The People in Need Trust

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 final total raised by the telethon, as reported at the end of the programme, was £2389967. The Telethon featured in RTE's Reeling In the Years review of 1989.

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.

Telethon cost RTÉ something like £500,000, much the same as a general election.

Interview with Executive Producer Joe Mulholland who feels it would be better to have it every other year.

Interview with John Curry, Executive Director, People In Need, who explains that Telethon is a joint effort between RTÉ and People In Need. People In Need could not organise it on its own. RTÉ may be right in thinking it would be difficult to sustain the Telethon annually.

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]

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 events involved radio DJs, Des Cahill and Ian Dempsey bowling, while Marty Whelan and Dustin The Turkey were laughing. There was a raffle Cadbury's Treasure Island on the night too plus a lot of entertainment. The final total raised by the telethon, as reported at the end of the programme, was £3 million.

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.

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.

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 and Brendan O'Carroll. The main events included Westlife and Dustin the Turkey performing the music while Aonghus McAnally and Joe Duffy did some reporting.

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.

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.

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]