1. Recommendations for a good approx 40" LCD
4. Provider?? FTA service or SKY subscription? Would need the same channels in multiple rooms. Can I get HD with FTA?
Get a LCD that has a built-in DVB-T MPEG4 chip (note - not the usual DVB-T Mpeg2) - this will allow you to pick up the Irish Digital Channels when launched - trials now on - for RTE, RTE2, TV3 and TG4.
Then go FTA and get all the free channels such as BBC1,2,3,4 , ITV1,2,3,4 , Ch4, E4, Sky News, Film4 etc etc.
FTA does not include the irish channels hence why I'm telling you to get the DVB-T Mpeg4 TV - available on the Sony W4000 models and some Panasonic and Samsung Models.
Regarding HD - you could buy the Sat4free HD box in Powercity for about €230 or else buy a HD freesat box up north for a bit cheaper in the likes of Argos (UK).
Then you have pretty much everything (except Sky channels and sport) for free forever.