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THERE WERE 37 pieces of negative feedback sent from members of the public to RTÉ about the first two episodes of new TV show Normal People.
The 12-part series is about two teenagers from Sligo and is based on the novel under the same name by Irish writer Sally Rooney. The first two episodes were aired on RTÉ 1 last Tuesday night.
The programme contains a number of sex scenes, although none in the first episode, between the two main characters Marianne and Connell – played by actors Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.
RTÉ said it has received no formal complaints in relation to Normal People, however it did receive some “feedback”.
“We received 37 pieces of feedback from the public, made before and after broadcast, expressing unhappiness and disappointment with the content of the episode,” a spokesperson for RTÉ said.
“It is worth noting that there was a hugely positive response from our viewers on social media,” they added.
In a discussion on RTÉ radio’s Liveline with Joe Duffy on Thursday, some listeners debated the morality of the show.
It has received a five-star review from The Guardian and has been generally well received by viewers online.
However, some Liveline listeners called to express their discomfort watching the main characters together and some argued it was setting a poor example for teenagers.
One caller called Tommy said: “It’s morally wrong, it’s fornication, it’s the national broadcaster promoting fornication.”
Another caller Mary said she imagined it was “something you would expect to see in a porno movie”.
One woman, Molly, called in to praise Normal People, saying it “portrayed two people in love of an age consenting”.
I don’t understand where these guys are coming from, in this day and age we’ve moved along from the word fornication.
The show is being broadcast on the BBC in the UK, Hulu in the US and RTÉ here. The next episode in the series will be aired on RTÉ 1 next Tuesday, 5 May at 10.15pm.
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Does their TV explode if they change the channel?
@eoin carroll:
No but they still have to pay for RTE
So what’s your point?
That question was for @eoin carroll
@: we all pay for RTE. It’s called a variety of taste. If I have to pay for the poxy angelus and mass then they can pay for riding teenagers without nonsense complaining.
@David McDermott: if you watch it on the BBC you get absolution…
@David McDermott: In fairness, plenty people complain about the Angelus! Those of us enjoying normal people can’t really take the high ground. Areseholes out there complaing about everything!
@eoin carroll: tis an awful bag of storyless s h i t e though in fairness
@Mixky: No story? was your hearing aid switched off. Specsavers for you.
@: No. They have to pay for a tv license.
Isn’t it funny the way catholic conservatives all seem to buy that brand of telly that doesn’t have an off switch?
@The Risen: if I was in charge or rte the next episode will be on right after the Angelous , I’m sure they would find the remote then
@The Risen: You’ve an awful bee in your bonnet about Catholics. For someone with Padraig Pearse as their profile picture
@richiecranium: yeah well, the Catholics have an awful bee in their bonnet about sex. They need to cop themselves on.
@Sid: how do you know the 37 complaints weren’t Protestant? Sectarianism is alive and well
@richiecranium: in the interest of balance, one prodestants, one Presbyterian, one Roman Catholic, one Jewish, one Muslim, one Greek orthodox and one atheist.
@ThatLJD: went into a bar?
@The Risen: always have to laugh at those who claim to be liberal but are more intolerant and bigoted in there comments than anyone on the far right…….
@The Risen: Don’t knock the Catholics, it was our forefathers who practised Catholicism that has made this country. The very religion that the man in your profile pic practiced.
@The Risen: When you say Catholic do you mean Roman Catholic?
@The Risen: ha ha ha ha ha ha oh ha ha ha oh ha
@The Risen: your obsession with Catholicism continues Tony. Seek help.
@richiecranium: I didn’t say they weren’t.
@Sid: “Catholics have a bee in their…” all of them?
@richiecranium: was Pearse a bishop?
@Caoimhín: The man in the profile was more tolerant than those knockers. He never rammed religion down others throats and he probably wouldn’t like to be referred as the man in someone’s picture profile as a practising catholic. He was a person of many parts.
@Angela McCarthy: preaching tolerance while referring to Catholics as “knockers”. Nice going Angela.
@richiecranium: the bigot doesn’t realise Padraig Pearse was a devout Catholic.
@The Risen: religious conservatives of all hues seem to have a problem with sex.
@Brian Carr: Angelous??? Where did u learn to spell?
@ThatLJD: protestant
@OnlyHereForTheComments:
In that bar, one of the guys said “who’s twist is it anyway, I bought the last one”. With that, all of the guys disappeared into the men’s room, except for the RC gentlemen, who decided to buy a quite pint for himself.
Sometimes you just have to respect people’s religious beliefs!
I thought the main characters were brilliant. I thought the story line was great. Looking forward to further episodes. Congratulations to all
20 minutes into the first episode was enough for me. 17 year old students talking like they were 38 year old philosophers. Like Dawson’s Creek set in Sligo.
Down with that sort of thing!
@Hello DAVE!: Don’t worry when RTE pull this program you can watch it on the BBC without the adds
@Hello DAVE!: Careful now!
@Martin Scaldbag: no you can’t
@Martin Scaldbag: it’s already on BBC. It’s on BBC1 on Monday night and RTE on Tuesday night. So actually BBC air it a day before.
@Imelda Murphy: Yes you can
@Fergus O’Connor: Is there nudy bits Father?
@Fergus O’Connor: Ride me sideways Father… That’s another one!!!
People need to be realistic.. sex happens.. and if it’s not out of context of the story there shouldn’t really be an issue..
@Tamasine Anna Plowman: “She has scandalised my mother the dirty jezebel “-Gobnait O Lunacy
@Tamasine Anna Plowman: it’s not sex. It’s fornication, the filthy devils. Not sure what the difference is mind you….
@Tamasine Anna Plowman: Lot of things “happen” but that doesn’t obligate us to all nod in agreement. It’s legitimate to question the benefit of the early sexualisation of children and young adults rather than simply saying “sex happens” and acquiescing to the prevailing norms. Our suicide rate has increased by 900% since 1970, correlating strongly with the adoption of sexualised liberal values. The growth of mental illness and suicide is impacting young adolescents most acutely and maybe we should pause to question prevailing values rather than simply saying things “happen”.
@Fintan O’flaois: correlation is not causation. There is also a correlation between the divorce rate in Maine and the per capita consumption of margarine (and many other spurious correlations that in no way indicates that an increase or decrease in one causes a change in the other)
@Fintan O’flaois: Yeah, because Ireland really cared for the mentally ill back in the 70s…
You’re selectively conflating the two issues to suit your own narrative.
@John: Worse so. Suicide was extremely under reported in 1970′s Ireland so we can’t take those figures seriously.
@Fintan O’flaois: The suicide rate has exploded in males in their early 20′s primarily. Your argument is disgracefully flawed and self serving. There is no sexualization of children, the characters are late adolescents, who, in real life have sex. Please go back to your guilt ridden nocturnal fiddlings and leave us alone.
There was bad language Father. You know the one I’m talking about. It was b@stards this and b@stards that. Wall to wall b@stards. Oh and ride me sideways was another one.
@Alex Marquis:
@Alex Marquis: OMG I Cant type for pissing meself laughing
Wait until the see the next episodes.
@M: in the interest of balance, which I’m surprised at RTE! They should have had someone on complaining there wasn’t enough sex in it! Sounds like it would’ve been you, only you know what’s coming so we’re satisfied enough!
@M: Is there nudy bits?
My teenagers tell me it’s a fair reflection of reality. I shouted at them and told them to go to bed with no supper! It really annoys me that I was a teenager in the era before contraception was legal in this country. I have a right to my jealousy and I can make their lives a misery as long as they live in this house!
@Uninfected: brilliant
@Uninfected: that’s Bleedin
I’m offended by the fact that south Dublin poshos have a monopoly on Irish TV. The sex doesn’t bother me, but jaysus you’d think the only towns in Ireland were Dalkey, Blackrock and Donnybrook.
@: Well considering the first two episodes of this show take place in Sligo and are about people from Sligo, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
@: what are you on about. The first two episodes were based in Sligo in a rural setting
The Southside of Tubbercurry? I didn’t know that was a divided town.
Oh you’re easily offended….
@: you forgot Killiney
@John Mulligan: their soccer team is called Real Tubber.. class.
People need to get over themselves. I’ve watched it and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it.
If offended change the channel you are not forced to watch it.
Who was the saddo that complained before the broadcast?
@Ciaran De Bhal: maybe someone who watched it on BBC and then objected to it being shown on RTÉ
The Journal have spotted a gap on the market, take the rants from livelive and feed them to people here to rant about. Absolute genius stuff! Well done Journo.ie, bravo! Livelive v Journal comments, comedy gold awaits!
I think it shows exactly what consenting sex looks like so not a bad thing to have on to educate the youth of today.
Mary sounds as if she knows her pornos well!
“There was no sex in Ireland before television”. Oliver J Flanagan.
@Alex Marquis: Gay Byrne started it!
@Alex Marquis: It was all virgin biths up to then!
@James Walsh: yep, they knelt and prayed for children and…wham!
An orchestrated response from the Burkes of Castlebar and their ilk, Gemma O’Doherty and Iona institute shytehawks. I suspect and hope that its only because theres so little happening in the World that this bull is getting traction, but there’ll always be a few. In any case, the series is decent, and authentic. Struck a chord with me about my first serious girlfriend and exploring sex and relationships in the 90s as times were changing. I’ve not read the book but the praise it gets as source material is understandable. Well done to the two leads for their performances.
There even coming from Gdansk to see it!
My complaint mainly focused around the lack of rosary beads, although I am equally appalled at the acknowledgement of sex, it implies we’re not all the result of immaculate conception and I’m sick to death of having to self flagellate every time I turn on RTE these days.
@Sean Fahey: Your one of the few then that do actually tune into RTE. Sooner it goes under the better.
Anyone remember The Spike? It aired in the mid 70′s to outrage from a section of the Irish community. One person went so far as to claim her father died of a heart attack after watching the female character show her bare breasts.
@Jack Cass: Ullysses the movie version was banned in 1967 ? Because Buck Mulligan showed his bare arse as he took a dive from the 40 foot….
@Jack Cass: He watched it though :-) There was some nonsense spouted that time.
@Jack Cass: I remember the spike…. Nude model in art class if I remember correctly?
The same adults complaining are the same holy Mary’s & John’s positioned front seat at mass on Sunday and during the week riding their neighbours husband or wife.
@Fiona Heneghan: sounds like projection.
@Seamus Mac: yes but accurate.
@Fiona Heneghan: give me a call Fiona
37 sad, toxic, nothing to do, backward, absolute shameful people who I’d love if the complaint is upheld, anonymity is then wavered.
Pound to a penny they’d be the usual lot who’ve a long line in complaints. I’d say many were on a recent RTE Radio 1 afternoon show spouting their vile opinion.
If its that oh so offensive, get your tv remote, and knock the thing off. Easy.
@Gavin Mckenna: not worth getting worked up over big Gav. In these situations I like to think what would Toadie from neighbours say. And if I know Toadie, which I do, he’d say ‘relax mate’!
. Really ? They were talking about it on joe Duffy. U swear they were never young
I’d like to complain about Beat The Chasers. A perfectly good show has been put through the Ant & Dec blender.
The only fault I have is that it was filmed over 12 half hour episodes … Could have done it over 6 one hour programs . Maybe this was done for BBC broadcasting reasons I don’t know…
I have to say it brought back memories of my first love way back in 1989, couldn’t buy condoms back then… Mary or watch porn .
@Paul O’Sullivan: WOW, I can barely remember a time where it went to double digits, let alone 30 mins to an hour, your first love was a lucky woman Paul!
If there was no sex we wouldn’t be here yer frigid saddos
I watched all 12 episodes online and it’s brilliant but wait until all the holy Mary’s and Joes see what coming.
Jesus . Really ? They were talking about it on joe Duffy. U swear they were never young
Really ? It was so bland . Tell them never to watch empire of the senses then . They’d need the smelling salts .
I don’t know where you are watching your porn Molly, but it’s not on the same site as I watch mine.
@Logan Shepherd: Sorry Molly, that was meant for Mary …
@Logan Shepherd: have to keep the dogs coat shiny somehow!
@ThatLJD: Tut tut … I’m guessing Mary isn’t a big fan of Naked Attraction on e4, or is she?
@Logan Shepherd: ha ha she’s probably in bed by then, wondering where she got her 8 kids from!
Why is the Journal reporting on the comments of a few leftovers from the past century? Focus on the positive reviews ffs!
Really???! We’re they never young
Moist in anticipation of complaining
Al I have to say ,Is that it’s a very good interpretation of the book .So no one can change that .Looking forward to next Tuesday.
Mary ‘imagines’
No imagination needed Mary. Plenty of porn is free.
‘Fornication’ LOL! Now there’s a word I thought had gone out with ‘fallen women’ and “godless sinners’, talk about nostalgia for 1950s Ireland!
There’s just some people that complain about everything
Bali. Ballyhaunus!
I haven’t seen it yet but if it’s concentrate on today’s teens remember they are a new generation different than before and the next will be different. The Times the are a changin
Wasn’t that Tommy fella created by fornication, though? Is he objecting to his own existence?
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: Well I don’t think any of us knows that. Fornication is sexual intercourse between unmarried people.
If it’s not your thing then change the channel or read a book. Don’t keep watching being mortified and scandalised…
Ooo fornication. Now I REALLY wanna see it lol
As Oliver J Flanagan used to say, there was no sex in Ireland before the BBC! And that was decades ago.
It reminded me of the first time I’d seen sex between 2 men on the BBC.
Stop this filth! I watched it twice just to make sure I was offended. So I did.
This can only be good for the programme!
Eff you, eff your effing brother, I’ll stick this effing pitchfork up your hole!
@Dermot Quinn: the bad f. word. Worse than feck. You know the one I mean.
I won’t be watching. I expect our horny university students will be having more angst than orgasms. Now if it was about a Shinner shagging a Rural Independent I’d be watching. No intellectual s#it there.
This is so funny, so entertaining. FORNICATION!! Wonder has ‘Mary’ actually seen a ‘porno’ for her to conspire it to?! This has made my evening
Were they from normal people?
Bloody hell. What world do these people live in? How do they get through the day being so easily offended? Like a porno?! Seriously like…
@Stephen Foster: I read that one woman was outraged to think that people can drive in Ireland at 17. Weirdness.
Making soft porn movies about legal minors is not what we pay license for.
Anyone who thinks that teenage sex is going to make them smarter and successful has a lot of disappointment ahead.
RTE full of overpaid untalented objects – showing signs of desperation.
This topic a feast day for ignorant illiterates.
The headline and RTE under playing paedophilia again.
Down with that sort of stuff
You are confusing Immaculate Conception with virgin birth.
No interest in it but from the ads it was obvious what sort of content would be on show. Idiots.
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