RTÉ

I think one of the cable operators in the US is showing Six One, maybe they'd carry it for part of the day or something.

but it still hasn't been decided how it will be broadcast in the UK, where it will be launched initially. It could be a sub channel - if that happens it probably will be available in the US eventually. If it's on Freeview I'm not sure.

Are there a lot of crappy satellite channels in the US, like there are on Sky in Ireland (eg SUMO, LIFE etc)? If there are, they might take RTE as a way to fill up space.

Not really, But here is the directv lineup:
http://directv.com/see/pdf/chnllineup.pdf

Directv is owned by Newscorp, like sky. It almost carried sky news, but Fox news didn't want any competition. I haven't hereard of a channel that csrries the 6.1, but I know a PBS station did a weekly roundup if RTE stories.

I think it's Time Warner Cable (heard that from boards or TVF)

Loads of people think there will be special news shows etc on RTEi but i doubt it. they don't stand a chance against skky cnn etc