Festive Insider
and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, to honour his legacy, and play some of his greatest hits.
Daniel at 60
Dec 28, RTÉ One We featured the man himself a couple of weeks ago discussing just this topic. Daniel O’donnell is 60 and this show provides exclusive access to the famous singer, his family and friends and an archive trip down memory lane, a family album of pictures and some behind the scenes bloopers from his recent release La De Dah.
Ireland’s Fittest Family Celebrity Special
Dec 27, RTÉ One Two specials featuring Dancing With the Stars’ Grainne Gallanagh, The Happy Pear’s Flynn twins, and comedians Neil Delamere and Sinead Quinlan, who compete for the title in a celebrity special, with the winner walking away with €10,000 for their chosen charity. And, in the Hall of Fame, Mairead Ronan, along with Donncha O’ Callaghan, Anna Geary,
Davy Fitzgerald and Derval O’rourke, look back on the most memorable moments from nine series.
Callan Kicks the Year
Dec 30, RTÉ One Comedian Oliver Callan rounds o the year with some much-needed laughs. The Co-teeshes and Mary Lou review stories from Zapponyism to Olympics, Kin, the US insurrection and cuckoos. With Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and Francis Brennan all making an appearance!
The 2 Johnnies New Year’s Eve Countdown
New Year’s Eve, RTÉ One The 2 Johnnies, aka Johnny Mcmahon and Johnny O’brien from Co Tipperary present RTÉS New Year’s Eve Countdown Show live from Dublin Castle with guests from the world of sport and entertainment joining the comedy duo for the special event. Picture This along with Lyra will ring in the New Year in front of a crowd of 5,000 people.
Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas
10.30pm, Dec 20,RTÉ One Mary Kennedy revisits some of her favourites from 27 years of festive music shows. including performances by Enya, Johnny Logan, Sinead O’connor, Mick Flannery & Susan O’neill, Donal Lunny, Ralph Mctell, Imelda May, Loah & Lisa Hannigan and Eimear Quinn.
Christmas in St Patrick’s
8.15pm, Christmas Eve, RTÉ One Dáithí Ó Sé hosts this festive show in St Patrick’s Cathedral, newly restored in time for its 800th anniversary. Performers include Andrea Corr, Tolü Makay, Declan O’rourke, Lisa O’neill, Ultan O’brien, Alice Leahy, opera star Sinead Campbell Wallace, the Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Mass on Christmas Day
10.00am, RTÉ One & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/lw252 Fr Thomas Mccarthy o ers commentary and translation for this special Eurovision Mass from la Chapelle du Christ-souverain-prêtre in Orsay, northern France.
The Flourishing
Dec 30, RTÉ One This hour-long documentary takes us on a journey from the 1950s to the present day, tracking the transformation of a wavering musical genre into one which is performed and celebrated around the world. It will feature Paul Brady, Mary Black, Finbar Furey, Paddy Glackin and Andy Irvine.
Stories of a Generation – with Pope Francis
from Christmas Day, Net ix What is love? Pope Francis and other men and women all over the world aged over 70, both famous and everyday people, share their life stories with young lm-makers in a documentary based on the pope’s book, Sharing the Wisdom of Time.
Joe Burke: Ceiliúradh
Christmas Day, TG4 A special gathering of musicians, friends and family remembers one of Ireland’s most loved musicians, east Galway’s Joe Burke who died last February.
Urbi et Orbi
Christmas Day, 11.00am, RTÉ One Pope Francis delivers his traditional message and blessing “to the city and the world” from St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, with commentary and translation by Fr Thomas Mccarthy.
Service on Christmas Day
11.25am, RTÉ One, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/lw252 The Rev. Michael Anderson leads members of Arklow Presbyterian Church, Co. Wicklow, in Christmas worship, in the RTÉ studios.
The Archbishops’ Christmas Message
12.15pm, Christmas Day, RTÉ One & RTÉ Radio One The Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland Primates of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John Mcdowell, o er a Christmas message and blessing at the end of a year which has seen Ireland’s church leaders coming together in solidarity to o er hope in a time of anxiety.
Renowned for his wit and humour as well as his mastery of the box, his life is celebrated in music and memories by Ann Conroy Burke, Mary Conroy, Frankie Gavin, Brian Mcgrath and others.
Seán Ó Riada: Mo Sheanathair
St Stephen’s Day, TG4 50 years after his death, Sean Ó Riada’s granddaughter, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, resolves to nd out more about this divisive and iconic gure. Her quest to uncover the true Ó Riada is a moving tribute to a giant of Irish cultural life. With performances from Iarla Ó Lionaird, Barry Douglas and others.
Camera Tripod and Bicycle
New Year’s Eve, RTÉ One This is a charming story of Lesley Crowe, a Dubliner and reman. Travelling by bicycle with his 8mm camera and tripod, he lmed his native city through decades of great change from the ’50s to the ’70s. His lms have been compiled as a lovely trip down memory lane.