1986 in Irish television
The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1986.
Events
- January – RTE begins a six-week test of its teletext service Aertel, operating on RTE 1 between 2pm and closedown with a sample in-vision service broadcast on RTE2 between 2pm and 5,45pm.
- 29 September – Long running Irish afternoon chat show Live at 3 begins on RTÉ 1.
- 29 September – RTÉ Television airs the first edition of Dempsey's Den, a series presented by Ian Dempsey with puppets Zig and Zag. Dempsey's Den presented children's afternoon programmes.
- 1 October – Welsh children's animation SuperTed begins its screening debut on RTÉ 1 as part of Dempsey's Den. The series is translated and dubbed into an Irish language.
- 9 November – The current affairs series Questions and Answers first goes on air. It is presented by Olivia O'Leary.
Debuts
RTÉ 1
- 14 January – Alvin and the Chipmunks (Ruby Spears version)
- 10 April – Butterfly Island
- 13 August – / The Campbells
- 11 September – Pajo's Junkbox
- 29 September – Dempsey's Den
- 29 September – Live at 3
- 30 September – Rapid Roulette
- 30 September – The Prisoner of Zenda
- 1 October – SuperTed
- 13 October - Evening Extra
- 25 October – Saturday Live
- 9 November – Questions and Answers
- Undated – ''Muppet Babies''
RTÉ 2
- 30 September – Spaceflight
- 8 October – Chocky
- 9 October – Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
- 2 December – Starman
- 25 December – ''Fox Tales''
Ongoing television programmes
1960s
1970s
1980s
Ending this year
- 23 February – Davis at Large
- 23 April – ''Leave It To Mrs O'Brien''