives | Collections | Opening Of Cork Radio Station (rte.ie)
Maud Gonne Recalls Evictions (1945)
Among the Irish and international figures featured in the recordings is the nationalist and political activist, Maud Gonne. Recorded in 1945, she recalls witnessing evictions in her youth and taking part in the Land War.
I didn't want to go to balls and parties anymore for I would have had to dance and eat with the evictors.
LISTEN HERE: RT Archives | Society | Maud Gonne Recalls Evictions (rte.ie)
Provincial News Round Up (1957)
A local news report from with an international element that features Hungarian refugees who left their country following the Hungarian Uprising was crushed by Soviet forces in 1956. The refugees were housed at a former army camp in Knockalisheen in County Clare. The report here is from Provincial News Round Up in October 1957.
LISTEN HERE: RT Archives | Collections | Provincial News Round Up (rte.ie)
Sean McBride jokes about the merits of radio (Wexford Festival 1952)
The merits of radio come up in a lighthearted debate at the 1952 Wexford Festival on the benefits to mankind of some technologies. Up for discussion and comparison are the benefits of radio, the internal combustion engine and the gramophone.
Se n MacBride jokes that they are disastrous for mankind. Another participant says that radio is an invention of the devil that has reduced people to a moronic state
LISTEN HERE: RT Archives | Collections | Wexford Festival : Festival Forum (rte.ie)
Christmas in Amiens Street, Dublin (1949)
One of a number of recordings made for the programme Christmas Preparations'.
Presenter Norris Davidson describes Amiens Street Station Christmas decorations, and interviews Mr Farrelly, Station Master, about Christmas at the station.
LISTEN HERE: RT Archives | Collections | Christmas Preparations : Station Master (rte.ie)
Unfortunately, recordings on acetate discs do not sustain repeated playing. The content on the discs would become inaudible after being played multiple times and the discs are considered a vulnerable format. With funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (now Comisi in na Me n), RT Archives has completed the creation of digital files for this collection and is now making these files available to be listened to by the public.
For more on the Acetate Collection, visit RT Archives | Acetate Disc Collection (rte.ie)
For more on RT Archives, visit www.rte.ie/Archives.
About RT Archives
www.rte.ie/Archives
RT Archives are responsible for collecting, preserving and making accessible the creative and documentary o
More from RTE
01/10/2026
Season 4 of the multi-award-winning hit entertainment series The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In is back, serving up another round of unpredictable laughs, unforg...
01/10/2026
New season begins Sunday, 4 October at 6pm on RT lyric fm and RT Listen
RT lyric fm's arts and culture documentary series The Lyric Feature returns on S...
01/10/2026
RT is proud to continue its commitment to supporting and celebrating the arts across Ireland this October, highlighting a vibrant programme of theatre, music, ...
30/09/2026
How to Shop Well Now starts Monday at 9.35pm
on RT One and RT Player
On the...
29/09/2026
RT lyric fm is proud to announce the annual Choirs for Christmas competition callout. Warm up those vocal chords and join us on RT lyric fm for a celebration ...
28/09/2026
Crimecall, presented by Carla O'Brien, returns tonight for a brand new series at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Player.
In tonight's episode, alongside appe...
28/09/2026
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS AT THE HEART OF NEW IRISH WRITING
LIVE FROM POETRY IRELAND, DUBLIN AND ON RT RADIO 1 FROM 7PM
DETAILS: www.rte.ie/writing | FOLLOW: #r...
25/09/2026
Want to be part of this year's Late Late Toy Show?
Final call for applications in search for this year's stars
The most wonderful night of the year is...
24/09/2026
The home interiors retailer signs up for third year as sponsor
RT Commercial today announced that Harry Corry has signed up to a third year as sponsor of Live...
24/09/2026
RT Radio 1 Folk Awards Tickets on Sale
Dolores Keane to be inducted into the...
23/09/2026
RT One and RT Player, Friday 25 September
Ceol le Ch ile, a new series that follows Irish artists as they collaborate with musicians from diverse background...
23/09/2026
Available now on RT Listen
New information has come to light in the case of mi...
22/09/2026
RT , Creative Ireland and Shared Island Initiative ask young artists
to respon...
21/09/2026
Ireland's most successful and longest-running afternoon show, the TODAY Show...
21/09/2026
RT celebrates Irish Sign Language Awareness Week 2026
Special programmes across RT television, radio and online, plus special initiatives
#ISL #IDSL #IWDP26...
17/09/2026
Donncha's Away Games starts this Sunday on RT One and RT Player
Irish rugby legend Donncha O'Callaghan pairs up with a host of celebrities to take on...
17/09/2026
New series of Aistear an Amhr in shares extraordinary stories behind Ireland'...
17/09/2026
The Late Late Show is back!
Liam Neeson, Siobh n McSweeney, Caitr ona Balfe a...
17/09/2026
RT Statement:
RT is today confirming that its position regarding participation in the Eurovision Song Contest remains unchanged. RT will not participate in...
16/09/2026
Garda whistleblowers come forward to
RT Investigates from inside the
Garda Pr...
14/09/2026
RT in association with the BBC today released first look image from the second series of The Walsh Sisters, inspired by the novels of international best-sellin...
11/09/2026
RT has today announced Benetti Menswear as the sponsor of its 2026 Amgen Irish Open coverage for a sixth consecutive year, further strengthening the heritage c...
10/09/2026
RT to Broadcast Amgen Irish Open free-to-air
New multi-year agreement will see RT continue to bring the Amgen Irish Open to Irish audiences
Ryder Cup hig...
10/09/2026
More than 30 women report allegations of sexual harassment, misogyny and bullying within National Ambulance Service
Tonight on RT Prime Time, 9:35pm, RT One ...
10/09/2026
Series 3 of Nero's Class begins Friday 11 September on RT Listen
The third...
09/09/2026
RT brings three packed days of live radio, entertainment, news, weather and fun
Join RT Radio 1: Morning Ireland, Oliver Callan, Today with David McCullagh,...
07/09/2026
552,000 streams on RT Player
The historic fight, which saw Katie Taylor become...
04/09/2026
RT ANNOUNCE NEW DRAMA THE MURDER OF MR. MOONLIGHT
BASED ON THE DISAPPEARANCE...
03/09/2026
First Class Takes is a new six-part series for RT KIDS that captures funny, hon...
02/09/2026
RT has today announced a major media partnership with Lidl around Katie Taylor's historic Croke Park clash with Flora Pili on Saturday, September 5th.
The...
01/09/2026
Join Donal Skehan in discovering the best of everyday Italian cooking in brand new series, airing Wednesday 2 September
In this brand-new series, Donal's I...
01/09/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to spotlight a diverse range of arts, cultu...
27/08/2026
Commissioned for RT KIDS as part of the EBU Kids' Drama Exchange The Note will premiere Sunday August 30, 5:10pm
RT One and RT Player
The Note tells a...
26/08/2026
As RT marks 100 years of public service broadcasting in Ireland, today we announce a season of fresh, original content, while preparing to move into a second c...
25/08/2026
The new series begins Tuesday 1 September at 7pm on RT One and RT Player
The search for Ireland's hidden housing gems is back as Cheap Irish Homes return...
24/08/2026
We Only Want the Earth: The Life & Ideas of James Connolly airs
Wednesday 26 August on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
RT is to air the compelling documenta...
21/08/2026
Beat The Lotto dives into the plot behind the 1980s National Lottery scandal
24 August 2026 at 9:35pm on RT One and RT Player
Beat The Lotto is the story o...
21/08/2026
The countdown to the most wonderful night of the year has officially begun!
Host Patrick Kielty is gearing up for another unforgettable Late Late Toy Show nig...
21/08/2026
Meet puppet duo Bellie and Whizz, who are about to explore all the big feelings ...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
THE HEALY RAES: BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS AIRS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19 ON RT ONE AT 9:35PM
A new documentary The Healy-Raes: Blood, Sweat & Tears airs on RT One and ...
18/08/2026
Stunning Irish performances at European Athletics and Swimming Championships rea...
18/08/2026
The two-part series begins Sunday 23 August at 6.30pm on RT One and RT Player
...
13/08/2026
RT 's Miriam O'Callaghan welcomed a range of specially invited guests to the National Concert Hall last week for a unique event to mark a new season wit...
11/08/2026
Hosts D ith S and Kathryn Thomas rose to the occasion on Tuesday (August 11)...
11/08/2026
A Day in May airs Wednesday 12 August at 9.35pm RT One and RT Player
A Day in May revisits the people and stories behind Ireland's historic marriage equa...
07/08/2026
The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked is also back with all the behind the scenes drama...
06/08/2026
In Time airs Monday 10 August at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Player
In Time is the first film account of the life of D nal Lunny, one of the most influential Iri...
31/07/2026
Athletics, Camogie, the Dublin Horse Show, the FAI Cup, Golf, Hockey, the UEFA C...
RT PUBLISHES THOUSANDS OF EARLY RADIO RECORDINGS ONLINE 
