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Christmas 2021 press release plus Notes to Editor

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**EMBARGO: 6am on Thursday 2 December** 

RTÉ Brings Christmas Home with Magical Seasonal Schedule  

Join us for heart-warming, joyful and unmissable moments in entertainment, drama, and documentaries  

Brand new specials top the line-up for a magical Christmas on RTÉ. There’s plenty of craic courtesy of a Tommy Tiernan special, Callan Kicks the Year and Mrs Brown, while The 2 Johnnies are hosting the NYE show in Dublin Castle. New highlights include documentaries on Grand National winner, Rachael Blackmore, a heartwarming programme on Irish Toy shops and we celebrate with Irish legend, Daniel O’Donnell as he celebrates his 60th birthday. Toy Show hero Adam King fronts his own new animated series on RTÉjr, featuring the voice of Ryan Tubridy as Santa Claus. Dermot Whelan and Doireann Garrihy launch one hour of family entertainment, in a new show, Big Night In and there’s also a Christmas special with the Home School Hub gang too, alongside music, sport, drama and entertainment.  

On radio, Joe Duffy will present his legendary Christmas eve special from the Radio Centre while over on 2FM listeners can enjoy an hour long special with Jenny Greene and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Christmas is a special time on RTÉ lyric fm, with some thrilling seasonal performances, including Handel’s Messiah, while Raidió na Gaeltachta will feature a range of fascinating stories and music. And dedicated fans of RTÉ Gold can rock around the tree with their favourite presenters. Take advantage of the time off and get stuck into the best of binge-worthy shows on RTÉ Player. There’s truly something for everyone on RTÉ this Christmas.  

TELEVISION AND RTÉ PLAYER 

ENTERTAINMENT Music, chat and craic is top of the agenda this Christmas on RTÉ, with something for everyone in the audience. 

Tommy Tiernan is back with a one off special this December that’s full of surprises for him, and his viewers! A master of improvisation, Tommy thrives on the adrenaline of surprises. The result is conversations full of adventure and surprise, with people from all walks of life, some well-known personalities, some lesser so. 

All the Mrs Brown’s Boys gang return for two more seasonal specials, airing Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, which see Agnes recruited to the church choir, but under strict instructions, and a Christmas tree shortage which means Buster has to get even more creative than usual. 

There are sonic treats in store for music fans too. Artists and presenters Loah and Una Healy return to the iconic Round Room of the Mansion House in the Heart of Dublin to reprise a very special Christmas edition of The Heart of Saturday Night. And, in a unique new show Bowie – Starman, with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, a remarkable line up of Irish and international stars, including Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainright III, Sharon Corr, Imelda May, Joe Elliot, Christy Dignam and many more, join with Bowie’s own band, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, to honour his legacy, and play some of his greatest hits. 

With laugh out loud celebrity pranks, nail biting studio games, audience surprises and a Christmas stocking full of other treats, Big Night In is one of the biggest Christmas presents in the RTÉ One schedule for Irish families. Dermot Whelan and Doireann Garrihy press the launch button on one hour of serious family entertainment! 

The 2 Johnnies present RTÉ’s New Year’s Eve Countdown Show live from Dublin Castle with guests from the world of sport and entertainment. Picture This will ring in the New Year in front of a crowd of 5,000 people.  

And comedian Oliver Callan rounds off the year with some much-needed laughs in Callan Kicks the Year 2021. The Co-Teeshes and Mary Lou review stories from Zapponyism to the stuck Suez ship, Dublin Bay South, heaves, Olympics, Kin, the US insurrection and cuckoos. With Joe Biden, Boris, Home of the Year and Francis Brennan. 

Ireland’s Fittest Family culminates in the most epic final yet, on The Mountain in Kilruddery. All four families are eager for the ultimate title, but only one family can be crowned winner! This December Ireland’s Fittest Family will also show two specials. On 29 December, Grainne Gallanagh, The Happy Pear’s Flynn twins, and comedians Neil Delamere and Sinead Quinlan complete for title of Ireland’s Fittest Family in our celebrity special, with the winner walking away with 10,000 euro for their chosen charity. And, in 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 and the families that made them over the past nine series.  

MOVIES Nothing says Christmas quite like movies, and this season, RTÉ has you covered for both top premieres and much-loved classics.  

There’s fun for all the family with lots of kids’ premieres including Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (Christmas Day, RTÉ One 6pm); Abominable (Christmas Day RTÉ 2, 11am); and The Secrets Life of Pets 2 (Christmas Day, RTÉ One 12:35pm), while for older movie buffs, we’ve got Bohemian Rhapsody (Christmas Day, RTÉ One 10:10pm); Rocketman (Stephen’s Day, RTÉ One, 9:35pm ), critically acclaimed Irish film Dating Amber (21st December RTÉ 2 9:35pm) ; and the heart-warming Stan and Ollie (31st December RTÉ 2, 10pm).  

Meanwhile, prepare to get cosy with a hot chocolate for some top nostalgia with viewer favourites across the season including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, The Greatest Showman, Die Hard, Braveheart, Back to the Future trilogy, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Indiana Jones series, Home Alone 2 Lost in New York, Casablanca, Singin in the Rain, The Big Sleep, and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang. 

DOCUMENTARIES Sporting victory, toy shop delights, and trips down memory lane – RTÉ’s arts, factual and sports documentaries come with a high feelgood factor this Christmas  

Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year sees award-winning filmmaker Ross Whitaker (Katie, Shane Lowry – Open) tells the remarkable tale of Rachael Blackmore’s rise to the pinnacle of horse racing and her historic year. Supported by a stellar cast of horse racing luminaries – AP McCoy, Katie Walsh, Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh, Henry De Bromhead and Davy Russell – and her family and closest friends, Rachael tells her story in depth for the first time. 

Featuring 16 independent toy shops across the country, a sweet and heart-warming documentary from the maker of The Irish Wedding and The Irish Pub, The Toy Shop sits down with the people and places that spark the imagination of their youngest customers and the memories of their eldest. 

With exclusive access to Daniel O’Donnell, his family and friends and an archive trip down memory lane, a family album of pictures and some behind the scenes bloopers from La De Dah, Daniel at Sixty promises to be an entertaining and honest insight into the life of a local hero at 60. 

The Flourishing is an hour-long arts documentary takes us on an intriguing 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. The Flourishing will feature the work and voices of this most important generation – among them Paul Brady, Mary Black, Finbar Furey, Paddy Glackin and Andy Irvine. 

Steps of Freedom: The Story of Irish Dance is a sweeping, cinematic two-part documentary series telling the story of how Irish Dance evolved from a peasant dance to become a global phenomenon.  

Camera Tripod and Bicycle is the story of Lesley Crowe, a Dubliner and fireman. Travelling by bicycle with his 8mm camera and tripod he filmed his native city through decades of great change from the 50’s to the 70’s. 

How Ireland Rocked the 70s looks at the evolution of the festival circuit in Ireland during the 1970s, a decade in which rock music – national and international – began to take real root here. Featuring rare archive footage and stills, the documentary includes exclusive interviews with Eric Bell [Thin Lizzy], Barry Devlin [Horslips], Christy Moore, Moya Brennan, Donal Lunny and Donal Gallagher [brother and manager of the late Rory Gallagher] 

And casting a warm nostalgic eye over the tropes of an Irish Christmas, asking how much has changed and how much has soothingly stayed the same, RTÉ’s popular series The Way We Were has a seasonal special.  

DRAMA Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a dramatic showdown in Carrigstown or a Boxing Day bust up on Albert Square. Plus, stream all the best home-grown drama with RTÉ Players box sets 

This Christmas in Carrigstown, Lucy’s unconventional relationship with Dolores and Tyler comes to a head as the Gardaí close in on cracking the case of Ritchie Lennon’s murder. With all that Carol, Sash and Tommy know, will they escape unscathed? Can Dearbhla and Cian make it through Christmas together as a couple or has there been too much damage done to their relationship? Don’t miss Fair City this Christmas as some relationships unravel and others entangle…  

Meanwhile expect lots of drama over on Albert Square as EastEnders’ bumper Christmas episode airs on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 9.30pm  

Take advantage of the time off and get stuck into the best of binge-worthy box sets on RTÉ Player. Cosy up with Cillian Murphy and season 1-4 of Peaky Blinders. Enjoy classic comedy with every single episode available of Father Ted, Frasier and Community. The noughties revival is here with every episode of Skins, The O.C., Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. And why not re-watch 2021’s must- see TV, with heart-stopping dramas Kin, Hidden Assets and Line of Duty. Laugh out loud with Sinéad Quinlan new series, Seriously, Sinéad? or stall it to Darren & Joe’s Free Gaff. 

SPORT An incredible year of Irish sporting achievement will be marked across the Christmas season on RTÉ  

The PWC All-Star Awards on Friday 10 December honours the best players of 2021 in Hurling and Football. Saturday 18 December sees the presentation live on RTÉ One of the 2021 RTÉ Sport Awards. As always there’s plenty of live sport over the festive season including the traditional four days of Christmas Racing from Leopardstown, the European Cross County Championships from Dublin, the Leinster Club Football Championship semi-finals and Munster v Leinster in URC Rugby. And 50 years of the GAA All-Stars is celebrated in a new documentary. 

YOUNG PEOPLE The Late Late Toy Show may be over, but we’ve got plenty more treats up our sleeves for our younger viewers…  

Home School Hub: A Christmas Cracker! Home School Hub is back… but this time there is no school and nothing to learn! Seamus the Dog has found himself alone for Christmas after forgetting to post his invitations for a festive dinner. But with the help of the Irish Army, Marty Morrissey, Dermot Bannon, Mairéad Ronan, intergalactic popstar Nova Jones and a host of surprising guests, will Seamus pull off a Christmas cracker and get our Muinteoirí back together? If there is one programme that will put a smile on your face this Christmas Day, it’s this! 

Adam Saves Christmas – Festive short animation starring Adam King and featuring Ryan Tubridy as the voice of Santa will premiere on Christmas Eve on RTÉjr 

A Kids Country Christmas featuring kids from around Ireland singing Country music classics in a festive extravaganza! 

There’s also two very special Christmas episodes of Ace My Space and the Junk Kouture grand final. Also a look back at the year with the news2day Review of the Year. 

COOKERY, AND CRAIC FROM CORK 

As Christmas quickly approaches, the Today Show team are having festive fun in the RTÉ Cork studios with three brand new Christmas Specials at 6.30pm on RTÉ One. Presenters Maura Derrane, Daithi O’Se and Emer O’Neill chat with guests including singer Lyra, comedian Jon Kenny, along with Brendan Courtney and Celia Holman Lee, while chefs Rachel Allen, Paul Flynn and Kevin Dundon cater for all your Christmas needs in the kitchen.  

We’ve also got your Christmas cookery covered this year with specials from our most popular presenters.  How to Cook Well at Christmas with Rory O’Connell returns with Rory preparing delicious dishes in this two-part seasonal special; Neven Maguire showcases the very best of Kylemore Abbey and Connemara produce for the festive season; Donal Skehan embraces traditional favourites this year, with lots of tips for your kitchen including meal prepping and timings to ensure that Christmas is all wrapped up; and Catherine will show us how to make the best cocktails, prepare unforgettable meals and introduce us to some Irish artisan producers on this year’s ‘Catherine Celebrates Christmas’. During this very special Christmas show, Catherine Fulvio will meet some of Ireland’s finest artisan producers that are currently supplying us with unique and wonderful tasty choices including Powerscourt Estate Distillery and Nut Farmer, Cathal Regan. 

NEWS

As we bring down the curtain on 2021 RTÉ reporters and correspondents will look back on the big events of the year in a series of in-depth reports on RTE.ie and on the RTÉ News App and a look back at the year with the news2day Review of the Year.  

Presenters Mícheál Ó Scannáil and Reem El-Hassany will look back at 2021. On news2day this year the series ‘Frontline Families’, saw children tell viewers about their parents who were frontline key workers while the programme also heard from children around the world about life where they live in Taiwan, Germany, the UK, Spain and Belgium as they took part in the ‘Pandemic Postcard’ series. When schools reopened, news2day was back in the classroom too, meeting children and reporting on everything from climate change to art, science to nature. 

Religious highlights* 

Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas. For 27 years, Mary Kennedy presented the annual Carols show on RTÉ One, featuring a rich variety of Irish musical talent, performing in beautiful settings all around the country. Here, she re-visits some of her favourites from those 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 Dáithí Ó Sé hosts this sumptuous, festive show in St Patrick’s Cathedral, newly restored in time for its 800thanniversary. Performers and guests include Andrea Corr, Tolü Makay, Declan O’Rourke, Lisa O’Neill, Ultan O’Brien, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Alice Leahy, Dean William Morton, operatic star Sinead Campbell Wallace, David Brophy’s Frontline Choir, the Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 

*Further details on all religious services in Notes to Editor  

RADIO  

Highlights* on RTÉ Radio this Christmas include: 

On RTÉ Radio 1, from the 13th of December to Friday the 17th – The Ray D’Arcy Show will be sprinkling some Christmas magic by saying “thank you” to those listeners are most grateful and Ray’s Charity Calendars of the Year Awards will return on Wednesday the 22nd of December. Join Liveline’s Joe Duffy for his annual Christmas Eve extravaganza. Broadcasting live (9am to 11am) from the RTÉ Radio Centre in Dublin, Joe will be joined once again by his festive wingman Brendan O’Carroll and a host of special guests. Listeners will also enjoy live performances from Chris de Burgh, Erica Cody, The High Kings, Ryan Sheridan, June Rodgers, and Susan McFadden; join Derek Mooney, the children of Ireland and the big man himself to open the biggest box of Christmas Cheer we’ve got. A selection of Donncha O’ Dulaing’s radio work from the RTÉ Sound Archives from 1964 to 2015. Selected and introduced by John Bowman will broadcast in a 5-part series from Monday 27th – 31st.  RTÉ Radio 1 will accompany all busy kitchens and homes across the morning as Miriam O’Callaghan reflects on the time of year from Michael Harding and Gina Menzies and some seasonal readings (10am); listeners can enjoy Creedon’s Christmas as they roast their turkey on Christmas Day (11am -1pm), with John also ringing in the New Year; and, Callan Kicks the Year on 31 December at 1.30pm. 

On RTÉ 2FM this Christmas Eve at 7pm, enjoy an hour long special with Jenny Greene and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra live. Wake up on Christmas Day with Beta Da Silva from 7am on the 2FM Christmas Breakfast Show. Celebrity friends of RTÉ 2FM will take-over the playlist with some of their favourite songs from 1pm-2pm. Comedian Michael Fry will take-over on the 26th December and it’s Tolü Makay and Feli Speaks on the 27 December. Also from 27 December at 7pm, Dan Hegarty, Tara Kumar, Stephen Byrne, Tracy Clifford and Mo K will present Legacies a four-part series featuring the artists, music and movements that kick-started modern music in Ireland, at which RTÉ2FM has been at the heart. Jennifer Zamparelli and Cormac Battle join musical forces to bring you two hours of contrasting music playlists in Not On The Effing Playlist from 8pm on 27 December; and, end the year with JJ Hartigan who will ring in the New Year and will dip into the NYF Countdown Concert with headline act Picture This. 

Stars shine brightly on RTÉ lyric fm this Christmas starting on Christmas Eve morning as Rod Stewart brings festive greetings of glitter and gold to Marty Whelan, along with Neven Maguire and soprano Claudia Boyle. On Christmas Eve at 7.00pm, The Lyric Concert with Paul Herriott introduces Guy Barker, with the RTÉ CO, conducting his arrangements of a mixture of seasonal jazz classics. Then on Christmas Day from 1.00pm the RTÉ CO are back with conductor David Hayes and vocalists Juliette CrosbieClare Ivory and Carl Stallwood to join Aedín Gormley on Movies and Musicals for classics from musicals old and new. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Handel’s glorious oratorio the Messiah and we can enjoy it in the company of Paul Herriott performed by RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Schola of St Patrick’s Cathedral Girls’ Choir, The St Patrick’s Consort of Voices and soloists all conducted by David Leigh in a recording from St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin at 7pm on Christmas Day. RTÉ lyric fm is live from the National Concert Hall with Liz Nolan this New Year’s Eve for a glorious night of entertainment with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and musical theatre stars Fra Fee, Susan McFadden and Muirgen O’Mahony for wonderful performances of musical hits, all under Book of Mormon conductor Colm O’Regan. 

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Christmas schedule offers listeners a great variety of programmes for the festive season, including, on Christmas Day, the radio premiere of An Cosán Draíochta will be broadcast at 3 pm, a suite of music composed by Johnny Óg Connolly, honouring the memory of his father, the legendary melodeon player Johnny Phádraic Phíotair. 

And RTÉ Gold will have you on your feet and Rocking around the Christmas Tree this yuletide. With listener favourites Rick O’Shea, Will Leahy, Aidan Leonard and more playing hits from Ireland’s biggest jukebox. On January 4th, RTÉ Gold’s “First” Top 100 Countdown of 2022, a Bank holiday filled with the greatest songs – guaranteed. 

*See notes to editor for full radio highlights 

—ENDS— 

DATE: Wednesday 1 December 2021 

IMAGES FOR DOWNLOAD: https://we.tl/t-INDyDuJMEk

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Anne-Louise Foley, RTÉ Communications, foleya@rte.ie, or Sandra Byrne, RTÉ Communications, sandra.byrne@rte.ie or RTÉ Communications, maureen.catterson@rte.ie  

NOTES TO EDITOR  

Mrs Brown’s Boys 2021 Christmas – two specials: 

Mammy’s Mechanical Merriment It’s Christmas in Finglas once again. Agnes has been recruited to the church choir, but she’s under strict instructions from Father McBride that there’s to be no singing and certainly no dancing. That’s not the only thing off-limits, a Christmas tree shortage means Buster has to get even more creative than usual trying to impress Agnes by any means necessary. Meanwhile Dermot and Buster have organised this year’s festivities at Foleys and are holding a Murder Mystery night in aid of alcoholic greyhounds. What could possibly go wrong?  

Mammy’s Micky This New Year is all about reconciliation and fresh starts in the Brown household but not everyone seems to have got the message. Grandad’s brother, Micky, is fresh out of prison when he decides to stop by for a visit. Everyone except Grandad is suspicious when he shows up asking for five thousand euro to invest in a South African gold mine. Winnie, inspired by Cathy’s book, is on a daredevil mission to change the trajectory of her life while Mrs Brown’s boys are forced to have a heart to heart. 

Big Night In is one of the biggest Christmas presents in the RTÉ One schedule for Irish families. Dermot Whelan and Doireann Garrihy press the launch button on one hour of serious family entertainment! With laugh out loud celebrity pranks, nail biting studio games, audience surprises and a Christmas stocking full of other treats, this is one show where the whole family will want to book their place on the couch.. 

Rachael Blackmore: A Grand Year. Award-winning filmmaker Ross Whitaker (Katie, Shane Lowry – Open) tells the remarkable tale of Rachael Blackmore’s rise to the pinnacle of horse racing and her historic year. Developed with the support of the HRI and produced by Fifty-Three Six, RTÉ are delighted to bring this incredible story to life. Supported by a stellar cast of horse racing luminaries – AP McCoy, Katie Walsh, Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh, Henry De Bromhead and Davy Russell – and her family and closest friends, Rachael tells her story in depth for the first time. 

Ireland’s Fittest Family – Celebrity Special On December 29th, in the name of charity, we are going to find out how 4 celebs, and their families, react in the pressure of competition. We have a lady who danced her way into our hearts, model and former Dancing with the Stars star, Grainne Gallanagh. Known for food and healthy living The Happy Pear’s Flynn twins and family are also ready for the challenge.  Sinead Quinlan is a comedian, actor and tv presenter, and she’s roped in her family.  Finally, funny man Neil Delemere has brought his family along and is anxious for the win. With the guidance of our 4 very competitive coaches these 4 celebrities and their families will see if they have what it takes to compete. All will be hoping to do enough to stay in the game and bag that 10,000 euro for their chosen charity and be crowned Fittest Celebrity Family.  

Ireland’s Fittest Family – 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 and the families that made them over the past 9 series. Families who won, lost, or just gave it their all are back to tell us how it felt, and what being part of the competition meant to their family.  

The Heart Of Saturday Night Artists and presenters Loah and Una Healy return to the iconic Round Room of the Mansion in the Heart of Dublin to reprise a very special Christmas edition of The Heart of Saturday Night. This once-off Christmas Special is a follow up to the tremendously popular The Heart of Saturday Night series which aired on RTE television to great acclaim, earlier this year in 2021. This show will enable music to work its magic by presenting entertainment at its most enticing. The show will include performances and conversations with a number of Ireland’s finest artists including: Mary Black, Nathan Carter, Aoife Ní Bhriain and her father the master uileann piper Mick O’Brien. The Heart of Saturday Night at Christmas will introduce audiences to great new Irish voices: Shiv and Ryan McMullen. The Crash Ensemble will be along for the ride, and the whole thing will be presented by Loah and Una Healy with performances from both. Una Healy and Loah visit the Fleetwood Mac songbook singing a magnificent version of ‘Dreams’, Mary Black sings Joni Mitchell’s ‘Urge For Going’ and Una Healy joins Nathan Carter to perform ‘In Case You Didn’t Know’. 

Daniel at Sixty A landmark arts documentary exploring the life and career of softly spoken superstar crooner and undisputed National treasure, Daniel O’Donnell will be shown on RTÉ One and BBC One NI this December to mark his 60th birthday. Daniel at Sixty is a fascinating and revealing insight into the man himself with exclusive access to Daniel during his recent UK and US tour, and contributions from friends, colleagues and fans who have played an important role in his private and professional life over the years. There are also revealing interviews with his family, as wife Majella, sister Margo (and Daniel’s eldest brother John Bosco O’Donnell in a TV first) talk about their relationships with Daniel over the years. Daniel’s best friend since school PJ Sweeney, his friend and mentor Philomena Begley, Dungloe postman Owen Doyle and the two Donegal boys who produced his viral ‘Down at the Lah De Dah’ video also pay tribute to the man alongside some famous faces wishing him a Happy Birthday including Sir Cliff Richard, Garth Brooks and Nathan Carter. 

The Toy Shop: Featuring sixteen independent toy shops across the country, The Toy Shop sits down with the people and places that spark the imagination of their youngest customers and the memories of their eldest. These business-owners discuss the power of toys and the role they play in making imaginings of our wildest dreams come true – from becoming a pilot, teacher, artist to opening a toy shop. This is a documentary about the fundamental and underestimated role of toys in our lives in serving as vessels for dreams, happiness and love for sellers and customers alike.   

The Flourishing: This hour-long arts documentary begins in the 1950s, a landmark era for the revival of Irish traditional and folk music and takes us on an intriguing journey to the present day when it’s hard to believe the future of this musical genre was ever in doubt. Performances, archive and expert contributions are weaved together with personal accounts from the key players as we track the transformation of a wavering musical genre into one which is performed and celebrated around the world. The Flourishing will feature the work and voices of this most important generation – among them Paul Brady, Mary Black, Finbar Furey, Paddy Glackin, Andy Irvine, Tríona Ní Domhnaill, Mary O’Hara and Mary Bergin – as we discover how they re-energised the tradition and created new soundscapes that changed the course of Irish folk music.   

Camera Tripod and Bicycle the story of Lesley Crowe, a Dubliner and fireman. Travelling by bicycle with his 8mm camera and tripod he filmed his native city through decades of great change from the 50’s to the 70’s. This new RTÉ documentary, directed by Nuala O’Connor (Keepers of the Flame), explores Leslie’s collection of beautifully composed drama and documentary films.  Shot between the late 1950s and the late 1970s the films document the everyday life of a city undergoing radical modernisation: the demolition of the old city and the development of semi-rural villages into the suburbs of Coolock, Raheny and Santry. 

 
Bowie – Starman with the RTE Concert Orchestra Very few artists in the history of popular music have left such an indelible mark on the genre as David Bowie – endlessly creative; always offering something new and different – his influence on music and popular culture is monumental. In a unique new show: ‘Bowie – Starman, with the RTE Concert Orchestra’ – a remarkable line up of Irish and international stars, including Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainright III, Sharon Corr, Imelda May, Joe Elliot, Christy Dignam and many more, join with Bowie’s own band, and the RTE Concert Orchestra, to honour his legacy, and play some of his greatest hits. 

How Ireland Rocked the 70s In 1970, Richmond Park in Inchicore, Dublin, hosted Ireland’s first ever outdoor rock music festival. An audience of 1,500 paid to see a one-night bill headlined by Mungo Jerry and also featuring a handful of emerging Irish ‘beat groups’, a nascent Thin Lizzy among them. Run by a group of enthusiastic amateurs, the event was a commercial disaster. But by the end of the decade, following examples set in the U.S. and in Britain, a handful of other rock music festivals had taken place across Ireland, most notably at Dalymount Park in Dublin, Macroom, County Cork, Lisdoonvarna in County Clare, Leixlip, County Kildare and Carnsore Point in County Wexford. This documentary looks at the evolution of the festival circuit in Ireland during the 1970s, a decade in which rock music – national and international – began to take real root here. Against a back-drop of political instability, the greater penetration of popular culture into Ireland saw, by the end of the 1970s, the development of an nascent national scene and the emergence of a golden generation of local bands primed for export. Featuring rare archive footage and stills, the documentary includes exclusive interviews with festival favourites, rockers and rebels, moonlight dancers and chancers, key figures who created, documented and promoted the 70s sounds of Ireland. Among those who recall those seminal days are Eric Bell [Thin Lizzy], Barry Devlin [Horslips], Christy Moore, Moya Brennan, Donal Lunny. Donal Gallagher [brother and manager of the late Rory Gallagher], Mike Hanrahan [Stockton’s Wing], Pat Egan and Fachtna Ó Ceallaigh, manager of The Boomtown Rats. 

TODAY SHOW CHRISTMAS SPECIALS at 6.30pm on RTÉ One in leadup to Christmas week 

Monday Dec 20 – Presenters – Maura Derrane and Dáithí Ó’Se 

Maura Derrane and Dáithí Ó’ Sé are joined by chef Rachel Allen as she showcases a vegetarian meal suitable for a scrumptious Christmas dinner. Brendan Courtney and Celia Holman Lee are the studio guests. 

Tuesday Dec 21 – Presenters – Maura Derrane and Dáithí Ó’Se 

Singer Lyra and comedian Jon Kenny are Maura and Dáithí’s guests today. Chef Kevin Dundon serves up a three course meal including a Christmas Ham with a Fig and Orange Marmalade Glaze. 

Wednesday Dec 22 – Emer O’ Neill and Dáithí Ó’Se 

Chef Paul Flynn is in the kitchen today. Emer and Dáithí will also be joined by Joanna Donnelly and Nuala Carey. It’s Nuala’s birthday today so there are extra celebrations in studio to kick of the Christmas season in style. Paul’s main course is a Crown of Turkey with a Sherry Chesnut Cream and a Sage, Onion and Cranberry Stuffing. 

Neven Maguire’s two part Christmas special Neven Maguire’s tradition of taking his much-loved Christmas Specials to different parts of the country –  Kilkenny, Waterford, Cavan – continues this year as he showcases the very best of Kylemore Abbey and Connemara produce for the festive season. Kylemore Abbey is renowned for its traditional home cooked food, and the traditional Benedictine welcome, making it the perfect location for this year’s two part special. Neven’s Christmas at Kylemore Abbey is produced by David Hare of InproductionTV for RTÉ and is sponsored by BORD BIA 

How to Cook Well at Christmas with Rory O’Connell returns with Rory preparing delicious dishes in this two part seasonal special. In programme one, A Christmas Brunch, the popular chef includes Bastible Bread with various flavours, Glazed Belly of Streaky Bacon and Frozen Berries with White Chocolate Sauce. Programme two, A Christmas Picnic, sees Rory preparing Potato and Leek Soup, Christmas Turkey and Mushroom Pie, and a Chest of Christmas Sandwiches. 

Catherine Celebrates Christmas Catherine Fulvio will show us how to make the best cocktails, prepare unforgettable meals and introduce us to some Irish artisan producers on this year’s ‘Catherine Celebrates Christmas’ on RTÉ in December. During this very special Christmas show, Catherine Fulvio will meet some of Ireland’s finest artisan producers that are currently supplying us with unique and wonderful tasty choices including Powerscourt Estate Distillery and Nut Farmer, Cathal Regan. Catherine heads to Garristown, Co Dublin, to meet hazelnut and walnut farmer Cathal Regan at the Regan Nut Farm, where Cathal not only has cobnut, walnut and heartnut orchards but also runs workshops on cobnuts (cultivars of the common hazelnut) and walnuts, chestnut, heartnut, monkey puzzle and edible oak all of which have potential in Ireland.  

Traditional Family Christmas- Donal’s Family Christmas. Each year, Donal sits down to plan his family Christmas menu and tries to do something different and challenging. That was until Christmas just gone, where he chose to stick to his fail safe family favourites, recipes that he knew everyone loved. It resulted in the most delicious and memorable Christmas dinner ever! With this in mind, Donal is focusing on embracing those traditional favourites. From Christmas morning breakfasts to grab mid present opening to Donal’s ultimate turkey with all the trimmings recipe. Closing the show with a show stopping Chocolate Tiramisu trifle that’s bound to make it to your festive feasting table. This episode will be full of tips for your kitchen including meal prepping and timings to ensure that Christmas is all wrapped up! 

ADAM SAVES CHRISTMAS RTÉjr and Kavaleer Productions team up with Adam King for magical Christmas special Adam Saves Christmas. Festive short animation to feature Ryan Tubridy as the voice of Santa and will premiere on Christmas Eve on RTÉjr. The animation will also feature Paul Tylak as Bubby, Nina Wadia as Shelby,  Bonnie O’Meara (star of Maddie + Triggs on RTÉjr Radio) as Speedy, Portia McLoughlin as Zuzu, and Seána Kerslake as Frizzle. 

A Kids’ Country Christmas Christmas Special featuring kids from around Ireland singing Country music classics. Everybody loves kids, everybody loves Country Music and everybody loves Christmas and in A Kids’ Country Christmas, RTÉ bring it all together into a Festive Extravaganza. Filmed throughout Ireland, this programme features Irish kids who are already making their mark on the country music scene as they sing a variety of country music classics. Includes Tyrone’s Caillin Joe, Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Wains and yodeller Rachel O’Donnell from Cashel, Tipperary.  Not to be missed. 

Ace My Space Christmas Special Episode In these two very special Christmas episodes, Sean and MC are visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, who give our presenters some very important missions in Ballymun and Wexford. Equipped with lights, garlands and a whole lot of tinsel, Sean, MC and the Ace Team help two very lucky groups to transform two dull rooms into amazing spaces, just in time for Santa’s sleigh. Join Sean and MC as they take on their biggest challenge yet – will all their Christmasses come at once or will they get a frosty reception? 

The Junk Kouture Grand Final 2021. The Junk Kouture Grand Final 2021 will see 40 finalists from post-primary schools battle it out for the Junk Kouture crown as they model haute-couture designs made entirely from recycled materials for judges Roz Purcell, Michelle Visage, Louis Walsh, and Stephen McLaughlin. Hosted by 2FM presenters Laura Fox and Emma Power with backstage presenting from Órla Morris Toolen and Sean Treacy. A night of creativity, performance and talent. A celebration of young people. 

news2day Review of the Year. Presenters Mícheál Ó Scannáil and Reem El-Hassany will look back at 2021. On news2day this year the series ‘Frontline Families’, saw children tell viewers about their parents who were frontline key workers while the programme also heard from children around the world about life where they live in Taiwan, Germany, the UK, Spain and Belgium as they took part in the ‘Pandemic Postcard’ series. When schools reopened, news2day was back in the classroom too, meeting children and reporting on everything from climate change to art, science to nature. 

RTÉ Player A whole lot of drama – Criminally Good Box Sets  

Addictive box sets with a whole lot of drama. Get into star-studded dramas, Peaky BlindersThe Secret and Mrs Wilson all new to RTÉ player.  

Peaky Blinders – Streaming 19th December 2021. A notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, England, is led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost. Starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory.  

The Secret – Streaming 1st January 2022.  The true-crime story of a respectable dentist and pillar of the community, who became a killer in partnership with a Sunday school teacher. Starring James Nesbitt, Genevieve O’Reilly and Glen Wallace  

Mrs Wilson – Streaming Now. After the sudden death of ex-Secret Intelligence Service man Alexander, his wife Alison investigates when mysteries from her husband’s past come knocking. Starring Ruth Wilson, Iain Glen and Fiona Shaw.  

00’s Favourites  

The noughties are back. Reminisce and relive all the 00’s drama (& the fashion) in Skins, The O.C. Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.  

Skins – Coming Soon. Iconic noughties comedy drama, which follows the messy lives, loves, delirious highs and inevitable lows of a group of raucous teenage friends in England. Starring Kaya Scodelario, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Dempsie, Hannah Murray and Dev Patel.  

The OC – Streaming Now. The lives of a group of friends and families are forever altered by the arrival of an outsider to their affluent oceanside community of Newport Beach in Orange County, California.  

Classic Comedy Sure to cheer up the coldest of winter nights, cosy up with favourite comedy like Father Ted and Frasier and Community.  

Father Ted – Streaming 1st January 2022 Classic sitcom about three dysfunctional priests and their long-suffering housekeeper. Starring Dermot Morgan, Ardal O’Hanlon and Pauline McGlynn.  

Community – Streaming Now When fast-talking lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) finds his degree has been revoked, he is forced to go back to school at Greendale Community College.  

Frasier – Streaming Now. Classic comedy about a successful radio host and sophisticated man-about-town, Dr Frasier Crane.  

Must-see TV. Re-watch the shows you loved this year.  Missed the shows everyone was talking about in 2021? We’ve got box sets of heart-stopping drama like Kin, Hidden Assets and Line of Duty.  

Hidden Assets – Streaming Now.  Hidden Assets is about family, power and the corrosive effects of boundless greed – a story set in Co Clare, small town Ireland and the world’s diamond capital, Antwerp. Starring Angeline Ball, Peter Coonan, Simone Kirby and Thaddeus O’Sullivan  

Kin – Streaming Now.  Kin tells the story of a fictional Dublin family embroiled in gangland war and speaks to the enduring unbreakable bonds of blood and family. Starring Aidan Gillen, Charlie Cox, Emmett J Scanlan, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Clare Dunne.  

Line of Duty – Streaming Now, A drama about the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit. Starring Adrian Dunbar, Martin Compston and Vicky McClure.  

RTÉ Player Original:  

Darren & Joe’s Free Gaff – Streaming Now. Viral sensations Darren Conway and Joseph McGucken take us on a surreal but hilarious trip through the minds of two lads living in a Dublin gaff. With guests Jen Hatton, Killian Sundermann Justine Stafford, and Tony Cantwell. 

Seriously Sinead? – Streaming Now. Sinéad’s dreams of becoming a stand up comedian are still alive and well after 18 months of a global pandemic, but in order for her to make it to the big time, she decides she needs to head to the big schmoke and leave her beloved hometown of Cork. See how Sinéad fares when she faces the challenges of moving to Dublin, finding a place to live, and most importantly, finding out which one of her new housemates is stealing her cereal… 

Radio  

RTÉ Radio 1 

Wake Up on Christmas Eve with Shay Byrne on Rising Time. Join Liveline’s Joe Duffy for his annual Christmas Eve extravaganza and Ronan Collins will take you through the afternoon. Join Derek Mooney, the children of Ireland and the big man himself to open the biggest box of Christmas Cheer we’ve got. Children’s Letters, music, mince pies, magic bubbles and the Santa Hotline flashing redder than Rudolph’s Nose! At 4pm, listen into The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.  Drive home for Christmas with Cathal Murray for a feast of festive tunes, requests and dedications from listeners at home and abroad, traffic and travel news and updates on the most important journey of all – we’ll be tracking Santa’s progress as he sets out from the North Pole!  RTÉ Arena’s Christmas special Jess Fahy on How the Victorians Created Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life-75 years of Christmas Uplift with Chris Wasser. Ruth Smith and John Creedon presided over a wonderful eclectic mix of folk music from around the country in The Best Of The Folk Awards. Join Oisin Leech for ‘Caravan Radio’ where he goes on a musical trail and maps his passion for music across all the genres.   

On Christmas morning, wake up early with Lilian Smith and she will keep you company with the best festive music as you open your presents and get the Turkey ready. Michael Comyn offers a festive mix of warmth, music, inspiration, and humour in the company of a variety of socially distanced guests on Christmas morning from 8 am. Christmas Miscellany brings listeners part two of their Christmas special Live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. RTÉ Radio 1 will accompany all busy kitchens and homes right across the day as Miriam O’Callaghan reflects on the time of year from Michael Harding and Gina Menzies and some seasonal readings and Christmas tunes until John Creedon rocks around the Christmas tree with his own unique blend of music and tunes. Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell offer a Christmas message and blessing at the end of a year. Will Hanafin is back this festive season with very special guests. Jacqui Hurley is joined for some festive fun by some of the women who made 2021 a sporting year to remember. Michael Cahill is joined by some well-known names, who pick their favourite Christmas Songs of all time. Ronan Collins will also be keeping listeners company with all the Christmas Classics. Ray Cuddihy’s festive special crackles along the dusty grooves of old and new recordings and Kieran Hanrahan is bringing you this special interview in tribute to Paddy Moloney on Céilí House. In the Beo ar Éigean Christmas special, Siún, Sinéad and Áine are talking about the Christmas traditions they hold dear and the ones they don’t hold quite so dearly. End the day with Brian Lally on Christmas Country Time and Fiachna O Braonain will provide you with the best reason to cosy up and enjoy a festive selection of seasonal favourites to wind down the day with a Christmas Late Date. 

St. Stephens’ Day gives us all time to reflect as Joe Duffy presents Legacies. In this special one-hour Mooney Goes Wild documentary, we delve into the history of Dürer’s Rhinoceros. For music fans, RTÉ Radio 1 presents ‘Sting At 70’ to celebrate we bring you some live recordings of his classic hits at the Paléo Festival in Switzerland. At 1pm, Ray D’Arcy will present A Page In My Life. Later in the afternoon, we take up the reigns for St. Stephen’s Day Sport.  Ruth Smith invites you in to celebrate the day of the wren, with songs and stories celebrating St Stephens Dayon Simply Folk

RTÉ 2FM 

On RTÉ 2FM this Christmas EveBlathnaid Treacy will be driving you home with the brand new Christmas No 1! At 7pm enjoy an hour long special with Jenny Greene and the RTE Concert Orchestra Live. DJ Wax and Dan Hegarty will continue the Christmas Countdown throughout the evening along with special guests.   

 
Wake up on Christmas Day with Beta Da Silva from 7am on the 2FM Christmas Breakfast Show. Aifric O’Connell chats to listeners about their Christmas surprises. Doireann, Donncha and Carl continue the RTÉ 2FM Christmas cheer from 12 while Lottie Ryan brings you the best entertainment stories of 2021 along with the best music. Lottie will carry listeners through the afternoon on Christmas Day until 4pm.   

Celebrity friends of RTÉ 2FM will take-over the playlist with some of their favourite songs from 1pm-2pm. Comedian Michael Fry will take-over on the 26thof December and it’s Tolü Makay and FeliSpeaks on the 27thof December.   

From the 27thof December Dan Hegarty, Tara Kumar, Stephen Byrne, Tracy Clifford and Mo K will present ‘Legacies’a four-part series featuring the artists, music and movements that kick-started modern music in Ireland, running each night from 7pm until December 30th. The Irish music scene has never been so vibrant across multiple genres, RTÉ 2FM has been at the heart of it for decades. In this four part limited series, we take a look at the many bands, moments, memories and successes that have shaped the Irish radio landscape. With exclusive performances from Rising stars Bobbi Arlo & Celaviedemai and a time capsule performance by Daithi at Body & Soul stage 2018.   

On December 28th, Jennifer Zamparelli and Cormac Battle join musical forces to bring you two hours of contrasting music playlists in Not On The Effing Playlist from 8pm.   

End the year with JJ Hartigan who will ring in the New Year on RTÉ 2FM and will dip into the NYF Countdown Concert with headline act Picture This.   

Kick off 2022 with The Breakdown presented by Hugh Fowler- A brand new series journeying through 30 years if Irish electronic dance music, where producers reveal the story behind their biggest tracks.   

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Christmas schedule offers listeners a great variety of programmes for the festive season.  On Christmas day, the radio premiere of An Cosán Draíochta will be broadcast at 3 pm, a suite of music composed by Johnny Óg Connolly, honouring the memory of his father, the legendary melodeon player Johnny Phádraic Phíotair.  It was commissioned by Stiúideo Cuan, a brand new arts venue in An Spidéal, and the programme is a live recording of the new composition, first performed in November.   Kerry presenter Helen Ní Shé will bring us two special programmes over Christmas.  Mo Ghrása thall na Déise is focused on the sean-nós singing tradition of the Déise area of Waterford, and features father and son Séamus and Seán Mac Craith talking of the songs and their meaning, and Ó Chorca Dhuibhne go Cill Bhríde tells the story of  the Kerry families relocated to Arklow, Co. Wicklow, in the fifties, what brought them there, and where are they now.  In Colmcille: Cosantóir na mBan, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin reflects on the significance of Saint Colmcille, a missionary, poet, scribe and diplomat, who was born 1500 years ago this year, and became known as the protector of women.   Ó Chonamara go Crimea tells the story of a young man from Conamara, Pádraig Ó Gionnáin, who was born just before the Famine, and enlisted in the Connaught Rangers and went to fight in the Crimean War in 1854 and 1855.  Gifted Monaghan footballer Ógie Ó Dufaigh was tragically killed in a car accident hours after captaining Monaghan U20 side to victory in the Ulster semi-final in July. In the programme Ógie on January 4th, Ógie’s father Brendan speaks to Michelle Nic Grianna about his son, and the heartbreak of his death.  This is just a selection of the Christmas schedule on RTÉ RnaG, the full schedule can be found at rte.ie/rnag.   

Stars shine brightly on RTÉ lyric  fm this Christmas starting on Christmas Eve morning as Rod Stewart brings festive greetings of glitter and gold to Marty Whelan, along with Neven Maguire and soprano Claudia Boyle. The RTÉ Concert Orchestra celebrate with us on RTÉ Lyric FM throughout the Christmas season. On Christmas Eve at 7.00pm, The lyric Concert with Paul Herriott introduces Guy Barker, with the RTÉ CO, conducting his arrangements of a mixture of seasonal jazz classics and soulful treasures that are guaranteed to put a swing in your step. Then on Christmas Day from 1.00pm the RTÉ CO are back with conductor David Hayes and vocalists Juliette CrosbieClare Ivory and Carl Stallwood to join Aedín Gormley on Movies and Musicals for classics from musicals old and new including Mary Poppins Returns, Hercules, West Side Story, Little Women, Carousel, Babes in Arms , Newsies and many more. You can then unwind after the day’s festivities with Marty Whelan and Celine Byrne for Seasons Greetings as the pair choose their favourite carols and songs including Celine’s recording of O Holy Night. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Handel’s glorious oratorio the Messiah and we can enjoy it in the company of Paul Herriott performed by RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Schola of St Patrick’s Cathedral Girls’ Choir, The St Patrick’s Consort of Voices and soloists all conducted by David Leigh in a recording from St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin at 7.00pm on Christmas Day. On St. Stephen’s Day we remember Irish musician Paddy Moloney in a special My Tunes programme from the RTÉ lyric fm archive where Paddy talks about his own favourite pieces of music. Then for opera lovers there’s a two part tribute to one of operas superstars Giuseppe Di Stefano from Monday at 6.00pm: All Genius and Rebellion – A Tribute to the Legendary Tenor Giuseppe Di  Stefano. 

You can expect a sackful of seasonal delights from all around the world right across RTÉ lyric over Christmas including Carla Bley’s reworking of favourite carols and snowy Norwegian landscapes from Heidi Skjerve  and Olafur Arnald’s evocative film scores on Vespertine and with Ellen Cranitch. On The Full Score with Liz Nolan, we’ll hear Stella natalis – a work by Karl Jenkinsfor choir and orchestra, celebrating  different aspects of Christmastide – winter, the sleeping child, tidings of peace, thanksgiving and conveys the Christmas message of peace, goodwill, compassion and a new beginning. Other highlights from around the globe include the second setting of The Universal Mass sung by award winning singer Emma Langford in a setting for string quartet composed and arranged by guitarist and composer Paul de Grae.  

Let RTÉ lyric bring you the thrill of hope as the weary world rejoices as yonder breaks a new and glorious morn this Christmastime….. 

Religious Content on RTÉ,  Advent & Christmas 2021 

RTÉ continues to broadcast Mass daily, every weekday, at 1030am, on the RTÉ News Channel, as a special measure in support of the vulnerable and elderly during the COVID pandemic. These Masses, from parishes and communities all across Ireland, are shared with RTÉ by Churchservices.tv There are also additional Masses and Services on the News Channel every Sunday at 1415. 

Every weekday morning, at 0615 on RTÉ Radio 1,A Word in Edgeways offers short, scripted reflections from a variety of contributors, of all faiths and none. 
 

Friday 3rdDecember 
The Leap of Faith continues with an eclectic mix of features, interviews and discussions, presented by Michael Comyn, reflecting the diverse religious climate and culture of Ireland and the wider world. This week, three committed Muslims, Shaykh Dr Umar al-Qadri, Prof. Mona Siddiqui and Tawseef Khan explore perceptions and realities of Islam. How has a faith which purports to be rooted in peace and human fraternity come to be so widely perceived as a religion of violence, intolerance, misogyny and oppression? Is that a sign of ignorant prejudice or do believers themselves need to reclaim or reform Islam? (Fridays at 22.00-22.30 on RTÉ Radio 1). 

Sunday 5thDecember 
Mass. Fr Paschal Scallon, CM, celebratesMass on the Second Sunday of Advent with staff and supporters of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), during their annual Christmas campaign in support of people on the margins. (11.00-11.45, RTÉ One & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252

Wednesday, 8thDecember 
Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Fr Robert McCabe celebrates Mass in St Mary’s Parish, Navan, Co. Meath.(1030-1100, RTÉ News Channel & 1900-1930, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra / LW252) 

Sunday 12thDecember 
Service. The Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath & Kildare, the Most Rev. Pat Storey, leads a Service of the Word on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. Music is led by students from Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham, and the Rev. Philip McKinley. (11.10-11.55, RTÉ One; 11.00-11.45, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252

Wednesday 15thDecember 
Dear Gay. Another chance to see this exploration and celebration of the unique relationship that evolved between the late Gay Byrne and his viewers and listeners, captured in the letters they wrote him, which are preserved in the RTÉ documentary archives. (22.25-23.25, RTÉ One) 

Sunday 19thDecember 
Mass. Fr Bill O’Shaughnessy celebrates Mass on the Fourth Sunday of Advent with members of the Tallaght community. Music is led by Arabella Voices. (11.00-11.45, RTÉ One & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252

Monday 20thDecember 
 

Have Yourself a Mary Little Christmas. For 27 years, Mary Kennedy presented the annual Carols show on RTÉ One, featuring a rich variety of Irish musical talent, performing in beautiful settings all around the country. Here, she re-visits some of her favourites from those 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.(2230-2330, RTÉ One. TBC) 

 
Thursday 23rdDecember 

 
The Universal Mass with the African Gospel Choir  

A new sung Mass composed by J.J. O’Shea, who has invited various groups to perform it and give their own interpretation, drawing on their tradition, idiom and culture. RTÉ lyric fm has commissioned four different interpretations which are funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s music performance fund which was made available during 2020 at a time when venues were closed and performance opportunities for musicians and ensembles were extremely limited. The first two will be premiered on Niall Carroll’s Classical Daytime this Christmas with the remaining two receiving their first broadcast during Easter 2022.  We begin with the African Gospel Choirwho are a 15 strong group of singers originally from Nigeria and now based in Ireland and led by Tomilola Allen-Taylor. The parts of the Mass (The Alleluia, Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Gloria Patri) have been translated into the Yoruba language. The African Gospel Choir aims to showcase and help develop the talents of young African singers in Ireland. (1100am, RTÉ lyric fm) 

Christmas Eve – Friday 24th December 
 
The Universal Mass with Emma Langford   

A new sung Mass, composed by J.J. O’Shea, who has invited various groups to perform it and give their own interpretation drawing on their tradition, idiom and culture. RTÉ lyric fm has commissioned four different interpretations which are funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s music performance fund, which was made available during 2020 at a time when venues were closed and performance opportunities for musicians and ensembles were extremely limited. The first two will be premiered on Niall Carroll’s Classical Daytime this Christmas with the remaining two receiving their first broadcast during Easter 2022. The second setting of The Universal Mass is an accompanied Mass sung by award-winning singer Emma Langfordin a setting for string quartet composed and arranged by guitarist and composer Paul de Grae.  (1100am, RTÉ lyric fm) 

The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. The traditional Christmas Service from the national cathedral is led by the Dean, the Very Rev. William Morton, and features nine readings from the Old and New Testament, interspersed with a mixture of traditional and new carols, performed by the Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral, conducted by Master of Music, Stuart Nicholson. (1600-1715, RTÉ Radio 1) 

Christmas in St Patrick’sDáithí Ó Sé hosts this sumptuous, festive show in St Patrick’s Cathedral, newly restored in time for its 800thanniversary. Performers and guests include Andrea Corr, Tolü Makay, Declan O’Rourke, Lisa O’Neill, Ultan O’Brien, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Alice Leahy, Dean William Morton, operatic star Sinead Campbell Wallace, David Brophy’s Frontline Choir, the Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. (Time TBC, RTÉ One) 

Midnight Mass. The Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev. Eamon Martin, celebrates Mass to ring in Christmas in the Church of St James, Grange, Cooley Peninsula, Co. Louth. Music is led by Grange Parish Ensemble, directed by Kim Lynch, with soloists Zoe Conway and John McIntyre. The Parish Priest, Fr Malachy Conlon concelebrates. (2300-0000, RTÉ One & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252) 

The Cork Nativity (Rpt). The people of Cork bring the Gospel story of the Nativity to life in a variety of settings across the Rebel County in this charming, multi award-winning short film.(Time and Date TBC, RTÉ One) 
 
Christmas Day – Saturday 25th December 
 
Christmas in St Patrick’s (Rpt). Another chance to see Dáithí Ó Sé’s star-studded, festive show, which first airs on Christmas Eve. (Time TBC, RTÉ One)   

A Christmas Leap of Faith.Michael Comyn offers a festive mix of warmth, music, inspiration and humour in the company of a variety of guests. (0800-0900, RTÉ Radio 1) 

Mass on Christmas Day. Fr Thomas McCarthy, O.P., offers commentary and translation for this special Eurovision Mass fromla Chapelle du Christ-Souverain-Prêtre (the Chapel of Christ, the Sovereign Priest), La Clarté-Dieu, in Orsay, Northern France. (1000-1100, RTÉ One & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252) 

Réalta Órga Ríogacha. Déanann an tAthair Brian Ó Fearraigh machnamh ar an mbliain a chuaigh thart, agus ar shéasúr na Nollag, le iomainn atmaisféaracha agus ceol chun ár mbiotáille a threisiú maidin Nollag seo. (Fr Brian Ó Fearraigh reflects on the year that has passed and on the Christmas season, with atmospheric hymns and music to buoy our spirits, this Christmas morning.) (10.30-1130, Raidio na Gaeltachta.) 

Service on Christmas Day. The Rev. Michael Anderson leads members of Arklow Presbyterian Church, Co. Wicklow, in Christmas worship, in the RTÉ studios in Donnybrook.(1100-1145, RTÉ One, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252) 

Aifreann Lá Nollagó Séipéal Naomh Ainnín, An Cnoc, Indreabhán, Gaillimh. An tAthair Clement Mac Mánuis is é an sagart. (1130-1215, Raidio na Gaeltachta) 
 

Urbi et Orbi. 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 O.P..(11.45-12.10, RTÉ One) 

The Archbishops’ Christmas Message. The Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland Primates of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell, offer a Christmas message and blessing at the end of a year which has seen Ireland’s Church Leaders coming together in Christian solidarity, to mark the centenary of Partition and to offer hope in a time of heightened anxiety. (12.10-12.20 (TBC), RTÉ One & 1305-1315, RTÉ Radio 1) 

Sunday 26thDecember – St Stephen’s Day 

Service. On the feast day of the first Christian martyr, St Stephen, the Rev. Laurence Graham of the Methodist World Mission Partnership and David Turner of Church in Chains lead a Service in the RTÉ studios in Donnybrook, in prayerful solidarity with persecuted Christians worldwide.(11.10-11.55, RTÉ One; 11.00-11.45, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252) 

Aifreann do Lá Fhéile Stiofáin Ó Séipéal Naomh Ainnín, An Cnoc, Indreabhán, Gaillimh. An tAthair Clement Mac Mánuis is é an sagart. (1130-1215, Raidio na Gaeltachta) 

Sunday 2ndJanuary 

Service. The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev. Dr Sahr Yambasu, leads the annual Covenant Service, in which Methodists re-affirm their Christian commitment to social justice. (11.10-11.55, RTÉ One & 11.00-11.45, RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252