Musical Highlights on RTÉ and TG4 This Christmas

Méav Ní Mhaolchatha and Teresa O’Donnell in the new documentary on Thomas Moore that will be broadcast on TG4. (Photo: TG4)

Musical Highlights on RTÉ and TG4 This Christmas

Christmas schedule includes television documentaries on music in Carna, poet Thomas Moore, and Henry Mount Charles, as well as a radio special on Sinéad O'Connor by Dave Fanning.
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There will be a range of music programmes broadcast on RTÉ and TG4 this Christmas, including documentaries on Henry Mount Charles of Slane Castle, the traditional music and song of Carna in Conamara, and Irish poet Thomas Moore. There will also be a number of concert films and Christmas radio specials. See further details below:

Christmas Eve – Christmas in Kildare, RTÉ One and Lyric FM, 8.40pm
Hosted by soprano Celine Byrne and Marty Whelan, Christmas in Kildare will feature the RTÉ Concert Orchestra with artists May Kay, Paul Noonan of Bell X1, Lisa Hannigan, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, the all-female choir Dulciana, Kingfishr, the Theodora Byrne ensemble, and Rhiannon Giddens performing Christmas carols in the historic St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare.

Christmas Day – Geantraí na Nollag, TG4, 9.35pm
Recorded in Tigh Hughes in An Spidéal, this one-hour special Geantraí na Nollag will feature performances from Mary Coughlan, Johnny Óg Connolly, Mary Bergin, Padraig Jack, Éilís Lennon, Seán Lennon, Pádraig Ó Dubhghaill, Seosamh Ó Neachtain, Fergal Scahill, Ryan Molloy, Galvian Way and Cór Chois Fharraige. Presented by singer Pauline Scanlon and accordion player Johnny Óg Connolly, the programme will celebrate the legacy of the iconic pub and pay tribute to the late Charlie Lennon and Johnny Connolly.

Christmas Day – An Bothy Band, TG4, 6.25pm
A special screening of An Bothy Band with Irish Sign Language will take place on Christmas Day. The documentary, which premiered in March, shows the original members of the band performing in a reunion concert, as well as behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage and interviews.

27 December – Henry Mount Charles – A Lord in SlaneRTÉ One
Henry Mount Charles – A Lord in Slane explores Lord Henry Mount Charles’ inheritance of the bankrupt Slane Castle estate, his creation of the iconic music location, and his personal struggles with alcoholism and a recent cancer diagnosis.

28 December – Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann, TG4, 8.25pm
Thomas Moore, Bard na hÉireann tells the story of the Irish writer and poet Thomas Moore, best known for his Irish Melodies collection. The documentary features scholars Ronan Kelly, Úna Hunt, Kevin Whelan, Sarah McCleave and Úna Ní Bhroiméil, who share their analyses of his work and the relevance it still holds today. There are also performances of some of his best-known songs, such as ‘The Minstrel Boy’ and ‘The Last Rose of Summer’, by musicians including Duke Special, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, Megan Nic Ruairí, Joshua Burnside and Arborist.

29 December – Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’sTG4, 8.30pm
Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’sproduced by the Irish Traditional Music Archive, will air on TG4 on 29 December at 8.30pm. The documentary, which was premiered in April, explores the legacy of Hughes’s pub in Dublin which was a hub for Irish traditional music until its closure in 2021.

29 December – Nanci Griffith – From A DistanceRTÉ One 
Nanci Griffith – From A Distance follows the life of the late American singer-songwriter and her connection to Ireland. It features contributions from Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Dolores Keane and Mary Black.

30 December – The Great PretendersRTÉ One
The Great Pretenders is a new documentary exploring Ireland’s tribute band scene, from the perspective of its musicians and fans.

New Year’s Eve – Fáilte 2025, TG4, 11.30pm
On New Year’s Eve, TG4 will broadcast
Fáilte 2025 to ring in the new year. Presenters Dáithí Ó Sé and fiddle player Doireann Ní Ghlacáin host traditional musicians in Belfast’s Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, including Máire Brennan, Ríoghnach Connolly, John McSherry, Piaras Ó Lorcáin and more. The programme will also feature segments from the Cobblestone in Dublin, where Fiachna Ó Braonáin will be joined by Aoife Scott, Liam O’Connor, Méabh Mulligan and Andrew Hendy; and in Tigh Chualáin in Indreabhán, Co. Galway, where Síle Seoige will host Róisín Seoige with Imlé, Conor Connolly, Sorcha Costello and Na Fíréin. 

New Year’s Day – Carna an Cheoil agus na nAmhrán, TG4, 9.20pm
Carna an Cheoil agus na nAmhránproduced by Aniar TV, explores the musical and cultural heritage of Carna in Conamara, celebrating over a century of traditions through archival sound and film recordings. The programme features interviews and performances from Bríd Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, Caoimhe and Séamus Ó Flatharta, Saileog Ní Cheannabháin, P.J. Ó hIarnáin, and Caitríona Ní Cheannabháin. The programme also explores the significance of Carna in preserving sean-nós singing, dance, and storytelling, while highlighting the contributions of younger generations continuing these traditions.

24 December to 4 January: Concert films –  The Pogues, Billie Eilish and Bruce Springsteen
TG4 will broadcast a number of concert programmes over the Christmas period, including:

  •  Tommy Fleming – Christmas Songs for a Winter’s Night (Christmas Eve);
  • Oasis – Live at Glasgow Barrowlands (22 December);
  • Elvis Costello: Live at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (23 December);
  • The Pogues in Paris (Christmas Day);
  • Bruce Springsteen: Live in Dublin (26 December);
  • Rod Stewart – It Had To Be You (27 December);
  • Rolling Stones: Ladies & Gentlemen (29 December);
  • Tommy Fleming – Live in Galway Cathedral (30 December);
  • Billie Eilish: Live at the O2 (1 January);
  • George Michael: Live in London (2 January); and 
  • Queen: A Night at the Odeon (4 January).

25 December to 1 January – Radio programmes: Dave Fanning and Sinéad O’Connor, Loah, and David and Jim O’Doherty
There will be a number of Christmas specials on RTÉ Radio 1, including: 

  • Around The World at Christmas with Loah (Christmas Eve, 8pm); 
  • Christmas Miscellany (Christmas Day, 9am, RTÉ Radio 1), featuring spoken word and music recorded at the NCH with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Joseph O’Connor, Maggie Armstrong, Paul Howard, Donal Fallon, Cáit O’Riordan, Nidhi Zak and Joe Kearney; 
  • David O’Doherty and his Dad do Jazz (Christmas Day, 5pm) – comedian David O’Doherty and his father, jazz pianist Jim O’Doherty;
  • Caravan Radio (Christmas Day, 6pm) singer-songwriter Oisín Leech presents a Christmas special of his programme Caravan Radio;
  • Dave and Sinéad (Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day, 7pm) –  Dave Fanning explores the life and work of Sinéad O’Connor, featuring interviews from throughout her career; 
  • Creedon’s Christmas (Christmas Day, 11am) – John Creedon presents a Christmas Day special of his show;
  • Routes, a new music series starting on New Year’s Eve at 12pm that maps the musical biography of a special guest in each episode, presented by Ray Cuddihy; 
  • Studio 8 Session with Damien Dempsey (New Year’s Day, 12pm), presented by  Louise Duffy.

For full details visit www.rte.ie and www.tg4.ie.

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Published on 18 December 2024

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