Ireland’s Fittest Family

Season 12

Ireland’s Fittest Family is back for its 12th season on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. Coaches Davy Fitzgerald, Anna Geary, Donncha O’Callaghan and Sonia O’Sullivan are back and looking to bring home the title this year.

Camogie star Anna Geary is back on the show and will go head-to-head with fellow Cork sporting legends Sonia and Donncha, as well as Clare hurling legend Davy. Olympian Sonia will be sprinting back into action for her second season, bringing her world-class experience and determination.

Presented by Laura Fox, the upcoming series of Ireland’s Fittest Family features brand new challenges including ‘The Drop Zone,’ and ‘Raft Rage’. 16 Families from all over Ireland will be put to the test with rugged courses and obstacle races.

Season 12, Episode 3

Donncha’s Collins family from Tipperary, Davy’s Cummins family from Kilkenny, Anna’s O’Brien family from Westmeath, and Sonia’s Hogan family from Limerick take on The Lake, all battling it out for two places in the next round of the competition at The Bog.

The families must each take on a Fittest Family classic with a twist for ‘2024 Raft Rage: The Rivals.’

The four families then take on ‘High & Dry.’

With the scores of the first two events are combined, the winning family goes through to the next round. The other two face Ireland’s Fittest Family’s Water Eliminator.

Ireland’s Fittest Family is returning to the beautiful Rathbeggan Lakes in County Meath to film this year’s Heats.

The Quarter Finals are in Hell & Back in Kilruddery, Co. Wicklow

The Semi-Finals will see the families take on the first ever Forest challenges.

This year’s Grand Final will be held in and around Dublin Port and it’s old Flour Mill, with epic events designed push the finalist families to their limits.

Ireland’s Fittest Family is sponsored by Londis.

Ireland’s Fittest Family S12 Collins Family with Donncha O’Callaghan
Ireland’s Fittest Family S12 O’Brien Family with Anna Geary
Ireland’s Fittest Family S12 Cummins Family with Davy Fitzgerald

Ireland’s Fittest Family S12 Hogan Family with Sonia O’Sullivan

No Worries If Not

2/6

No Worries If Not! returns to RTÉ 2 for its second season with Ireland’s biggest
young comedy stars, Séan Burke, Emma Doran, Michael Fry, Justine Stafford and
Killian Sundermann, back to bring more high-energy, viral sketch comedy to the
telly.

Following a first season with sketches that garnered tens of millions of views
online, the crew returns with a fresh batch of hilarious, fast-paced sketches that
are bigger, better and bolder than before.

Expect a comedy selection box packed with with TV spoofs like Winning Shriek,
Grannys’ Den, Last Dates, Bros of Tralee, while Marian Keyes answers the question
“Who (The Fuck) Do You Think You Are?” Along with ads for a very hungover baby
doll, Irish Monopoly, every bank during GAA season, and a warning about the
dangers of returning from the shops without a little surprise…

Audiences can also look forward to guest appearances from comedy talent like
Darren Conway, Joe McGucken, Vittorio Angelone, Anna Clifford, Martin Angolo and
Bernard Casey.

NO WORRIES IF NOT “GARDA” RTÉ2
NO WORRIES IF NOT
SÉAN BURKE, EMMA DORAN, MICHAEL FRY, JUSTINE STAFFORD AND
KILLIAN SUNDERMANN,
RTÉ2
NO WORRIES IF NOT SÉAN BURKE, EMMA DORAN, MICHAEL FRY, JUSTINE STAFFORD AND KILLIAN SUNDERMANN, RTÉ2

First Dates Ireland

Episode 2
Relishing each other’s spicy flavour, Megan from North Carolina and retired quantity surveyor Aidan from Dublin get good and saucy over dinner.

Siobhan from Mayo and Jade from Newry – best friends since they met at the restaurant last season, return for another double date.

The irrepressible Siobhan gets all loved up with hopeless romantic Stephen from Shankill. Meanwhile, Jade compares figures with accountant Nicole from Cork…

Driving instructor Lyle from Clondalkin applies his tried and trusted ‘3 second rule’ to cabin crew attendant Annika from Waterford. But will it win him a second date?

Ear to the Ground

Series 32, Programme 9

Sheep Dispersal

Declan Miley has spent 30 years of his life breeding pedigree Charolais Sheep.

But family pressures mean he has taken the hard decision to sell his prize-winning flock.

Ella McSweeney joins him on a very emotional day at Roscommon Mart.

Trees

When Meath man Paddy Mangan saw the ash trees on his farm begin to die as a result of the fatal tree disease, Ash Dieback, he was disheartened by the way the landscape was changing and the loss of this native tree from the hedgerow. In response, he decided to buy and give away 1,500 young trees to anyone who might want one. That was in December 2023. By December 2024, however, Paddy had given away an additional 80,000 saplings of various native Irish tree species. Darragh McCullough visited Paddy to see the trees he had planted on his own land, but also to learn how and why he plans to give away 120,000 trees every year from now on.

Nicola Tuthill

Last year, at just 20 years old, Nicola Tuthill became the youngest competitor in the women’s hammer throw event at the Paris Olympics. With that milestone now behind her, Nicola likes to help Dad Norman on the family farm in Co.Cork, whenever her busy schedule allows.

Stephen Robb recently visited this rising athletics star, who, in addition to her impressive sporting achievements, has her very own purpose-built hammer cage and throwing circle right on the farm.

Presenters Stephen Robb, Ella McSweeney and Darragh McCullough
Sheep Dispersal
Stephen Robb with Nicola Tuthill

Ear to the Ground is produced by indiepics for RTÉ.

For more information contact, Production Manager Sylvia Lynch – sylvia.l@indiepics.ie.

Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails

Popular chef Neven Maguire continues his brand new third series of Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails this week. 

This seven-part culinary adventure takes Neven from the verdant North to the sun-drenched South as he discovers more flavours, stories, and culinary traditions that make Portugal a food lover’s paradise. 

Each of the seven episodes highlights a unique region.

Neven says: Portugal is a country of endless culinary wonders. Every region has its own particular cuisine, and it’s been an absolute joy to meet the chefs, producers, and artisans who bring these flavours to life. I can’t wait for viewers to join me on this exploration of one of Europe’s most vibrant food destinations.”.

Programme two:
Neven travels to Amares, Braga, and Barcelos in the north of Portugal, where he delves into the heart of rural Portuguese cooking. He stays at the Pousada Mosteiro de Amares, originally a 12th century Cistercian monastery and now a luxurious hotel where the chef shows him a traditional, regional recipe made with game meat sausages.
In Braga, Portugal’s oldest city, Neven tries some of the famous local petiscos (tapas) at Dona Petisca, where he also learns how to make an authentic Caldo Verde soup. Still in Braga, Neven visits the contemporary Filho Da Máe restaurant which combines Portuguese and South American cuisine. Here he meets chef Julian Junqueir

 and tries a raw sea bass ‘Tiradito’ dish. On the outskirts of Braga, Neven visits the spectacular sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte, famous for its elaborate ‘Stairway of the Five Senses’.
In the city of Barcelos, Neven visits the Terra do Gallo pottery where he learns how a traditional, colourful pottery rooster is made. Barcelos roosters are famous throughout Portugal, and Neven tries his hand at painting a rooster.
Neven’s own recipe this week is an Azores Beef Casserole. 

(Episode 2) Neven Maguire visits the UNESCO world heritage site of Bom Jesus do Monte. Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails, new series, episode two, January 15th, RTÉ One
(Episode 2) Neven Maguire with chef Julian Junqueira at Filho da Mãe restaurant. (Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails, new, episode two, January 15th RTÉ ONE)
(Episode 2) Neven Maguire with potter Carla Ferreira in the Terro do Gallo Pottery. (Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails, new series, episode two, January 15th, RTÉ ONE)
(Episode 2)Neven Maguire cooks Azores Beef Casserole.(Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails, new series, episode two, January 15th, RTÉ One)
(Episode 2)Neven Maguire meets Lia Carvalho of Dona Petisca in Braga. (Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails, new, episode two, January 15th, RTÉ One)

Director Mark Boland 

                                                     Series Producer David Hare

                   Neven’s Portuguese Food Trails is produced by Inproduction TV Ltd and Scéal Creative Ltd’and                                                                                          Sponsored by Flogas

Press enquiries:

TVPR

Pauline Cronin 

087 2629967

High Road Low Road

High Road, Low Road is a fun, travel show which pairs top celebrities and sends them off to popular holiday destinations, city break favourites and far flung places for an unforgettable adventure of discovery, culture and fun!

However…both are headed to the same location, but they’ll have very different experiences.

For one holidaymaker, it’s first class travel, luxury hotels and the finest cuisine. Five-star all the way. For their companion, it’s economy travel, budget digs and local street food.

So as one is driven off in a limo to their luxurious five-star hotel, the other sets off to find the shuttle bus to their hostel. They will meet up several times on the trip to compare notes, and gloat.

But at the end it’s interesting to hear them talk and decide who has had the better time…

Episode Two

The fantastic fjords and spectacular city of Bergen, Norway are the dramatic destination for mother and daughter singers Mary Black and Roisin O. An exhilarating seaplane trip allows one to get a rare view of the beautiful and spectacular fjords, while the other has to get their boots on and hike for their own stunning views. While one gets to enjoy a luxurious pampered sauna on a boat right in the middle of the city the other gets to pedal their way down the wordless longest cycle tunnel. Then, together they get to eat reindeer hot dogs. But as always on High Road Low Road they both have an amazing time…

HIGH ROAD LOW ROAD MARY BLACK AND RÓISÍN O RTÉ ONE
HIGH ROAD LOW ROAD BERGAN, NORWAY RTÉ ONE

Michael Lynn: The Fugitive **Final**

The final episode details how a cache of discarded documents edges a reporter closer to fugitive Michael Lynn as he dashes around Europe. When the trail goes cold, Lynn resurfaces in Brazil but his crimes are catching up with him.

The Irish solicitor who duped the banks out of millions – and disappeared. He forged signatures, struck secret deals and ended up in a Brazilian prison.

Told directly by the reporter who tracked him down, his victims, and former employees, Michael Lynn: The Fugitive, is a new two part documentary series on RTÉ One which reveals the true story of an epic hunt to bring one of Ireland’s most notorious fugitives to justice.

When Michael Lynn fled Ireland in December 2007, he’d clocked up €80m in loans from high street banks, much of them fraudulently secured via multiple mortgages. And he owed another €13m to private investors who had paid out for unbuilt apartments abroad.

As the scale of the scandal grew, complaints arrived with the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigations. Michael O’Farrell, an Irish investigative reporter, was tasked by his editor with hunting Lynn down.

16 years after his crimes and following a five year stint in a Brazilian jail Lynn finally faced justice on home soil. Through never-before-heard audio tapes and testimony Michael Lynn: The Fugitive peers into one of the darker periods of the Celtic Tiger and asks ‘what happened to the money?’

Micheal Lynn: The Fugitive is directed by Trevor Birney and produced by Fine Point Films for RTÉ.

Michael Lynn snapped in Tavira Portugal for the first time. Photo by Seán Dwyer 13/02/09

Scéalta na Lochanna

A new documentary series celebrates the unique beauty, history, culture and wildlife of Ireland’s two great lakes, Lough Neagh and Lough Corrib, and reflects on the impact humans are having on their ecology.
Sraith faisnéise nua a bhfuil áilleacht, stair, cultúr agus fiadhúla an dá loch is mó in Éirinn faoi chaibidil – Loch nEathach agus Loch Coirib – agus a fhiosraíonn tionchar daonna ar a n-éiceolaíochtaí.

Episode 1- Fathaigh agus Fothracha
How Loughs Corrib and Neagh have been steeped in history, faith, folklore and religion for thousands of years – from Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Nine Years’ War to fishermen’s blessings. Tá Loch Coirib agus Loch nEathach sáite sa stair, sa chreideamh agus sa bhéaloideas leis na cianta – ó Fhionn Mac Cumhaill agus Cogadh na Naoi mBliana go beannachtaí iascairí.

Ep 1 – 13th January 2025 – 20:30

Scéalta na Lochanna –Ep 1 – Pádraig Mac an tSaoir
Scéalta na Lochanna –Ep 1 -Shores of Lough Corrib

Scéalta na Lochanna

A new documentary series celebrates the unique beauty, history, culture and wildlife of Ireland’s two great lakes, Lough Neagh and Lough Corrib, and reflects on the impact humans are having on their ecology.

Sraith faisnéise nua a bhfuil áilleacht, stair, cultúr agus fiadhúla an dá loch is mó in Éirinn faoi chaibidil – Loch nEathach agus Loch Coirib – agus a fhiosraíonn tionchar daonna ar a n-éiceolaíochtaí.

Episode 1- Fathaigh agus Fothracha

How Loughs Corrib and Neagh have been steeped in history, faith, folklore and religion for thousands of years – from Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Nine Years’ War to fishermen’s blessings.

Tá Loch Coirib agus Loch nEathach sáite sa stair, sa chreideamh agus sa bhéaloideas leis na cianta – ó Fhionn Mac Cumhaill agus Cogadh na Naoi mBliana go beannachtaí iascairí.

Scealta Na Lochanna, Episode 1, _Shores of Lough Corrib
Scealta_Na_Lochanna_Ep1_Donagh Mac Uidhir
Scealta_Na_Lochanna_Ep1-Ardboe Cross – Lough Neagh

Vótáil

Episode 2

Episode two of Vótáil doesn’t just have one general election, it has three! And all fought in just 18 months, as two of the stars of 80s politics battled for supremacy – Charlie Haughey and Garret FitzGerald. Political polar opposites, their televised debates were the first in Irish politics and as vicious as any seen since.

Series Overview

2024 was the international year of the election and, with the ink still drying on ballot papers throughout Ireland, this series takes a look back at some of the general elections that shaped Irish society in past fifty years. Vótáil features lively interviews with journalists and commentators who have lived and loved Irish politics for years. Presented by Cormac Ó hEadhra, the series is a reminder that, for many of us, politics is at its most entertaining at election time.

Cormac Ó hEadhra, presenter of Vótáil
Vótáil – Monday 13th January, 8pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player