1989 in Irish television

The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1989.

Events

18 January – After a long absence for several years, British children's cult favourite Worzel Gummidge returns to Irish television screens. The series airs on Network 2 as part of Dempsey's Den.
5 February – The world's first commercial DBS system, Sky Television, goes on air in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
23 March - RTÉ Weather is sponsored by Telecom Eireann.
21 April – The first People in Need Telethon is broadcast by RTÉ.
10 May – American television sitcom Thirtysomething is broadcast in Ireland for the first time.
14 September – British children's stop motion animated series Postman Pat begins airing for the very first time ever on Irish television on Network 2 as part of Dempsey's Den after only airing in Northern Ireland and several parts of the Republic via access to British television. Also added to Thursday's lineup of children's programmes on Dempsey's Den includes the debut of the British animated series for preschoolers Spot and the return of television's very first animated prime time sitcom The Flintstones.
18 September – Irish television soap Fair City is first transmitted.
26 December – The Fireman Sam Christmas special Snow Business goes to air on Network 2 but the series itself won't return to air on RTÉ until 13 March 2000.
Undated – US prime time soap opera Knots Landing starts being broadcast for the first time on Irish television on RTÉ Television.
Undated – The American animation studio Murakami-Wolf-Swenson launches a sister company called Fred Wolf Films in Dublin.

Debuts

RTÉ 1

15 May – Ffizz
18 September – Fair City
16 October – RTÉ News: One O'Clock
22 October – The Secret Garden
7 November – Major Dad
Undated – ''Knots Landing''

Network 2

9 January – Murphy Brown
10 January – Wildfire
11 January – Degrassi Junior High
14 January – Kidsongs
18 January – Storybreak
6 February – Steel Riders
6 March – City Tails
23 March – Doctor Snuggles
3 April – Strangers
13 April – Wil Cwac Cwac
8 May – Adventures on Kythera
9 May – The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty
10 May – Thirtysomething
11 May – Cornflakes for Tea
11 May – Wizbit
15 May – Spartakus and the Sun Beneath the Sea
18 May – Dramarama
13 June – Amigo and Friends
14 July – M*U*S*H
22 July – Joint Account
3 August – Zoo Family
4 August – Around the World with Willy Fog
9 August – Fraidy Cat
14 August – Wacky and Packy
14 September – Postman Pat
14 September – Spot
8 October – Game, Set and Match
14 October – The Nutt House
30 October – Count Duckula
18 November – The Ginger Tree
24 November – The Mahabharata
29 November – Alias the Jester
25 December – Christmas Everyday
25 December – Worzel Gummidge: A Cup o' Tea and a Slice o' Cake
26 December – ''Fireman Sam: Snow Business''

1989 in Irish television

Events

Debuts

RTÉ 1

Network 2

UTV

Ongoing television programmes

1960s

1970s

1980s

Ending this year