One of the longest running programmes in Irish news and current affairs history, RTÉ News: Six One, began broadcasting, with Charles Mitchel reading the news. He continued to host the programme until his retirement in 1984.[citation needed]
12 January – First broadcast of the long-running religious and social documentary series Radharc.[1][dead link]
20 February – The BBC relayed commentary of the Friendship 7 spaceflight when John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.[1][dead link]
17 March – US animated series The Flintstones (television's first animated prime time sitcom) began broadcasting on Telefís Éireann.[citation needed]
April – Telefís Éireann staff moved to newly-built studios in Donnybrook, Dublin. Previously, they were in temporary accommodation in the city centre.[1][dead link]
October – Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne became the first person to introduce The Beatles on television as the band made their small screen debut on local news programme People and Places in Manchester, England.[2][3]
December – The first Irish Television Awards were presented. The event was originally called the Jacob's Awards after its sponsor, Jacob's Ltd., until the late 1970s.[1][dead link]
^Byrne, Gay (13 February 2010). "The chameleon of Montrose". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2012.