1978 in Irish television

The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1978.

• January – The controversial secondary school drama The Spike goes on air. It was pulled from the schedule following a nude scene in Episode 5 which sparked criticism from Irish conservatives, and has never been retransmitted.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}
• March – George T. Waters is appointed as Director-General of RTÉ.^[7]
• 2 November – Ireland's second television channel, RTÉ 2 goes on air.^[7] The opening night features a variety gala performance from the Cork Opera House and the 1968 film Bullitt.^[8]
• 6 November – The UK soap Coronation Street is aired for the first time on RTÉ 2. It had previously only been available to those who could receive UTV or HTV Wales.

• January – The Spike (1978)
• 29 April – Fables of the Green Forest (1973)
• 11 September – Hong Kong Phooey (1974–1975)
• 25 October – The Clifton House Mystery (1978)
• 24 December – Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

• 2 November – RTÉ News on Two (1978–present)
• 3 November – The Upchat Line (1977)
• 3 November – Armchair Thriller (1978–1980)
• 3 November – The Voyage of Charles Darwin (1978)
• 4 November – Rumpole of the Bailey (1975, 1978–1992)
• 4 November – Mind Your Language (1977–1979)
• 4 November – Sha Na Na (1977–1981)
• 4 November – Bruce Forsyth's Big Night (1978, 1980)
• 6 November – Coronation Street (1960–present)

Shows	Moved from	Moved to
The Great Grape Ape Show	RTÉ 1	RTÉ 2

• RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
• RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
• The Late Late Show (1962–present)
• The Riordans (1965–1979)
• Quicksilver (1965–1981)
• Wanderly Wagon (1967–1982)
• Hall's Pictorial Weekly (1971–1980)
• Sports Stadium (1973–1997)
• Trom agus Éadrom (1975–1985)
• The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)

• Undated – The Spike (1978)

• 5 May – Paul Byrne, broadcast journalist
• 31 October – Ella McSweeney, radio and television producer

• 1978 in Ireland