RTÉ celebrates sport with exciting line up this Christmas season
RTÉ celebrates sport with exciting line up this Christmas season
Celebrate 2024’s top Irish sporting stars with RTÉ Sport Awards live from RTÉ Studios on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
A packed live sporting schedule including Investec Champions Cup, Racing from Leopardstown and Champions League Live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1
Marty Morrissey presents the All-Ireland Quiz on RTÉ Radio 1
Documentaries paying tribute to Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, celebrating Steve Collins’ One Night in Millstreet and What Daire Did Next featuring Jürgen Klopp
This Christmas, RTÉ is serving up the best of sporting action for all fans across video, audio and online. From a wide selection of live sport which promises to have you on the edge of your seat to documentaries paying tribute to the late, great Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, reminiscing Steve Collins’ biggest fight of his career in One night in Millstreet and the heart-warming story of Daire O’Gorman meeting his hero, Jürgen Klopp. There’s something for everyone. 2024 was a big year for sport with Six Nations, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, GAA championship and the Euros to name a few. Each year, RTÉ celebrates the achievements of Irish sports men and women, and this year there is plenty to celebrate! On December 15, Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and Jacqui Hurley will be live from Studio 4 to present the RTÉ Sport Awards to honour all their achievements. Over on RTÉ Radio 1, Marty Morrisey will host the All Ireland Quiz while Jacqui Hurley will share the story of Ireland’s most memorable moments from this years Olympic Games in Paris. Let RTÉ bring some sparkle to your sport this festive season.
Live Action
Investec Champions Cup
There’s a double-header of live Investec Champions Cup action on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1 this Christmas with Munster taking on Stade Francais in Thomond Park this Saturday 7th December, KO 5.30pm while on Saturday 14 December Leinster face Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium Clare MacNamara will be alongside Fiona Coghlan Jamie Heaslip for these crucial Champions Cup games on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with Michael Corcoran on commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
URC Live
The feast of festive Rugby continues with the Interpros taking centre stage in the URC. Leinster face Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 21 December and Connacht take on Ulster on Saturday 28 December. Clare MacNamara will be joined by Bernard Jackman, Jamie Heaslip and Darren Cave as the Irish provinces go head-to-head in the traditional Christmas inter-provincial games with Michael Corcoran on radio commentary.
The RTÉ Sport Awards 2024
Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and Jacqui Hurley present the RTÉ Sport Awards 2024 on Sunday 15 December on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. After a stellar year for Irish sport, the stars gather in Studio 4 in RTÉ to celebrate the achievements of Irish sportsmen and women this year. The Awards being handed out on the night include RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year, RTÉ Sport Team of the Year, RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year and RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year. The nominees for this year’s RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year will be announced today, Thursday 5 December by Jacqui Hurley, live on news2day – RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 4.20pm.
Racing from Leopardstown
The festive tradition that is the Leopardstown Christmas Festival begins on St Stephen’s Day with four days of action live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1. Hugh Cahill, Jane Mangan, Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and Lisa O’Neill alongside reporters Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh will bring viewers all the action from one of the highlights of Christmas.
Champions League Live
The UEFA Champions League continues live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with Darragh Maloney presenting coverage of Juventus v Manchester City alongside Stephen Kelly on match day 6, Wednesday December 11.
Inspiring Stories
What Daire Did Next
Heart-warming documentary following Irish Liverpool fan Daire Gorman (12) after his meeting with Jurgen Klopp in December 2023 went viral last Christmas. In this documentary, Liverpool fan Daire Gorman, who made headlines last Christmas after a visit to Anfield, takes us into his extraordinary world during a whirlwind six months. Over the duration of the documentary Daire says goodbye to primary school, competes in an international powerchair football tournament in Paris, gets fitted with a state-of-the-art robotic arm, undergoes challenging surgery and becomes a teenager – all while coming to terms with the news that his hero Jürgen Klopp is stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season. Watch on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Sunday 29 December
Cloch le Carn, MICHEÁL
An intimate portrait about the GAA legend whose energy for life was there for all of his 93 years. Dlúth-léargas ar shaol laoich an CLG, nár chaill a mhisneach riamh le linn an 93 bliain a bhí sé ar an bhfód. How do you create a portrait of a man who for 93 years never stopped, getting the most he could out of every day. Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh was the voice of the nation, the king of commentators, who travelled the world promoting the game he loved. But he was also a family man who took his 8 kids and his loving wife Helena along for the rollercoaster ride that was his life. Watch on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on New Year’s Eve.
One Night in Millstreet
The story of Ireland in 1995, a snapshot of a country told through a high stakes prize fight in Millstreet, Cork between the then unknown underdog Steve ‘The Celtic Warrior’ Collins and the larger-than-life champion Chris ‘Simply the Best’ Eubank. Featuring interviews with Steve Collins and Chris Eubank, along with Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan, Chris Eubank’s former manager Barry Hearn, writer Paul Howard, and Tony Quinn, Steve Collin’s Mind Trainer, the film conjures a time and place when the country was undergoing enormous social and economic change.
On the Radio
Jacqui in Paris
Jacqui in Paris delves in to Jacqui Hurley’s summer diary and the story of Ireland’s memorable haul of seven medals over the course of a week at the 2024 Olympic Games. With Kellie Harrington, Rhys McClenaghan and Daniel Wiffen among those who made it a great summer for Irish sport, Jacqui in Paris takes listeners on a journey through Paris, recounting her experience of a magical summer. Listen in on RTÉ Radio 1, Friday, December 27 at 4pm.
The All-Ireland Quiz
On St Stephen’s Day at 5pm Marty Morrissey hosts an all-star panel of pundits as hurlers take on footballers in a festive GAA sporting quiz on RTÉ Radio 1.
Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will bring listeners live commentaries, news and sporting reviews over the Christmas period.
For more information contact:
Fergus McCormack, RTÉ Communications, fergus.mccormack@rte.ie.
Maureen Catterson, RTÉ Communications Manager, maureen.catterson@rte.ie
There’s a double-header of live Investec Champions Cup action on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1 this Christmas with Munster taking on Stade Francais in Thomond Park this Saturday 7th December, KO 5.30pm while on Saturday 14 December Leinster face Clermont Auvergne at the Aviva Stadium Clare MacNamara will be alongside Fiona Coghlan Jamie Heaslip for these crucial Champions Cup games on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with Michael Corcoran on commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
URC Live
The feast of festive Rugby continues with the Interpros taking centre stage in the URC. Leinster face Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 21 December and Connacht take on Ulster on Saturday 28 December. Clare MacNamara will be joined by Bernard Jackman, Jamie Heaslip and Darren Cave as the Irish provinces go head-to-head in the traditional Christmas inter-provincial games with Michael Corcoran on radio commentary.
The RTÉ Sport Awards 2024
Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and Jacqui Hurley present the RTÉ Sport Awards 2024 on Sunday 15 December on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player. After a stellar year for Irish sport, the stars gather in Studio 4 in RTÉ to celebrate the achievements of Irish sportsmen and women this year. The Awards being handed out on the night include RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year, RTÉ Sport Team of the Year, RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year and RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year. The nominees for this year’s RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year will be announced today, Thursday 5 December by Jacqui Hurley, live on news2day – RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 4.20pm.
Racing from Leopardstown
The festive tradition that is the Leopardstown Christmas Festival begins on St Stephen’s Day with four days of action live on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player and RTÉ Radio 1. Hugh Cahill, Jane Mangan, Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and Lisa O’Neill alongside reporters Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh will bring viewers all the action from one of the highlights of Christmas.
Champions League Live
The UEFA Champions League continues live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with Darragh Maloney presenting coverage of Juventus v Manchester City alongside Stephen Kelly on match day 6, Wednesday December 11.
Inspiring Stories
What Daire Did Next
Heart-warming documentary following Irish Liverpool fan Daire Gorman (12) after his meeting with Jurgen Klopp in December 2023 went viral last Christmas. In this documentary, Liverpool fan Daire Gorman, who made headlines last Christmas after a visit to Anfield, takes us into his extraordinary world during a whirlwind six months. Over the duration of the documentary Daire says goodbye to primary school, competes in an international powerchair football tournament in Paris, gets fitted with a state-of-the-art robotic arm, undergoes challenging surgery and becomes a teenager – all while coming to terms with the news that his hero Jürgen Klopp is stepping down as Liverpool manager at the end of the season. Watch on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Sunday 29 December
Cloch le Carn, MICHEÁL
An intimate portrait about the GAA legend whose energy for life was there for all of his 93 years. Dlúth-léargas ar shaol laoich an CLG, nár chaill a mhisneach riamh le linn an 93 bliain a bhí sé ar an bhfód. How do you create a portrait of a man who for 93 years never stopped, getting the most he could out of every day. Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh was the voice of the nation, the king of commentators, who travelled the world promoting the game he loved. But he was also a family man who took his 8 kids and his loving wife Helena along for the rollercoaster ride that was his life. Watch on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on New Year’s Eve.
One Night in Millstreet
The story of Ireland in 1995, a snapshot of a country told through a high stakes prize fight in Millstreet, Cork between the then unknown underdog Steve ‘The Celtic Warrior’ Collins and the larger-than-life champion Chris ‘Simply the Best’ Eubank. Featuring interviews with Steve Collins and Chris Eubank, along with Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan, Chris Eubank’s former manager Barry Hearn, writer Paul Howard, and Tony Quinn, Steve Collin’s Mind Trainer, the film conjures a time and place when the country was undergoing enormous social and economic change.
On the Radio
Jacqui in Paris
Jacqui in Paris delves in to Jacqui Hurley’s summer diary and the story of Ireland’s memorable haul of seven medals over the course of a week at the 2024 Olympic Games. With Kellie Harrington, Rhys McClenaghan and Daniel Wiffen among those who made it a great summer for Irish sport, Jacqui in Paris takes listeners on a journey through Paris, recounting her experience of a magical summer. Listen in on RTÉ Radio 1, Friday, December 27 at 4pm.
The All-Ireland Quiz
On St Stephen’s Day at 5pm Marty Morrissey hosts an all-star panel of pundits as hurlers take on footballers in a festive GAA sporting quiz on RTÉ Radio 1.
Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 will bring listeners live commentaries, news and sporting reviews over the Christmas period.
For more information contact:
Fergus McCormack, RTÉ Communications, fergus.mccormack@rte.ie.
Maureen Catterson, RTÉ Communications Manager, maureen.catterson@rte.ie