Culture | Books, Music, Theatre, Film & The Arts

Glen Hansard boards the Mystery Train

Glen Hansard is a man who loves his music. Put him in a room - or on a train- with John Kelly and you'll get a music show of beautiful and surprising tunes.

Culture • 29 Aug 19

Filmmaker Emer Reynolds boards the Mystery Train

Director Emer Reynolds is an Emmy award-winning film-maker, currently working on a feature documentary about Phil Lynott, so you'd expect that she knows her music - and you'd be right.

Music • 01 Aug 19

Listen: Eileen Walsh boards The Mystery Train

Eileen Walsh joined John Kelly on Mystery Train to tell him about some of her favourite tunes, from The Clash to The Wolfe Tones.

Rté Lyric Fm • 26 Mar 19

Listen: Donal O'Kelly takes the Mystery Train

Actor, writer and director Donal O'Kelly joined John Kelly aboard the Mystery Train to talk about reprising his play Bat the Father, Rabbit the Son after 30 years and tracing his musical interests over that time...

Rté Lyric Fm • 15 Feb 19

Listen: Actor Aaron Monaghan takes the Mystery Train

Aaron Monaghan joined John Kelly on Mystery Train, bringing with him his choice musical selections and introducing John to the merits of a certain global country music star...

Music • 08 Feb 19

Listen: Bronagh Gallagher boards the Mystery Train

John Kelly was joined by Bronagh Gallagher aboard Mystery Train for a whistlestop tour of her extensive record collection...

Music • 08 Jan 19

Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney boards the Mystery Train

Actor and professional Cork person Siobhán McSweeney joined John on Mystery Train to choose the tunes. She may be best known as the formidable Sr. Michael in Derry Girls, but Siobhán also works in theatre in Ireland and London.

Music • 19 Dec 18

Listen: Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill boards the Mystery Train

John Kelly was joined by singer, musician and composer Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill for a memorable Mystery Train that spans a varied career from Skara Brae to The Bothy Band and Relativity.

Music • 12 Dec 18

Mystery Train's John Kelly (left) with Adrian Crowley

Listen: Adrian Crowley boards the Mystery Train

Singer-songwriter Adrian Crowley joined John Kelly on Mystery Train's Sunday Service for the chats and a selection of some delightfully lo-fi tunes.

Music • 06 Dec 18

Mystery Train host John Kelly and poet Paula Meehan

Poet Paula Meehan boards the Mystery Train

Charming, funny and erudite - we don't ask much from our Mystery Train passengers, but poet Paula Meehan is all these things, and she has fantastic taste in music, to boot.

RTÉ Radio 1 • 26 Nov 18

Mystery Train host John Kelly with his guest, Paul Cleary of The Blades

Listen: The Blades' Paul Cleary boards the Mystery Train

On a memorable edition of the Mystery Train's Sunday Service, John Kelly was joined by The Blades frontman Paul Cleary - a man whose passion for music is immediately evident.

Music • 21 Nov 18

Villagers' Conor O'Brien, with Mystery Train host John Kelly

Listen: Villagers' Conor O'Brien boards the Mystery Train

Conor O'Brien from Villagers knows a good tune, so we were delighted when he boarded John Kelly's Mystery Train and chose some of his favourite music for the journey.

Music • 29 Aug 19

Listen: Camille O'Sullivan takes the Mystery Train

On a very special Sunday edition of Mystery Train on RTÉ lyric fm, John Kelly was joined by chanteuse, performer and actor Camille O'Sullivan. Listen to it above...

Rté Lyric Fm • 08 Nov 18

Susanna with Mystery Train host John Kelly

Listen: Susanna takes the Mystery Train

John's guest on Mystery Train's Sunday Service was Norwegian musician Susanna, the woman behind Susanna and the Magical Orchestra.

Mystery Train • 19 Oct 18

Poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa is John Kelly's guest on this week's special Mystery Train

Listen: Doireann Ní Ghríofa boards the Mystery Train

Poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa was John Kelly's guest on this week's special Mystery Train

Poetry • 25 Sep 18

Mystery Train host John Kelly and 'Godfather of Irish Electronica' Roger Doyle

Listen: Composer Roger Doyle takes the Mystery Train

On Sunday's edition of Mystery Train on RTÉ lyric fm, John Kelly was joined on the train by Roger Doyle, also known as the Godfather of Irish Electronica, for a whistle-stop tour of music over the past 100 or so years.

Music • 17 Sep 18

Hilary Woods and Mystery Train host John Kelly.

Listen: Musician Hilary Woods takes the Mystery Train

The new season of Mystery Train's popular Sunday Service kicked off last night when John Kelly was joined by musician Hilary Woods.

Music • 12 Sep 18

Enda Walsh with Mystery Train host John Kelly

Listen: Playwright Enda Walsh boards the Mystery Train

Join John Kelly for his weekly Sunday Service, where a special guest joins him on the Mystery Train and picks the tunes.

Rté Lyric Fm • 28 May 18

The Rattler: On the road with the sweethearts of the radio

Anyone who ever presented a few late night shows on a radio station in Dublin knew Jimmy or someone like him. He was the guy who got in touch asking you about tracks, tipping you off to new music and reminding you about old favourites.

Music • 11 Oct 17

John Kelly on Mystery Train: "I'm home now. This is what I do."

It is 7pm on RTÉ's Lyric FM on Monday, September 4th, and something seems a little off on the classical music station...

Music • 13 Sep 17

John Kelly back on board the Mystery Train - classic show returns

In September 2017, eleven years since the last edition, Mystery Train emerges from the tunnel. It will broadcast on RTÉ lyric FM Monday-Thursday, 7-9 pm - with a special excursion on Sundays, also at 7pm.

Music • 05 Sep 17

Mystery Train