Brendan O’ReganChristmas with Collin Raye
EWTN, Saturday, December 19, 11am
Country music star Collin Raye and Andrea Thomas presents some of the most cherished songs of the Christmas season.
Christmas Big Sing
BBC 1, Sunday, December 20, 4:45pm
A feast of carols and festive music from the Royal Albert Hall as star guests Ronan Keating, Alexander Armstrong, Ruby Turner and Shaun Escoffery join hosts Sally Magnusson and David Grant.
An Nollaig Fadó
TG4, Sunday, December 20, 4:55pm
An Nollaig Fadó is a charming, nostalgic festive documentary which captures the spirit of the past through first-hand accounts of Christmas across Ireland long ago.
Tomy Fleming: Voice of Hope, A 10-year Celebration
TV3, Sunday, December 20, 10pm
In 2004 the Knock Basilica played host to a one-of-a-kind concert, The Voice of Hope. For Tommy Fleming it was a performance that transformed his career. ‘Tommy Fleming Voice of Hope’ tells the story of the concert, how it came together and almost fell apart.
What in the World
RTÉ One, Tuesday, December 22, 11.15pm
“Western Sahara – Going Home”: For 40 years now the Sahrawi people have lived in exile. Their home: five refugee camps in one of the hottest parts of the desert where summer temperatures reach over 50°C. Yet they continue to dream of the prospect of returning to their homeland in northwest Africa.
Matinee: The Secret of Kells
RTÉ 2, Wednesday, December 23, 5.05pm and TG4, Christmas Eve, 10.20am
(2009, Animation) With Evan McGuire and Brendan Gleeson. Directors: Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey. A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.
Higher Hopes
RTÉ One, Wednesday, December 23, 9:35pm
Ireland’s leading conductor and choir master, David Brophy, made headlines and harmonies last year, when he created Ireland’s first homeless choir; ‘The High Hopes Choir’. In this new follow on one-off documentary, David decides the time is right to expand the project to a new city and turns his attention to Cork setting new goals and challenges for all in the process.
Conversations the World Over with Raymond Arroyo
EWTN, Christmas Eve, 5pm
Robert Duvall: Academy Award winning actor Robert Duvall discusses his film career, and why he feels drawn to films that focus on faith, forgiveness and redemption.
Carols from Áras an Uachtaréain
RTÉ One, Christmas Eve, 6.15pm and Christmas Day, 12.45pm
Presenter Mary Kennedy meets with President and Mrs Higgins as they celebrate Christmas in the Áras. The show features legendary musicians, such as Imelda May, John Sheahan, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Mick Flannery and soprano Lucy O’Byrne.
Midnight Mass
RTÉ One, Christmas Eve, 10:50pm
Fr Michael Cusack CSsR celebrates Midnight Mass in the beautiful Redemptorist church of St Joseph, in Dundalk, Co. Louth, featuring music from the St Joseph’s Redemptorist Senior Choir, led by organist and choirmaster Trevor Clarke and featuring internationally renowned soprano, Tara Erraucht.
Gloria
RTÉ Lyric FM, Christmas Day, 8.00am
What better way to begin Christmas Day than with a feast of choral singing from across the centuries? Tim Thurston presents music for the Feast of Nativity in a special edition of Gloria.
The Christmas Leap of Faith
RTÉ Radio 1, Christmas Day, 8.00am
On Christmas morning Michael Comyn speaks to those who support the homeless and lonely on this festive day, including Alice Leahy of Trust and author John Scally who shares some heart-warming stories from those who are one step removed from the tinsel and turkey, and Mary Kennedy shares a seasonal thought with those who might be listening on their own on this Christmas morning.
On Angel Wings
BBC 1, Christmas Day, 10.00am
With Michael Gambon, Dominic Cooper and Juliet Stevenson in a magical reworking of the Nativity by Michael Morpurgo. Eight-year-old Rachel joins her brothers and sisters for the first time as they visit their grandfather as he carries out his annual ritual of a night in the hills. Grandfather is delighted to see the children and tells them how Rachel reminds him of a magical night. He explains how, as a young shepherd boy, he was flown away by the angel Gabriel to be the first visitor to the newly born Christ child.
Urbi et Orbi
RTÉ One and EWTN, Christmas Day, 11.00am
Pope Francis offers a Christmas greeting “to the city and the world” from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, in Rome. Commentary and translation is from Fr Thomas McCarthy, OP.
Mass
RTÉ One, Christmas Day, 11:30am
Fr Brendan Callanan CSsR celebrates Mass in St Joseph’s Church, Dundalk, Co. Louth, with traditional Christmas music led by St Joseph’s Redemptorist Senior Choir and soloist Fionnuala Quinn, under their organist and musical director, Trevor Clarke.
Christmas Message of the Primates from Armagh
RTÉ One, Christmas Day, 12:30pm
Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Richard Clarke, respectively Primates of the Catholic Church and Church of Ireland, present a joint Christmas message of faith, hope and love.
Gloria
RTÉ Lyric FM, Christmas Day, 6pm
After dinner, why not relax with Lyric as Tim Thurston presents a Christmas concert of selections from Bach’s Cantatas given by the prestigious Baroque Ensemble Lautten Compagney Berlin.
Film: A Man for All Seasons
BBC 2, Sunday, December 27, 8.15am
(1966) Multi-award winning historical drama about Sir Thomas More’s refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church. More suffers a crisis of conscience, questioning the sovereign’s plans for divorce, and ultimately pays for his disapproval with his life. Paul Scofield’s performance won one of the film’s six Oscars, which also included the best picture award. Starring Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw, Susannah York and John Hurt. Director: Fred Zinnemann.
Film: The Way
UTV Ireland, Sunday, December 27, 10.30pm
(2010) Drama. Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Deborah Kara Unger. A conservative American ophthalmologist travels to Europe to recover the body of his deceased son, who died while attempting to make the pilgrimage along the Santiago de Compostela. Once there, he resolves to take the journey himself. Director: Emilio Estevez
Boys Town
TG4, Monday, December 28, 1.00pm
(1938) Starring Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney and Henry Hull. Directed by Norman Taurog. Against all odds Fr Flanagan starts ‘Boys’ Town’ after hearing a convict’s story. Whitey Marsh comes there. He runs away but, hungry, returns. He runs away again but, when friend Pee Wee is hit by a car, returns. He runs away and joins his brother’s gang. Flanagan and the boys capture the crooks and the reward saves the town.