CHRISTMAS EVE 2007

Special programming for Christmas Eve, Monday 24th December 2007, on RTÉ Radio 1.

RISIN' TIME with Carol Moran: 5.30am
The best music mix to start the day with news, weather, traffic and sport

MORNING IRELAND: 7am
With Aine Lawlor, Cathal Mac Coille
Live News, sports, weather and traffic from the country's most listened to Radio programme

JOE DUFFY ON GRAFTON STREET: 9.02am - Website
Joe invites listeners to join him for his traditional Christmas Eve programme, live from Grafton Street. Familiar faces such as Brendan O'Carroll, Brush Shields and many more will be stopping by to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and add to the festive fun!

Producers: Margaret Curley, Jane Murphy, Fergus Sweeney

TODAY WITH PAT KENNY: 10am
The mid-morning current affairs magazine with the stories of the day, sharp analysis, in-depth features and consumer interest

Producers: Kay Sheehy, Tara Campbell, Conor Kavanagh, Dónal O'Herlihy

THE RONAN COLLINS SHOW: 11am
For a break from all that news and information throughout the day, check out Ronan Collins on RTÉ Radio 1 where you'll find a feast of music and laughs. A feel-good show to help you through your day.

NEWS AT ONE: 1pm
with Sean O'Rourke

A RING OF BELLS: 1.45pm - Listen
Bells are something we hear on a daily basis, a clock, the angelus, church bells and the school bell are just some of those familiar sounds. At Christmas time, bells become something different though. They seem to be tinged with warmth and a touch of magic. This is most evident in their use in Christmas carols, films and of course on Santa's sleigh.

A Ring of Bells looks at the magic of the bell during the festive period.

Producer: Liam O'Brien

MOONEY: 2.00pmDerek is joined by Santa with messages from children all around the country.

Producer: Jim Lockhart, Brian Lally, Eileen Heron

FESTIVAL SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS FROM ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN: 4.00pm - Listen
The annual Christmas Eve Carol Service concludes with the Blessing by His Grace, The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Reverend John Neill.

Organist and Master of the Choristers: Peter Barley
Assistant organist: David Leigh
Brass fanfare directed by Nigel Bannister

DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: 5.15pm - Listen
With Christmas preparations and travel almost complete, the first lit and Santa on his way, Maxi takes us through the evening with lively music and conversation.

Producer: Peter Browne

THE DAVE FANNING SHOW CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIAL: 7.02pm
A special programme on the notorious American music producer Phil Spector,
featuring music from the popular 1963 Phil Spector Christmas Album

Producers: Jack Murphy, Siobhán Mannion, Olan McGowan

THE ARTS SHOW: 8.02pm
Festive poems and music for Christmas time feature on tonight's show.

Presenter: Vincent Woods

THE RADIO 1 MUSIC COLLECTION - THE CHRISTMAS SONG: 9.02pm
A Christmas Eve night of seasonal favourites with Hayley Westenra and guest tenor Paul Byrom with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Recorded at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Tuesday 4th December 2007.

Producer: Peter Browne

THE GREEN LIGHT - NORTHERN LIGHTS: 10.02pm
On Christmas Eve The Green Light explores the fascinating facts and fictions surrounding Winter Light. On December 24th the focus on The Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis, the phenomenon of bands or streamers of coloured light, reds, greens, blues and violets, that appear in the sky predominantly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the earth. In Finnish Lapland there can be up to 200 displays a year. They are called "revontulet", which means "fox fires" a name derived from an ancient Finnish fable of the arctic fox starting fires or spraying up snow with its brush-like tail. The true story is that the sun is the father of the auroras, when material thrown off the surface of the sun collides with the atmosphere of the Earth. Ella McSweeney explores both the science and the folklore in this special feature on The Northern Lights.

Producer: Liz Sweeney

SEASCAPES: 10.30pm
It may be Christmas time, but the sea never stops rolling onto our shores, shipping never stops, nor do the rescue services take a break. Tonight Seascapes talks to seafarers and marine rescue personnel, hears stories of shipping experiences and of tragedy at Christmas time. There will be requests from families at home for those at sea and festive music, on this Christmas Eve edition of Seascapes.

Presenter: Tom MacSweeney
Producer: Marcus Connaughton

SING CHRISTMAS: 11.03pm - Listen
Invited guests talk about Christmas customs in their own countries and choose some of their favorites traditional carols.

Presenter/producer: Ian Lee

MIDNIGHT MASS: 12 midnight
From St. Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin

Celebrant: Father Donal Neary, S.J.

Cantor: Margaret Brennan
Organist: Denise Doyle