Colm O'Callaghan

Colm works in RTÉ Television and writes regularly for The Blackpool Sentinel.

Colm O'Callaghan works in RTÉ Television and writes regularly for The Blackpool Sentinel.

Brian's back - what's so funny about peace, love & understanding?

On April 10, 1999, I was in the producer's chair in Studio 4 in RTÉ while we aired a special episode of a live Saturday night chat show called Kenny Live, hosted by Pat Kenny.

Music • 24 Sep

Christy Dignam on the RTÉ show 'Megamix' in 1986

Christy Dignam - the new film celebrating an Irish rock legend

Colm O'Callaghan introduces Cloch Le Carn: Christy Dignam, a new RTÉ documentary portrait of the legendary Aslan singer, who died in June this year aged 63.

Documentaries • 26 Dec 23

Cathal Coughlan (left) and Sean O'Hagan (right) of Microdisney

Cathal Coughlan remembered - the last word on a musical maverick

In Memoriam • 24 May 22

Meat Loaf onstage at Feile 1990 (Pic: Getty)

Meat Loaf and Ireland - to hell and back with a rock icon

Music • 26 Jan 22

Dolores O'Riordan - remembering The Cranberries' early days

During the first series of the RTÉ music show, No Disco, the presenter, Donal Dineen and myself travelled west to Limerick on a couple of occasions to pick up long interviews that we'd use to populate what was, in essence, a niche video clip show.

Music • 15 Jan 22

The Game - how we made RTÉ's epic GAA series

Colm O'Callaghan, Head of Specialist Factual Programmes at RTÉ, writes about the inspiration behind RTÉ's epic new series The Game, celebrating the sport of hurling, which begins on RTÉ One this Monday at 9.35pm.

Sport • 13 Aug 18

The triumph of Feile 1990 - the original Trip To Tipp

Almost 60,000 spectators fetched up at Semple Stadium in Thurles on September 2nd, 1984, for that year's All-Ireland hurling final between Cork and Offaly. It was the first time since 1909 that the decider had been played outside of Croke Park in Dublin.

Music • 26 May 18

U2 pictured on the roof of the Cork Country Club Hotel, cira 1980. Picture: David Corio

U2's Arcadian Dream - how one Cork music venue made music history

A new RTÉ One documentary looks back at U2's early years in the late '70's, when the emerging Dublin band connected with a loyal audience at the thriving Downtown Kampus gigs, run by students in U.C.C. at the fabled Arcadia Ballroom in Cork.

Music • 23 Jan 18

Cathal Coughlan and Sean O'Hagan of Microdisney (Image courtesy of Ciarán Ó Tuama)

Microdisney and the village of Cork

Ahead of their forthcoming reunion gig at Dublin's National Concert Hall, Colm O'Callaghan looks back at the career of Corkonian cult heroes Microdisney.

Music • 23 Jan 18

Vincent 'Fab Vinny' Hanley, pictured on the cover of the RTÉ Guide in 1986

Fab Vinny - the life and fabulous times of Vincent Hanley

Colm O'Callaghan remembers the late, great RTÉ DJ (and VJ) Vincent Hanley, host of pioneering music television show MT USA and the subject of a new RTÉ One documentary.

Television • 16 Oct 17