RTE's Fading Icons Hypocritically Preach Free Speech in a post Kimmel World.
Abolish the TV License.
Once a beloved Saturday evening program, RTE’s Late Late Show has since the departure of its flagship presenter Gay Byrne, seen a slow decline in audience numbers, retention in the key demographic of 18-49 year old’s and a reputation for mediocrity and dull repeat guests that would drive viewers to switch off mentally just to keep their sanity.
Patrick Kielty, Host of the LLS since May 2023, released a statement on Friday, following the US network ABC (of which the Disney corporation is a major shareholder) removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live from the airwaves.
“Hey Jimmy it’s Patrick Kielty saying a big hello from Studio Four of RTE in Dublin, Ireland, home to The Late, Late Show for more than 60 years. Now, during that time there have been many in power who have wanted our show off air and yet our bosses have never considered shutting us down. Tonight, we are extending the hand of free speech and friendship to let you know that you are always welcome here. So, if you ever need a studio, a desk or an audience, or a band, we are here for you. And most important of all Jimmy, this is Ireland so we can promise that you can say whatever the fuck you want,” .
This political sermon exhalating the virtues of freedom of speech falls on the deaf ears of anyone familiar with how Irish media has operated in the last decade. According to the Burkean back in 2019, RTE advocated for restrictions on freedom of speech in a submission sent to the the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, It was dissolved in 2023 and its staff and functions were transferred to a new body entitled Coimisiún na Meán. In terms of structure and goals, it is similar to the UK Ofcom and the US FCC. Like its British and American counterparts, it is often used by activist/NGO’s as a backdoor to implement hate speech legislation, without even going through the Dail chambers.
Some of the pertinent points from the RTÉ submission to the organization are as follows.
Changes to Rule 27 governing the amount of airtime given to a political party, granting the broadcaster more discretion as well as to favour past electoral performance over levels of support for a given party. Aiming to reduce the chances of litigation, these changes arguably present another barrier to smaller or outsider parties.
Support for the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill with a particular focus on the aspects of the Bill focusing on clamping down on hate speech. The submission positively remarks on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris’s support for a wide definition of hate speech that prioritises the victim’s perception over more objective measures.
An addition to the BAI’s Programme of Standards to better cover issues like racial discrimination. Quoting from the submission,’ the BAI should reflect more forcefully provisions relating to hate speech’
That the BAI would better cater for the rights and complaints of minority groups in order to ‘ensure any harmful or prejudicial language is not allowed or legitimized through use in the media’
Prior to the previous governments failed attempt to implement hate speech legislation, the media class were all too happy to plant the idea in the minds of Irish bureaucrats, who feared the populist bogeymen more than the obvious danger of their dying median going underwater. Earlier this year, RTE released a report in which 40% of the public had the perception that the station overall is "trustworthy", while 81% maintained that RTÉ is "valuable to Irish society". However that leaves a proportion of the public who believes the station isn’t trustworthy, but that it is still valuable to Irish society. This could mean anything from the archive and sports coverage to current affairs and documentary works. Which If you had the misfortune of myself, viewing the recent Dev documentary, in which a African man made a point about Dev Valera being born half Irish abroad, means someone like him can become full irish in his actions and beliefs. Neverminded the fact his father died when he was an infant, moved and then grew up in Ireland with extended family that had instilled appreciation of Irish culture and heritage in the child from a young age.
RTE could not help themselves but insert blatant progressive political propaganda concerning immigration, at a time when it become the national topic, much to the chagrin of media pundits and heads across the west. At a time when public anger and frustration is bubbling through protests at IPAC centers taking over small towns and villages, a lax criminal and justice system that Punishes the public rather than repeat offenders, they can’t see or hear their own beliefs and concerns voiced on air. RTÉ’s coverage of the topics and problems that have gripped the island in recent years bears more resemblance to a tight lipped HR spokeswoman henpecking the male staffers rather than a calm and logical conversation across the table.
While Keily is correct that there is a changing tide in America, it is a return to normalcy in the media landscape that for too long has been dominated hyper partisan democratic propagandists masquerading as comedians. The tools that were once used to take down Rosanne, Gina Carano and many others have now turned on them. Within the Jewish tradition lies the figure known the Golem, a humanoid figure made of clay or mud that can protect or destroy, violent monster seen in most accounts. Some tales even have the golem eventually going on a murderous rampage until a stone is taken out of its mouth or script at the top of its forehead rubbed off. The liberal left has in essence became the latest victim of its own creation.
The Late Late Show and its host will continue to blabber on for the foreseeable future, but it is one much less certain of its own survival and public increasingly wary of establishment voices that have let them down time and time again.
Sources:
Anthony Ellis, “RTE Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty preaches about Jimmy Kimmel getting kicked off air”, The Liberal, Sept 21st 2025.
Ciaran Brennan, “Inside RTÉ’s Hate Speech Lobbying”, The Burkean, Nov 1st 2021.
Evelyn O'Rourke, “Public trust in RTÉ has fallen, but its value to Irish society has risen”, RTE, April 16th 2025.
David McCullagh, “Dev: Rise and Rule”, RTE, Sept 3rd 2025.