Enjoy a selection of choice cultural highlights from the RTÉ TV and radio schedules this Christmas... and don't forget you can catch-up post-broadcast via RTÉ Player and RTÉ's digital platforms.
Spreading The News
The National Theatre of Ireland celebrates 120 years with a very special live event recorded in front of a live audience on the Abbey Stage. Presented in partnership with RTÉ, it will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Friday 27th December - 120 years to the day since the theatre opened in 1904.
Named after the play of the same name, written by Abbey Theatre co-founder Lady Gregory, and performed on the opening night of the theatre, Spreading The News features a company of well-known Irish artists who have performed on the Abbey stage over the years.
Performers include Barbara Bergin, Peter Coonan, Kate Gilmore, Domhnall Herdman, Patrick Martins, Seán McGinley, Bríd Ní Neachtain, Stephen Rea, Kate Stanley Brennan, Sexy Tadhg and Eileen Walsh
It includes writing by Lady Gregory, Sean O'Casey, Tom Murphy, Stacy Gregg, Brian Friel, Brandon Jacobs Jenkins, Conor McPherson, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, John Millington Synge, Enda Walsh, Anna Mullarkey, Mark O’Rowe, Barbara Bergin, Frank McGuinness, and Marina Carr.
RTÉ Radio 1, Friday 27th December @ 6pm
The County Measure Music
RTÉ Radio 1 's The County Measure created a "radio atlas of Ireland" as presenter Vincent Woods explored all 32 counties. This rich soundscape documentary captured the arts, culture, history, music and sport of every unique Irish county.
During this time, The County Measure commissioned an original piece of music from all 32 counties, with contributors ranging from the legendary Dónal Lunny (Kildare) and the sublime Soak (Derry), to emerging talent Problem Patterns (Antrim), Dopamine (Laois) & Róis (Fermanagh).
On The County Measure Music, Vincent will be playing some of the best music from the series.
RTÉ Radio 1, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day @ 11am
Paul Lynch: Prophet Song
2024 has been a good year for author Paul Lynch.
In November 2023, he won the Booker Prize for his novel Prophet Song, only the fifth Irish writer to do so in over 50 years of the award. Prophet Song re-imagines Ireland as a newly fascist state, with a secret police, and tells the story of how that impacts on the family of Eilish and Larry Stack.
For RTÉ Radio, Paul Lynch talks to Paula Shields about Prophet Song, and the other writers he looks to for inspiration – in an edited version of a live interview they did at Clifden Arts Festival in September.
RTE Radio 1, December 27th and January 5th @ 7pm
Caravan Radio
It's been a great year for singer, songwriter and Caravan Radio host Oisin Leech - his debut album Cold Sea has been topping the end of year polls both at home and overseas - it's just been announced as Cerys Matthews' Album Of The Year at BBC Radio 6!
On Christmas Day at 6pm, Oisin will take the listener on a melodic and lyrical journey as he picks out some gems for a special festive episode of his celebrated cult radio fave Caravan Radio. All aboard for the musical trail less travelled, with music to warm the heart and soul. Don’t miss this very special hour of radio...
RTE Radio 1, Christmas Day @ 6pm
Christmas In Kildare
This December, RTÉ invites audiences to join in a celebration of the season on Christmas Eve with a spectacular concert, Christmas in Kildare, hosted by soprano Celine Byrne and presenter Marty Whelan at 8:40pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ lyric fm, and RTÉ Player. Featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra alongside an extraordinary lineup of artists, set against the stunning backdrop of the historic St. Brigid's Cathedral in the heart of Kildare, this a concert not to be missed. This year's performers include May Kay, Paul Noonan of Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, and Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Also joining the celebrations are the 25-strong all-female choir Dulciana, rising stars Kingfishr, the Theodora Byrne ensemble, Grammy Award-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens and the afore mentioned world renowned soprano and another Kildare native, Celine Byrne.
Music Specials on RTÉ Radio 1 and 2FM
On RTÉ Radio 1 this December, kick-start the festive listening with Around The World at Christmas with Loah at 8pm on Christmas Eve. To get the Christmas Day festivities underway, Christmas Miscellany will air at 9am offering a magical mix of words and music recorded in early December at an annual event at the National Concert Hall with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, featuring special guests.
David O’Doherty and his dad will bring listeners on a relaxing jazz journey as they reminisce by a grand piano at 5pm on Christmas Day in David O'Doherty and his Dad do Jazz. Finishing off Christmas Day and Stephen’s Day - with interviews before worldwide fame, directly after it and on through the 90s right up to a couple from the past four years, Dave Fanning will deep-dive into the incredible career and life of one of Ireland’s most important artists, Sinéad O’Connor in Dave and Sinéad from 7pm.
As the year draws to a close, a new series, Routes, will ask the simple but profound question, 'How did I get here?’ Each episode will weave together the meandering adventures and musical biography of a special guest starting with Rick Epping, originally from Southern California who decided to settle in the quiet south Sligo townland of Carrickbanaghar. Tune in on New Year’s Eve at 12pm on RTÉ Radio 1.
Ringing in the New Year, Louise Duffy will host Damien Dempsey in a Studio 8 Session at 12pm. And on 2FM this Christmas Day catch-up on all of the biggest and best music and entertainment stories of the year with Lottie Ryan and Conor Behan.
Across the festive season 2FM will have celebrity takeovers where some well-known names in Irish entertainment will be handed control of the Christmas playlist. First up is Chubby Cat followed by Davina Devine. The legendary 2FM Christmas Quiz will air on St. Stephen's Day where presenters will be pitted against each other to see who comes out victorious and has bragging rights for the next 12 months.
A trio of choice music documentaries on RTÉ One.
Henry Mount Charles: A Lord in Slane
Henry Mount Charles - A Lord in Slane looks at Lord Henry Mount Charles, the bankrupt estate he inherited and a music festival that would change the world of Irish entertainment forever. The documentary looks at how it all came at a cost to Lord Mount Charles’ health and marriage which saw him spiral into the depths of alcoholism. Now in recovery he faces another battle with lung cancer.
RTÉ One, Friday 27th of December
Nanci Griffith – From A Distance
Nanci Griffith – From A Distance follows the story Nanci Griffith who arrived in Ireland in 1987, and within a year, the country and its people had taken her to heart, making her the biggest-selling female artist of the day. This documentary hears from Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Dolores Keane, Mary Black, and those who knew her best as they search for Nanci Griffith's life and times - from a distance.
RTÉ One, Sunday 29th of December
The Great Pretenders
The Great Pretenders explores the vibrant and increasingly popular tribute band scene in Ireland from the perspective of the musicians and their fans as they try to replicate the sound and the look of music legends. While some of these tribute bands have made music their full-time commitment, others do it for fun and for the thrill of being on stage in front of a live audience.
RTÉ One, Monday 30th of December
