Ireland's New Mobile Telephone System, 1985

Chairman of Telecom Éireann Michael Smurfit launches the new Eircell mobile telephone system in the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
Minister for Communications Jim Mitchell made the inaugural telephone call to RTÉ broadcaster Pat Kenny who was out and about on the streets of Dublin when he took the call. A good humoured chat about Pat Kenny’s best dressed man award of the year ensued. When the minister asked how an interviewer in RTÉ can afford to be best dressed man, Pat Kenny replied
Well it’s quite simple really minister, in RTÉ we can dress for half price because we only have to dress from the waist up.
Eircell is based on a cellular principle and involves reusing radio channels. Prices starts at £1400 plus VAT, but the phones can be leased. Telecom Éireann director Chris Lowe also sees the new technology being used by businessmen, sales representatives, in the medical field or just for anyone on the move, needing to be contactable.
The system is currently only covers the greater Dublin area, but if the demand is there it will be extended to a fully national service within four or five years.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 11 December 1985.

[@ghostofgralton6859]

Pat Kenny was one of the first computers to operate on a mobile phone network

[@animatewithdermot]

0G

[@smith5796]

He was one of the first to come with analogue to digital conversion(ADC) technology I believe.

[@DuderinoDeux]

He has robotic like movements and phonetics. He was wired years ago.

[@sanciukfolk8423]

Ireland was a leader in mobile technology...I still have a STARTAC mobile 100% Made in Ireland

[@HelenTudor-Douglas]

Mine was first a car phone with a portable heavy magnetic antenna I had to throw up onto the top of the car whenever I used the phone to make a call. Then I "graduated" to the Motorola Brick phone & was no longer "limited" to just calling in my car. I was thrilled!!!.....at that time. : )

[@SpiralMoss]

David Mc Savage will pounce on this 🤣🤣🤣

[@88gdb]

I see Pat Kenny was as relatable to a Irishman as he is now.

[@jamesbradshaw3389]

In the early days of mobile phones I recall a mobile phone salesman call around to our office, to show me how well the phone worked, he rang time square speaking clock N.Y. then pass the phone over to me so I could listen, I told him he should not have gone to that expense I could have told him the time if he had asked me. Towards the end of his demonstration and sales talk, he prepared a contract for 3 mobile phones totaling over £12,000.00 per year. I explained that was a little too expensive for us and we would continue to work with smoke signals

[@brianallen858]

And he probably believed you, young men are truly, well young men...

[@ciaran5588]

I remember being in the Sheiling hotel in Dublin one Sunday evening & The Fury's came in & they had a big square brick with a phone on top of it. We were all amazed watching them make a call!

[@iowa_lot_to_travel9471]

Looks like this could have been a Saturday Night Live skit. 😅😅

[@noelmaher4633]

Worked out well for some Politicians and ehh Business men..😉😉

[@freemindthinkerezrapound5071]

The phones have got smarter the people have got dumber

[@freebornjohn2687]

Phones have also got smaller while people have got bigger.

[@seandelap6268]

Can you imagine trying to fit that device into your pocket.

[@capriomrowkicz1751]

1980s was Amazing Decade

[@Buildbeautiful]

The Plank with a BRICK

[@tonemc6047]

It will never take off .

[@ColinFlowers]

Well it did take off in a huge way actually. Even my granny has one now.

[@animatewithdermot]

The acting is still better than Zuckerberg & Clegg waffling about the Metaverse.

[@mrsinn2642]

Almost didnt watch this because of the Pat Kenny caption

[@pottypranks8628]

Yeah me too.
Turns my stomach. A traitor to the Irish people. A globalist bought and paid for.

[@TheBenzer9]

In 1985 I was scratching my bum in mountjoy jail trying to smuggle out small messages on paper to organise the purchase of a mobile home in courtown Co Wexford for my family while serving a sentence for vegetable sale tax return fraud, to think now they have a machine that can scan your bum for a mobile phone the size of pats finger is just incredible

[@barntownwater]

1,400 beans!

[@pauldunneska]

@gerald kelly Irish punts! In case some people think you are talking about British pounds (Sterling).

[@martingrefen7792]

And today every knacker an junky has a smart phone,we have come a long way from the buissness man paying IR£1400 a month

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

No. £1400 to buy.

[@martingrefen7792]

@@daithiocinnsealach1982 still a lot of Cash in 1985

[@stuartkelly3106]

About 5k today

[@tictacmantips1]

Yep and in 35 years you will need it to get a ffn cup of coffee in Starbucks

[@gerardodwyer5908]

Nordic states, including Norway and Sweden, began using this analogue cell phone technology in 1981 via the Nordic Mobile Telephone network run jointly with Finland and Denmark. Pat the Plank Kenny looks like he's holding a painted white brick to his ear.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

Just another fad. This cellular technology, or whatever they call it, will never catch on.

[@animallover19581]

😆😄😆🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️👀👀👀

[@ireland2657]

Pat the plank...🙄

[@Donalob]

Pat's a legend.

[@razortube101]

@@Donalob in his own hea
d maybe

[@brianallen858]

Thieves