Echo Island
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Echo Island was an Irish television programme for children and young adults, shown on RTÉ Network 2. It was shown at 17:00 during or after The Den.
Designed to look as though set on a desert island, Echo Island featured a resident Moluccan Cockatoo, named "Rocco", who provided the series with a constant stream of noisy background chatter. Each programme was built around an interview in "The Shack" with an adult guest, who was asked to bring along some items of significance from his/her childhood.
The programmes also contained competitions, items on art and cookery, fundraising campaigns, the "Echovision Song Contest" for young performers and the "Pet Clinic" where TV Vet, Pete Wedderburn, answered viewers calls about their pets. Each Friday edition featured young "stringers" who reported from all around Ireland on events happening in their locality. This item contained an apparently live two-way video link between the presenter in studio and the children on location and was an advanced production technique in its day.
A number of current Irish media presenters either began, or spent part of, their early careers on Echo Island, including Dara Ó Briain, Derek Mooney, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Tom Ó Brannigan, Carrie Crowley, Mary Kingston, Peter O'Meara, Danann Breathnach, Sinéad Chaomhánach, Sharon Ní Fhinneadha and Christine Ní Chearraláin.Klara McDonnell (Irish Youtube star) had her first ever television appearance as a guest on the show.
Echo Island began broadcasting in 1994 with two episodes a week. This was extended to four episodes the following year with two of these being Irish language editions. The series ran for six seasons. In later years it proved a useful showcase for some of the best young rock bands in Ireland and the UK.
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