If you’re 15-34, born to immigrant parents, you’re the heartbeat of Ireland’s multicultural future. But when you tune into RTÉ, Virgin Media News, or flip on the radio, where’s your face, your voice? Barely there, even though you’re shelling out €160 a year for RTÉ’s TV licence. Sure, you’ve got a few stars like Zainab Boladale shining on RTÉ’s Six O’Clock Show or Muireann O’Connell holding it down on Virgin Media News. But let’s keep it 100 – that’s not enough. Y’all deserve better, and it’s time to make some noise.
TV Licence Money, But Where’s the Diversity?
RTÉ’s pocketing €186 million a year from TV licences, even after a 15% dip from scandals in 2023. That’s money which is meant to reflect Ireland’s vibe -17% of Dubliners come from migrant backgrounds, and over 12% of the country was born abroad. Yet, turn on RTÉ’s 6 or 9 PM news, and it’s a sea of sameness. Virgin Media’s no better; their news and The Tonight Show (cut to two nights a week) is now presented by Kieran Cuddihy, but second-gen faces? Rare. Radio’s just as bad -RTÉ Radio 1’s got big names like Joe Duffy, but where’s the Nigerian-Irish or Polish-Irish host repping your dual identity?
Look at the UK for a minute. Lenny Henry, a Black British legend born to Jamaican parents, was killing it on BBC’s The Lenny Henry Show and co-founding Comic Relief back in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He wasn’t just a comedian – he was a second-gen voice showing millions that Black Brits belonged on mainstream screens and airwaves. Ireland’s got talent like Ebuka Omalo, a Nigerian-Irish filmmaker, or Neolithic, blending afrobeat and Irish vibes, but RTÉ and Virgin Media aren’t giving them the mic or the camera. Virgin’s Discovers competition aired four short films in 2025, including The Knife tackling racism, but it’s a late-night drop, not prime-time. Radio’s even slower – RTÉ Radio 1’s Six Nations coverage leans on commentators like Michael Corcoran or Donal Lenihan, but second-gen voices are missing.
Why It Stings
This ain’t just about seeing representative faces – it’s about you feeling seen. Studies show representation in media boosts self-esteem and belonging for minority youth. When RTÉ’s news or radio shows don’t reflect Ireland’s 22-language-strong 2022 Census, it’s like saying your story doesn’t count. You’re out here hustling through the cost-of-living crisis, with a significant number of second-gen kids facing education barriers, yet media’s not telling your truth. Lenny Henry faced racist jokes early in his career but pushed through to become a UK icon. Ireland’s second-gen youth – like Ahmed, With Love, spitting bars about racism – deserve that same platform, not just token ads or one-off gigs.Your Move
Your TV licence and your voice should demand a media that looks like Ireland’s future. Share what you want on RTÉ, Virgin Media, or radio – hit X with #EqualityWorxVibes or drop a story, track, or vid by email. Who’s the second-gen star you wanna see hosting prime-time or spinning tracks on air? Let’s flood the screens and airwaves with us – no excuses, just vibes. 🎤 #IrishVibes
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