At 7.45pm on 1 January 1926, a crackling voice over the airwaves marked the beginning of public broadcasting in Ireland. From that first transmission by 2RN - the precursor to RTÉ - Sounding Ireland: Radio and the Making of Us traces a remarkable story of a nation through what and how we heard ourselves across a century.




In moments of triumph and challenge, in English and Irish, RTÉ has been a trusted national voice - recording our cultural, political and sporting life, nurturing creative talent, and bringing people together for shared experiences that define generations. Richly detailed, extensively illustrated and deeply insightful, Sounding Ireland is both a celebration and a reflection of RTÉ Radio and a century of stories told, voices heard and memories made.