The People in Need Trust

The People in Need Trust was a charity in Ireland.[1] It was deregistered in 2016.[1][2]

Logo

Its main fundraiser, the RTÉ People in Need Telethon, was broadcast by RTÉ since 1989 until 2007 Supported by Eircom (formerly Telecom Éireann), raising more than €35 million in total.

The theme tune was "Come On Everybody" by Eddie Cochran.

As with The Late Late Toy Show, Gay Byrne presented it wearing distinctive knitted jumpers.[2]

Merchandise included People in Need Telethon T-shirts, Buckets, Caps and Welly boots for each event.

Before there was Self Aid on May 17th 1986 followed by Telethon For The Homeless on June 10th 1988.

The event was replaced by RTÉ Does Comic Relief on June 26th 2020.

History

The People in Need telethon took place 9 times: 21 April 1989, 4 May 1990, 8 May 1992, 20 May 1994, 26 April 1996, 24 April 1998, 5 May 2000, 21 May 2004 and 26 October 2007.

1989 event

The 1989 event took place on Friday 21 April, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne. He interviewed his wife Kathleen Watkins reporting from London with music by Johnny Logan, music was performed by Hothouse Flowers, Aslan and Enya in studio with Mick Flavin in Longford that night. There was studio auction with visible telephonists. Maxi reported from Limerick. Tommie Gorman and Ciana Campbell reported from Sligo. Anne Doyle reported from Athlone. Bibi Baskin reported from Cork. Seán Bán Breathnach reported from Galway. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú reported from Waterford. It was broadcast from RTÉ Studios and from the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dublin with Pat Kenny. The Telethon featured in RTE's Reeling In the Years review of 1989.

1990 event

The 1990 event took place on Friday 4 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne, Gerry Ryan and Dave Fanning. It was decided to hold the event every 2nd year, due to financial problems. Something Happens performed the music that day.

1992 event

The 1992 event took place on Friday 8 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne, Gerry Ryan and Derek Davis. An RTÉ strike earlier in the year threatened cancellation of the event.[3]

1994 event

The 1994 event took place on Friday 20 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne, charity work was carried out on both sides of the island of Ireland. The main event involved radio DJs, Des Cahill and Ian Dempsey bowling.

1996 event

The 1996 event took place on Friday 26 April, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne.

1998 event

The 1998 event took place on Friday 24 April, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan. The main event included Lorraine Keane. A version of Billy Joel's Piano Man and an accompanying music video was released, featuring artists The Carter Twins, Leslie Dowdall, Christy Dignam, Eimear Quinn, Linda Martin and Paul Harrington, Frances Black, Don Baker, Gavin Friday and Liam Reilly.[4] [5] President, Mary McAleese made an appearance on the night.

2000 event

The 2000 event took place on Friday 5 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 18:30 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne. The main event included Westlife and Dustin the Turkey.

In 2001, the 2002 event was cancelled, due to financial problems, the introduction of the Euro, Foot and Mouth Disease and the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The new plan was to hold the event every 4 years.

2004 event

The 2004 event took place on Friday 21 May, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 19:00 with the opening segment being presented by Gay Byrne and Gerry Ryan. A radio station "Charity 252", was operated by celebrities, (including Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Claire McKeon, Fiona McShane, Sorcha Furlong, Eileen Reid, Bryan McFadden, Amanda Brunker, Mickey Joe Harte, Emma O'Driscoll, Shirley Temple Bar, Donncha Ó Dúlaing and George Murphy) locked into a residence for a week, over RTÉ's longwave Atlantic 252 radio station, with nightly highlights of RTÉ Two.[6][7][8] A nightly tv highlight show was narrated by broadcaster Aonghus McAnally.

It was decided not hold a telethon in either 2005 or 2006 due to Ryder Cup in Ireland and the change of Pope. While they decided the following event in 2007 would be moved from late Spring or early Summer to Autumn.

2007 event

The 2007 event took place on Friday 26 October, broadcasting live on RTÉ One from 19:00 with the opening segment being presented by Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh.[9] Following the Nine O'Clock News, Ryan Tubridy hosted the telethon, with Laura Woods in charge of a telephone auction,[10] and Kathryn Thomas reporting from the Eircom call centre. Clint Velour and the Camembert Quartet provided the musical entertainment for the night with guest singers Dana, Franc (Peter Kelly), Caroline Morahan, Brian Ormond, Tom McGurk, Paul Byram and Gráinne Seoige.

After midnight Charlie Bird did Jason Byrne's Anonymous as "Charles Black" where he fooled colleagues Pat Kenny, Derek Mooney, Joe Duffy, Eileen Dunne and Colm Murray and politicians Willie O'Dea, Mary O'Rourke, Michael D. Higgins and David Norris. However Sharon Ní Bheoláin and George Lee recognised him instantly.

Lucy Kennedy, magician Keith Barry, comedian Karl Spain, boxer Bernard Dunne, Kristina Grimes of The Apprentice and sports broadcaster Eamon Horan also took part in the event. Grimes won the game, which Paddy Power bookmakers had sponsored for €30,000.

The final total raised by the telethon, as reported at the end of the programme, was €7,550,333.

Following the economic crash in 2009 no further Telethons were held, and the charity was wound down in 2016.[2][1]

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References
  1. "People In Need Ltd Registered Charity Number (RCN): 20022167 CHY (REVENUE) NUMBER 8841". Charities Regulator. 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. Thomas, Cónal. "'Now let's go live to the Mullingar one-legged race': Whatever happened to the RTÉ People in Need Telethon?". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  3. "RTÉ Strike". stillslibrary.rte.ie. RTÉ Archives. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. "Ireland's Stars Sing for People in Need". Irish Sunday Mirror. 29 March 1998. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via Questia.
  5. "The Piano Man". Irish Rock Compilation. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. McQuaile, Jenny (8 May 2004). "Too Steamy; Reality Hot Tub Forces a Channel Hop". Irish Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via Questia.
  7. McElroy, Naomi (30 May 2004). "My Number's Up Reveals Jamie. Exclusive Telethon Sparks Romance". Irish Sunday People. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via Questia.
  8. McElroy, Naomi (9 May 2004). "The Official Inside 252 Paper: The Inside Story; Who'll Be The Stars Hoping To Rule The Airwaves On RTE's New Show?". Irish Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. Nic Phaidin, Michelle (27 October 2007). "Thonderful Day; Tens Of Thousands Join In Annual Giving Circus — Country Goes Raving Mad to Raise Millions of Euro for Less Well Off". Irish Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via Questia.
  10. Quigley, Maeve (1 November 2007). "Artist Tops Auction". Irish Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2020 – via Questia.

See also
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