RTÉ Television will give viewers a festive feast this Christmas season, with great movies, specials, lifestyle programmes and documentaries to suit every age and taste. There’s wonderful family viewing to be found right across the schedules on both RTÉ ONE and RTÉ TWO.
CHRISTMAS EVE MOVIES
DIE ANOTHER DAY
Pierce Brosnan stars in his final outing as James Bond, the most famous spy of them all. Halle Berry, Judi Dench and John Cleese also feature in this action-packed adventure.
CHRISTMAS EVE RTÉ ONE
TOY STORY 2
More adventures with Buzz Lightyear and the gang from Andy’s room. This time, as Andy prepares to go off to summer camp, a wily toy collector kidnaps Woody the Penguin, who happens to be a very valuable toy. Buzz and pals spring into action to get him back.
CHRISTMAS EVE RTÉ TWO
THE SCORE
Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando star in this 2001 thriller directed by Frank Oz.
De Niro plays a criminal who plans to retire from crime and settle down with his girlfriend Diane (Angela Bassett), but is persuaded by partner-in-crime Max (Brando) to carry out one last big “score” – stealing millions from the Montreal Customs House. Egos clash and sparks fly.
CHRISTMAS EVE RTÉ TWO
CHRISTMAS DAY MOVIES
SCOOBY-DOO
That lovable, easily frightened Great Dane, Scooby-Doo, makes his big-screen debut in this live-action/animated feature film. Scooby accompanies crime-solving sleuths-Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Fred (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Velma (Linda Cardellini)-as they investigate a series of paranormal incidents at Spooky Island, a spring-break hot spot owned by Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson). Before the supernatural secrets scare away the college crowd, the gang must crack the case, save themselves and, possibly, the world!
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ ONE
ICE AGE
An all-digital animated comedy movie from Academy Award-winning director Chris Wedge. It’s set 20,000 years in the past, with the Ice Age approaching. The planet’s creatures begin migrating south – all except a woolly mammoth named Manfred and a terminally lazy sloth named Sid. Sid “adopts” the reluctant Manfred as his protector and then persuades him to help reunite an abandoned human baby named Roshan with his family. On their mission they are joined by several other prehistoric creatures including a squirrel whose acorn-burying compulsion triggers calamitous events.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ ONE
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Network Television Premiere
Starring Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightly and Orlando Bloom
Roguish Captain Jack Sparrow’s idyllic life roaming the Spanish Main is disrupted when his rival, the wily Captain Barbossa steals his ship, the Black Pearl. When Barbossa attacks the town of Port Royal and kidnaps the governor’s beautiful daughter, Jack joins forces with her childhood friend in a gallant attempt to rescue her and recapture the Black Pearl.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ ONE
CHICAGO
Network Television Premiere
Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellwegger and Richard Gere.
Roxie Hart is a chorus girl hoping to become a Vaudeville star; Velma Kelly is a former headliner. Both are murderers: Roxie killed her lover when he left her, while Velma killed her sister and husband while they were having an affair. Velma is enjoying making the headlines until Roxie replaces her. They both compete not only for the limelight but also for the attentions of lawyer Billy Flynn. This smash hit musical makes ideal Christmas viewing.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ ONE
MICHAEL COLLINS
Neil Jordan’s dramatic retelling of the life and times of the ruthless but inspirational Irish leader who became known as “The Big Fella”. The stirring years of the War of Independence are vividly recreated, as is the tragedy of the Civil War that took his life along with many others. Starring Liam Neeson, Stephen Rea and Julia Roberts.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ ONE
SINGING IN THE RAIN
One of the all-time best-loved screen musicals. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor star in this tale of Hollywood at the time of the big change-over from silent movies to “talkies”– which ended the careers of some old-time “greats” but created new stars overnight.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ TWO
WEST SIDE STORY
The evocative jazz-ballet music of Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics of Stephen Sondheim drive this latter-day take on the Romeo & Juliet story. Set against the grainy background of ‘fifties New York, where the Jets and the Sharks fight over the grim urban territory they both inhabit. Tragedy follows when Maria, a young Puerto Rican falls in love with a white local boy. Starring Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, George Chakiris, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ TWO
THE HOURS
Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep play three women of different generations whose lives are affected by Virginia Woolf’s novel “Mrs. Dalloway”. Each of them is facing a turning point in their lives. In 1923 Woolf (Nicole Kidman) writes the book while coming to terms with her lesbianism; in 1951 a pregnant Laura Brown (Moore) reads the novel while wondering whether she should leave her husband; and in 2001 lesbian publisher Clarissa Vaughn (Streep) reads it while planning an awards party for an author friend dying of AIDS.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ TWO
ST. STEPHEN’S DAY MOVIES
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Network Television Premiere
In the second instalment of the Harry Potter series, Harry begins to hear an evil voice that nobody else seems to hear. It turns out that the dreaded Chamber of Secrets is open again at Hogwarts, and the unknown Heir to Slytherin is determined to wreak havoc on the students. As students become petrified, Harry and Ron have to act.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY RTÉ ONE
EVELYN
Network Television Premiere
Starring Pierce Brosnan
This is based on the story of one Irish man’s fight against the might of Church and State to get his children out of the orphanages in which they have been placed against his will. In 1950s Ireland, Desmond Doyle took the unprecedented step of bringing his case all the way to the Supreme Court to rescue and reunite his family.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY RTÉ ONE
OTHER MOVIES
THE RECRUIT
Al Pacino and Colin Farrell star in this explosive thriller. James Clayton (Farrell) might not have the attitude of a typical recruit, but he is one of the smartest graduating seniors in the country – and he’s just the person that Walter Burke (Pacino) wants in the Agency. James quickly rises through the ranks and falls for Layla, one of his fellow recruits. When Burke taps him for a special assignment to root out a mole, the suspense builds toward a gripping climax.
WEDNESDAY 28TH DECEMBER RTÉ ONE
JOHNNY ENGLISH
Rowan Atkinson stars in this hilarious spoof of spy films. He plays an accident-prone MI-7 agent on a mission to rescue Britain’s Crown Jewels. John Malkovich shines as the devious French thief while pop star Natalie Imbruglia makes a sizzling screen debut.
FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER RTÉ ONE
THE PIANIST
Network Television Premiere
Starring Oscar winning Adrian Brody, this is the true tale of the Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman who, during the Second World War, lived in the Warsaw ghetto, escaped from the Nazi death camps and, with the help of his music, lived to tell about it. Directed by Roman Polanski, this film won the Palme D’Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.
SUNDAY 1st JANUARY RTÉ TWO
CLASSIC MOVIES FROM THE 1970s
Great movies by great directors will be featured in a late-night slot on RTÉ throughout the Christmas season including:
Apocalypse Now (1979) Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
The Last Picture Show (1971) Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
Annie Hall (1977) Directed by Woody Allen
Nashville (1975) Directed by Robert Altman
MASH (1970) Directed by Robert Altman
ELVIS MOVIE SEASON – EARLY MORNING MATINEE
Elvis fans can enjoy some of the King’s most popular movies in a special morning season on RTÉ ONE including; Blue Hawaii; Easy Come Easy Go; Fun in Acapulco; GI Blues; Girls! Girls! Girls!; King Creole; Paradise, Hawaiian Style and Roustabout.
See schedule for details
MOVIE MATINEES
There’s a feast of old favourites and screen classics in store in the Movie Matinee slot on RTÉ ONE. Sit back and enjoy: Oliver; Close Encounters of the Third Kind; The Guns of Navarone; Mr Saint Nick; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; West Side Story; Von Ryan’s Express; The Sound of Music; Out of Africa; Sister Act; Titanic; The Count of Monte Christo, Back to the Future Double Bill with Back to the Future Two and Three and Pink Panther Strikes Again.
See schedule for details
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMES
TIME ON THEIR HANDS CHRISTMAS EDITION
This week politician and children’s rights campaigner Fergus Finlay walks the streets of a Christmassy Copenhagen with his wife Frieda in search of Hans Christian Andersen – actor, author, poet and social reformer.
TUESDAY, 20th DECEMBER 7.00pm RTÉ ONE
RACHEL’S FAVOURITE FOOD FOR FRIENDS
Christmas Party Food
With Christmas only a few days away, Rachel suggests some delicious dishes to
serve at a Christmas party.
WEDNESDAY 21st December 7.30pm RTÉ ONE
THE RESTAURANT
There will be two special Christmas editions of the popular cuisine and celebrity show in which diners and the panel of food critics try to guess the identity of the well-known person who has been cooking for them behind the scenes. The mystery chef in the first programme (21st December) is former Labour leader Ruairi Quinn (will he be whipping up something for a great Party?). In the kitchen for the second programme (December 27th) is Ireland’s national rugby coach Eddie O’Sullivan (who’ll be cooking something “scrumtious” no doubt!).
(1) WEDNESDAY 21ST DECEMBER 8.30PM RTÉ ONE
(2) TUESDAY 27TH DECEMBER 8.30PM RTÉ ONE
MEET THE FAMILY
In a special Christmas edition we meet two families who have recently returned to live in Ireland after emigrating to work abroad and take a look at how they prepare to spend their first Christmas back in Ireland.
FRIDAY 23rd DECEMBER 7.00PM RTÉ ONE
THE LATE LATE SHOW
There will be a festive air in the studio as Pat Kenny and guests get in the mood for a cracking good Christmas.
FRIDAY 23RD DECEMBER 9.30PM RTÉ ONE
BLIZZARD OF ODD CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Colin Murphy casts his quizzical look back at the year in media, showbiz, sport, politics and any other funny business.
CHRISTMAS EVE 10.30PM RTÉ TWO
KILLINASKULLY A CHRISTMAS CAROL
When Dan fails to get into the Christmas spirit, he is subject to a series of nocturnal visitations until he sees the error of his ways. What the Dickens can it all mean?
CHRISTMAS DAY 10.00PM RTÉ ONE
STOP! YOU ARE KILLING ME
Recorded live at Vicar Street Comedy Club, Dublin, Amnesty International’s
Irish division presents this laugh-fest, featuring most of the big names of
Ireland’s thriving stand-up comedy scene Included are Tommy Tiernan, Dylan
Moran, Ardal O’Hanlon, Barry Murphy, Dara O Briain, Eddie Bannon, Jason
Byrne and Des Bishop. Need we say more? Okay, then, send great-aunt Maude
out of the room, sit back and giggle yourself silly at the cheeky, rib-tickling antics of these lovable wags.
CHRISTMAS DAY 11.20PM RTÉ TWO
CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING!
It’s an Elvis-fest for fans as they join Kevin Doyle as “The King” and ‘The Way It Was Orchestra’ for a unique night of classic Presley songs and festive fun. Having packed out venues from The Olympia to The Point, Kevin and the band bring their inimitable Elvis show to the small screen, joined by an array of musical stars including Dickie Rock, Chris de Burgh, Dave Browne (Picturehouse), George Murphy, Claire Sproule and Dustin the Turkey.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY 9.20PM RTÉ ONE
AN AUDIENCE WITH PODGE & RODGE
Live from Ballydung Manor, the bachelor brothers have invited a select group of their favourite faces from the telly to come and join them. Ray Darcy and Amanda Brunker are among the celebs to get the Rodge and Podge treatment.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY 10.00pm RTÉ TWO
A MAGIC NIGHT AT THE LOBBY BAR
John Spillane presents an hour long tribute to one of Ireland’s premier small venues, The Lobby Bar in Cork. The programme features live music and interviews recorded shortly before the venue closed in July with artists such as, John Spillane, Sonny Condell from Scullion, Mundy and Damien Dempsey.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY 7.00PM RTÉ TWO
COULTER & COMPANY
This special Christmas edition of Phil Coulter’s hugely popular show celebrates the 1960s “Ballad Boom” in Ireland, when Irish songs suddenly became all the rage in ballrooms and concert venues. Phil is joined by some of the big personalities of that era for a nostalgic hour of music and song. Taking part are Dermot O’Brien, Johnny McEvoy, Jimmy Crowley and the New Barleycorn group, along with some of today’s current musical crop – banjoist extraordinaire Gerry O’Connor and guitarist Donagh O’Malley.
TUESDAY 27th DECEMBER 9.25PM RTÉ ONE
WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Ray D’Arcy will be making dreams come true for two unsuspecting people in
his studio audience in this Christmas special. Reporter Sinead Kennedy heads to Wexford to help fulfill Shauna Rockwell’s dream of becoming a pop star, with the help of Brian McFadden.
WEDNESDAY 28th DECEMBER 7.00PM RTÉ ONE
THE PANEL – END OF THE YEAR SPECIAL
Dara Ó Briain presides in this special edition of the hit comedy “discussion” programme in which nothing and nobody is spared the attentions of Colin Murphy, Andrew Maxwell, Gráinne Seoige, Neil Delamere – and surprise guests (who also have to have their wits about them).
WEDNESDAY 28th DECEMBER 9.30PM RTÉ TWO
KEITH BARRY LIVE WITH FRIENDS – CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
For the first time ever the magic of Keith’s live stage show will be captured for Irish TV audiences with a one-hour TV Special that will combine Keith’s unique talents with a live invited audience including many well known faces from the worlds of television, film, music and sport. The show will feature brand new material as well as Keith engaging his unsuspecting audience in psychological illusions, mind control and magic.
THURSDAY 29th DECEMBER TBC RTÉ ONE
THE DANIEL O’DONNELL SHOW CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Frances Black, Finbar Fury, Micheal Ó Muircheartaigh, Louise Morrissey and Tommy Fleming join Daniel O’Donnell to celebrate the festive season in this very special
Christmas programme. Daniel plays host and performer and is accompanied by his house band.
THURSDAY 29th DECEMBER 9.25PM RTÉ ONE
BEHIND THE SCENES AT KILLINASKULLY
There is no such place as Killinaskully … but Pat Shortt’s hit comedy series is filmed on location in two Tipperary villages, Killoscully and Ballinahinch. In this programme the cameras focus on the people of the real villages to find out what they think of the camera crews and thespians and the like invading the place to put them on the national map. They’re all delighted, it seems, and already the tourists are flocking there at the rate of two a month, seeking out the real pub (Ryan’s Bar) where so much of the Killinaskully shenanigans happen.
FRIDAY 30TH DECEMBER 8.30PM RTÉ ONE
’05 – HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?
What were the ten best and the ten worst things people remember about the year 2005? A nationwide Lansdowne Marketing survey will reveal all. Joe Duffy leads the countdown with contributions from John Hume, David Norris, George Hook, Ben Dunne, Dave Fanning, Mary Kenny, Fiona Looney and many others.
FRIDAY 30th DECEMBER 9.25PM RTÉ ONE
GAYBO’S GRUMPY MEN
Gay Byrne listens to the grumbles and gripes of Irish men. What is it that irritates them, raises their blood pressure, and drives them mad? Among his guests are Jon Kenny, Dave Fanning, Brendan O’Carroll, John O’Shea and David Norris
FRIDAY 30th DECEMBER 10.25PM RTÉ ONE
TUBRIDY TONIGHT – NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL
It’s not just an ordinary Saturday night: it’s New Year’s Eve, so Ryan
Tubridy and the Camembert Quartet will be in the studio working a little
later than usual. Tonight’s live show starts at 11.00pm (TIME TBC) and
continues through midnight with a lively line-up of guests and audience to
mark the night that’s in it.
NEW YEAR’S EVE 11PM approx RTÉ ONE
RELIGIOUS PROGRAMMES
CHRISTMAS CAROLS FROM CORK 2005
Presented by Gay Byrne at the North Cathedral Cork
RTÉ and Cork European Capital of Culture 2005 are combining forces to present a Carol Concert from Cork on Christmas Eve. Among those giving readings will be President of Ireland, Mary McAleese as well as the captains of the three 2005 All-Ireland winning teams, all from Cork. The programme will include music from James Galway, Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, Majella Cullagh, G4, Catherine Leonard, Iarla Ó Lionárd, tenor Denis O’Neill, harpist Jean Kelly and 600 choristers from all over Cork, with the Cork 2005 Chamber Orchestra conducted by John O’Brien.
CHRISTMAS EVE 6.25PM RTÉ ONE
MIDNIGHT MASS
Live from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Pope Benedict’s first Christmas Mass.
CHRISTMAS EVE 10.55PM RTÉ ONE
SERVICE FOR CHRISTMAS DAY
Parishioners of Rathfarnham Church of Ireland Parish, Dublin are led by Rev. Ted Woods.
CHRISTMAS DAY 10.10AM RTÉ ONE
URBI ET ORBI
Pope Benedict XVl gives his first Christmas Greeting and Blessing to a worldwide audience. Live from Rome.
CHRISTMAS DAY 10.55AM RTÉ ONE
MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
From the Holy Family Residence, Roebuck Road, Dublin. Residents in this retirement home, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor, are joined by their children and grandchildren to celebrate the feast of Christmas.
Celebrant: Fr Brendan Purcell.
CHRISTMAS DAY 11.40AM RTÉ ONE
CHRISTMAS DAY GREETINGS FROM THE PRIMATES OF ALL IRELAND
The Roman Catholic and the Church of Ireland Archbishops of Armagh, Most
Rev Dr. Seán Brady, and Most Rev Dr Robin Eames join in a message for
the Irish people on the day that celebrates the birth of Christ.
CHRISTMAS DAY 2.40PM RTÉ ONE
DRAMA
FAIR CITY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Romance, racism, revenge and reconciliation – they’re all there in this
drama-packed one-hour Christmas Special episode of Fair City. Among other
storylines: Louise and Joshua come under pressure to end their relationship
because of their racial difference; Lorcan and Ali enjoy the first morning
of their honeymoon; Jo and Deirdre meet and discuss baby Benjamin; someone
sprays graffiti on Dolores’ house; Tracey’s past comes back to haunt her –
and Rita and Bela have a surprisingly nice Christmas evening.
CHRISTMAS DAY RTÉ ONE
SIX SHOOTER
Directed by renowned Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, this – his first venture into film – has picked up several awards and was nominated for a BAFTA. It also won the Best Irish Short award at the Foyle Film Festival this year. A 30 minute imaginative black comedy, its cast features, Brendan Gleeson, Ruaidhri Conroy, David Wilmot and Aisling O’Sullivan.
WEDNESDAY 28TH DECEMBER 10.30PM RTÉ TWO
SHOWBANDS
It’s back to the seventies with another two-part drama about aspiring
showband stars. We catch up with Tony (Liam Cunningham) and his protégé Denise (Kerry Katona) on the road in their dodgy van with the California Showband. But Denise is hungry for stardom further afield. Meanwhile Tony’s fiancé Gemma (Tina Kellegher) is back home running the ballroom and dreaming of marriage, while Ricky Duvall (the showband legend who was usurped by Denise) and his manager Frank (Don Wycherley) dream of a comeback. Denise enters for the National Song Contest and things are looking rosy until the arrival on the scene of rival singer Bella (Amy Huberman) who not only messes up Denise’s chances … but Tony’s marriage prospects too. And that’s only the start.
SUNDAY 1ST JANUARY 2006 (part 1) 9.25PM RTÉ ONE
MONDAY 2nd JANUARY 2006 (part 2) 9.25PM RTÉ ONE
NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS
NEWS REVIEW OF 2005
We look back on a year when the world was shocked by a series of destructive natural disasters – the tsunami, more hurricanes than any year since records began – and the devastating Pakistan earthquake. 2005 also saw the death of a Pope and a farewell to arms by the IRA. London experienced suicide bombing, Africa was offered help by world leaders and the slaughter in Iraq continued – though an Irish hostage was released unharmed. A number of political figures left behind a variety of legacies – Liam Lawlor, Sean Doherty, Mo Mowlam, Ted Heath, Prince Rainier of Monaco and George Best. It was a year when our consumer culture continued to flourish – but people also felt squeezed by the ‘Rip-Off Republic’. These and many other stories will be recalled in words and pictures.
Presented by Bryan Dobson
NEW YEAR’S EVE 6.30PM RTÉ ONE
DOCUMENTARIES
THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE
From Oscar and Emmy award-winning director, Vikram Jayanti, comes a documentary film about the legendary soldiers’ truce between Allied and German forces at Christmas 1914. Using eyewitness accounts, newspapers and military records, expert testimony, and dramatic re-enactments, this documentary tells the amazing story of the Christmas truce. It also shows rare photographs of “enemy” soldiers together, laughing and smiling, and wearing each other’s helmets.
SATURDAY 24TH DECEMBER 8.05PM RTÉ TWO
THE POET, THE SHOPKEEPER AND BABU
A moving family portrait, “The poet, the shopkeeper and Babu” explores poet Cathal O’Searcaigh’s marvellous discovery of a new family in Nepal after the loss of his parents. A yearning for love and companionship flows through the film, and ultimately, the inspiring belief that we can reinvent our lives. An only child and orphan, Cathal now has a son, a daughter-in-law and a grandson, and that miracle happened in Nepal, miles away from his native home in Donegal.
CHRISTMAS DAY 2.10PM RTÉ ONE
‘SWEET CORK OF THEE’ –Edwardian Cork on Camera
Some 15 years before Tomás MacCurtain and Terence McSwiney created ‘Rebel’ Cork’s republican credentials, the early Edwardian lens of English showground film
entrepreneurs Mitchell and Kenyon observed an altogether more quiescent Cork.
This unique footage from 1905 shows a city where thousands of subjects line the streets to welcome Royal visitors and where veterans of the Munster Fusiliers are cheered home from the Boer War by shawlies and street urchins alike. Polite society drifts down from the laundered suburbs to enjoy the Cork Regatta, exuding echoes of Moore’s Melodies and an assured sense of their place in the world.
CHRISTMAS DAY 8.10PM RTÉ TWO
SKELLIGS AND BERMUDA – A LAST REFUGE
Mysterious islands, legendary seabirds, and two extraordinary men
link exotic Bermuda with the Skellig Islands. Éamon de Buitléar leads us on this journey of hope for the future of a rare seabird, once thought to be extinct.
CHRISTMAS DAY 8.35PM RTÉ TWO
POTEEN-MAKING / DÉANTÚS AN PHOITÍN
‘Poteen-Making’ is a one-hour documentary which traces the history of illicit whiskey distillation in Ireland and shows how Poitín, as the illicit whiskey became known, was traditionally made. We will hear some of the stories and folklore associated with Poitín as well as discover how Poitín-making was modernised during the 20th century and why the tradition has declined in recent times.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY 8.30PM RTÉ TWO
RETURN TO TSUNAMI
RTÉ’s Late Late Show producer Bill Malone was in Khao Lak (Thailand) last December on the day the tsunami struck. A 10-metre high tidal wave devastated the region, leaving over 4,000 people dead in this sparsely populated tourist paradise. Although caught in the wave, Bill and his girlfriend Elka miraculously escaped. Three months later he was drawn back to the place where he should have died, to try and piece together how he escaped and to document his personal story.
ST STEPHEN’S DAY 8.30PM RTÉ ONE
TSUNAMI – ONE YEAR ON
This one-hour documentary reflects on the unique humanitarian response to the tsunami in South East Asia on 26th December 2004. In January Frontier Films producer/director Edel O’Brien travelled to Sri Lanka and witnessed first-hand the chaos and devastation. Over 35,000 people had died and half a million people were left homeless. The media coverage and the scale of the response from the international community was unprecedented. 347 official charities and thousands of volunteers arrived in Sri Lanka, where over $750 million had been pledged in emergency relief. This was the most well-funded, well reported natural disaster in history; however when the programme crew returned six months later they discovered that despite the huge amount of money and goodwill there is no such thing as a quick fix.
TUESDAY 27TH DECEMBER 6.25PM RTÉ ONE
BING’S FAVOURITE IRISH FRIEND
At Christmas time, thoughts turn to Bing Crosby and White Christmas. The singer had Irish roots and had many friends here – in particular Dublin showbiz entrepreneur George O’Reilly, whom he first met in 1953. This nostalgic documentary tells the story of their 24-year friendship and Bing’s Irish connections. WEDNESDAY 28th DECEMBER 7.30pm RTÉ ONE
ONE FAITHFUL HARP – THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF THOMAS MOORE
A long overdue reassessment of Thomas Moore’s life and work featuring original new settings by musicians and singers including Christy Moore, Luka Bloom, Eimear Quinn, Michael McGlynn, Steve Cooney, Laoise Kelly, and Iarla Ó Lionárd, and unexpected archive recordings by artists like Nina Simone and Joe Strummer of the Clash. Other contributors include; Seamus Heaney, Prof. Kevin Whelan, Fintan O’Toole, Nicholas Carolan and Dr. Gerry Lyne.
THURSDAY 29TH DECEMBER 10.25PM RTÉ ONE
YOUNG PEOPLE’S PROGRAMMES
THE DEN
As well as a huge selection of special Christmas movies and cartoons from Soky and Co., there will also be seasonal editions of home-produced favourites for young people. (See schedule for details)
THE MEMORISER
The Memoriser is a brand new television format with intriguing and innovative challenges to find the young person with the best memory in the country. Presented by Kathryn Thomas, The Memoriser kicks off with a celebrity Christmas special featuring Ian Dempsey, Ray Darcy, Francis Boylan Jr and Damien McCaul. They compete to see who has the best memory with Dustin commenting from the big screen.
CHRISTMAS DAY 11AM RTÉ TWO
KIDSPEAK
This series of 30-second “to camera” pieces features children from all over Ireland performing or telling us about their world. The Christmas and New Year specials will all feature “celebration” as their unifying theme, to be broadcast throughout the holiday season. (See schedule for details)
SPORT
2005- THE SPORTING YEAR
Live from the Mansion House in Dublin, Michael Lyster, George Hamilton and Tracy Piggott present a review of the sporting year. The show will look back on a year that included Tyrone’s unprecedented 10-game Championship, Cork regaining Liam McCarthy, amazing successes at the European indoor athletics championship and the Irish dominance of the Cheltenham Festival. The programme will also reflect the year’s lows, among them the failure to reach next year’s soccer World Cup and the ill-fated Lions Tour of New Zealand. The panel will be on hand to provide lively debate and, of course, we’ll discover who is Ireland’s Sports Personality of the Year for 2005, the Team of the Year and who’ll be entering RTÉ Sports Hall of Fame.
THURSDAY 22nd DECEMBER 9.30PM RTÉ ONE
FINAL WORDS: BRIAN KERR’S WORLD CUP STORY
A retrospective documentary featuring Brian Kerr in which he discusses the drama of the World Cup qualifiers, his dealings with the FAI and the heartbreak of losing his dream job.
TUESDAY 22ND DECEMBER 10.15PM RTÉ ONE
RACING FROM LEOPARDSTOWN
Four days of live racing from The Christmas Festival at Leopardstown, one of the highlights of the National Hunt season. Presented by Robert Hall with Ted Walsh, Tracy Piggott and Brian Gleeson
26, 26, 28 & 29 DECEMBER 1.15PM RTÉ TWO
THE PREMIERSHIP
The St. Stephen’s Day premiership programme kicks off with a special highlights show featuring all the top sides: Charlton v Arsenal, Chelsea v Fulham, Liverpool v Newcastle and Manchester Utd v West Brom.
On New Year’s Eve, Bill O’Herilhy, John Giles and Ray Houghton ring out the old and prepare for the new with 90 minutes of top football from the Premiership featuring Aston Villa v Arsenal, Chelsea v Birmingham, Liverpool v West Brom and Manchester Utd v Bolton.
26TH DECEMBER 11.00PM & 31ST DECEMBER (TBC)
TOP 20 GAA MOMENTS OF 2005
Another chance to see the Top 20 GAA moments of the 2005 football and hurling championships as voted on by the public.
FRIDAY 28th DECEMBER 7.00PM RTÉ TWO
For further information
Sharon Brady, Press Officer, RTÉ Television, 208 3161
Dympna Clerkin, Press Officer, RTÉ Television, 208 3298
Tara O’Brien, Press Officer, RTÉ Television, 208 2287
Please note that all transmission times are correct at time of going to press
but are subject to change.
Photos and schedule updates available on presspack.rte.ie/
ENDS