People in Need Telethon

The RTÉ People in Need Telethon is a telethon in Ireland which is broadcast by RTÉ, and supported by Eircom. It is the main source of funds for the People in Need Trust, which has raised €35 million to date. In Ireland the RTÉ People in Need Telethon has been held roughly every 2 years in May, since 1988, although there was no Telethon in 2003 due to the Special Olympics and the sponsorship/volunteering needed, and it has been moved to October 26 in 2007. During the last Telethon in 2004, over 4,000 fundraising events were organised by people nationwide, and proceeds were subsequently distributed to almost 760 projects in the 26 counties. Since its inception in 1988, over €35 million has been raised by the People in Need through the RTÉ People in Need Telethon, supporting a wide variety of charitable organisations nationwide. Eight Telethons have been held to date and over €35 million has been distributed in grants, ranging from €150 to €50,000, to thousands of organisations throughout Ireland. Grant applications are assessed by advisory committees in each region before final approval by the Board of Directors of the Trust. Money raised in each county, stays in each county.

2004

Events

*Charity 252A reality tv/radio show involving 7 female celebrities including Emma O'Driscoll of Six, Eileen Reed, Sorcha Furlong of Fair City and others. The women people were locked into a house on the RTÉ grounds and had to broadcast a radio channel known as "RTÉ Charity 252", 12 hours a day on the wavelength previously used by Atlantic 252 while listeners, and viewers of "Inside 252", a TV show hosted by Gerry Ryan which gave highlights of the happenings inside the house, would vote off a celebrity everyday until only one remained, to be announced on the day of the Telethon. Eileen Reed won this once-off event in 2004.

2007

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. Following the Nine O'Clock News, Ryan Tubridy hosted the telethon, with Laura Woods in charge of a telephone auction, 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 Grainne Seoige.

Anonymous

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.

Pokerthon

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

Podge & Rodge

Podge and Rodge finally got to interview their arch-nemesis and ultimate rival "Late Late Show" host and "Ireland's Alan Partridge" Pat Kenny. "Do the words lamb and slaughter mean anything to you?" He was asked: "Does it get on your tits though when people are saying, Jaysus - Pat Kenny earns how much? He should be paying me to watch that shite!" He was also asked: "Where did the nickname Pat the Plank come from? Who came up with that beauty?" Pat blamed it on Eamon Dunphy. "Are you bored with the wood puns?" they asked to which Pat jibed: "In fairness lads I'm not the puppet round here." Then it was time for a quick game of "Plankety Plank" which featured author Patricia Cornwell - he'd forgotten her name; Dawn French - he'd told her he'd give her €10,000 not to get out of bed; Brigitte Nielsen - she'd forced him to dance live on TV. Comparing Pat's bike to Gaybo's Harley-Davidson they asked: "Did Fisher Price make that?" And then it was back to Tubbicino, Teletubby.

Fundrasing

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

External links

* [http://www.telethon.ie Telethon Website]