The following is a list of events relating to television in Ireland from 1979.

• January – RTÉ establishes an internal working party to investigate the representation of women in news reporting. Their findings are published in April 1981.^[1]
• 8 April – UK children's television series Worzel Gummidge begins airing on RTÉ 1 two months after its screening debut in its original country.
• May – The Riordans is aired on television for the final time. It switches to radio and continues until 1985.^[1]
• 4 June – The long-running children's television series Bosco begins an eight-part pilot series.^[1]
• 29 September – 1 October – Coverage of Pope John Paul II's visit to Ireland is broadcast on RTÉ radio and television.^[1]
• 2 October – Mary McAleese debuts as a reporter on the current affairs programme Frontline.^[1]
• 12 December – Albert Reynolds is appointed as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs.^[1]

• RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock (1961–present)
• RTÉ News: Six One (1962–present)
• The Late Late Show (1962–present)
• Quicksilver (1965–1981)
• Wanderly Wagon (1967–1982)
• Hall's Pictorial Weekly (1971–1980)
• Sports Stadium (1973–1997)
• Trom agus Éadrom (1975–1985)
• The Late Late Toy Show (1975–present)
• RTÉ News on Two (1978–2014)

• May – The Riordans (1965–1979)

• 20 March – Amy Huberman, actress and writer
• 16 August - Brian Ormond, singer and television presenter
• 9 October – Chris O'Dowd, comedian and actor
• 17 October – Leigh Arnold, actress
• 24 November – Kirsteen O'Sullivan, television presenter
• Undated – Aisling O'Loughlin, journalist, newsreader and presenter

• 1979 in Ireland