Hall’s Pictorial Weekly in Rathdowney Village, Co. Laois, Ireland 1980

The people of Rathdowney village in County Laois are the stars of this opening sequence to ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’.
A horse and cart, the healthy state of the Rathdowney Credit Union, locals young and old going about their daily lives deliveries being made to shops, and a dog chasing a car up the main street some of the scenes from the Laois village. We also catch a glimpse of one of the village landmarks, St Andrew’s Church of Ireland church.
This episode of ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’ was broadcast on 27 February 1980.
Once a week, from June to September, the ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’ film crew would arrive at a town or village in any county in Ireland. They would film the people and the place and return to RTÉ where the footage was edited and put to music.
This short film of around one minute’s duration formed part of the opening sequence for that week’s episode. No one knew which location had been chosen, and it was not advertised as part of the programme billings in the RTÉ Guide or newspapers.
So with this in mind, people the length and breadth of the country tuned in religiously, in case it was the turn of their town or village to have its few minutes of fame.

[@magarlai-dado]

Class. The dog running along with the car😂

[@tom79013]

I don't care if ireland was poorer back then. It was still a better, happier place

[@Paul-sl9zm]

It was a terrible depressing cold grey place ruled by the pedophile Church.

[@tdoran616]

The most happy places on the planet at this moment are countries that are overwhelmingly religious and have a strong family unit. So Muslim countries. While Ireland was poorer back then, people were genuinely happier and more socially connected.

[@mairesavage6815]

The dog running by the Datsun lovely memories..golden era..@paddy Sullivan VHS 📼 1990s Cork

[@plumpooh627]

rathdowney was a great village.. happy memories..

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Used to have a brewery called Perry’s

[@user-ns8ld5sn7k]

Hi from Offaly 💫🇮🇪☘️

[@mickeyh1961]

Ireland 🇮🇪 as ots remember by
Definitely happier life easier , sense of community family faith the best building blocks of any society, sadly all been dismantled deliberately

[@happyvikings]

very whimsical

[@hindenpeter2.04]

That's where my dad's from i think or gráige Ballycallan..in the vicinity. Or Galmoy where he saw a latin mass as a yungin.. thereabouts

[@billyfanthom4048]

Dec, from Ant & Dec bringing in the bread

[@amoniousbt1110]

I want to go back.

[@hefellump1]

Id say it's been planted now or at least well on its way, shame for the beautiful Irish.

[@dylanmoore7607]

Do borris in ossory Co laois

[@martinwalsh3228]

2 days to Leap Year Day.

[@JohnDoe-gj4rr]

Can’t believe this was my birth year, fuck 😂😂😂

[@COV61]

Scene from deliverance!!😲

[@derekwilkinson688]

Not a lot of diversity there!

[@ballygeale1]

I hated that program

[@polki1482]

It hasnt changed a bit.😂

[@howshecuttingbogman8999]

Things cost 3d at that time or something stoopid like that like.