Clare FM unveils Christmas Cracker
Clare FM has unveiled details of its Christmas schedule, which includes some of the biggest shows for 2015. Over the festive period, you will hear many famous and familiar voices on the award winning Station.
From Christmas Eve beginning with a very festive Breakfast show with livewire Stephen McDermott to Morning Focus with Gavin Grace and into the evening with a special show hosted by newcomer Siofra Mulqueen which promises a special update on Santy’s movements, followed by Christmas Eve mass at 9pm to a very special Christmas Miscellany with broadcaster Pat Costello from 10pm Clare FM will be broadcasting a host of shows to appeal to all ages across the festive period. On Christmas Day, the ever popular Mike Gardiner will present his Country Corner Christmas Special. Pat Flynn who will be presenting his 26th Christmas Day show will once again take to the airwaves at 1pm, “It’s one of my favourite shows throughout the year, we get a huge amount of messages from abroad throughout the show and of course that all important link up with the brave participants in the annual Lahinch Swim it’s all part of the fun” says Pat who doesn’t mind keeping the turkey on hold. At 4 pm on Christmas day as you digest your roast turkey, Well-known local musician Cormac McGuinness brings us his own unique selection of Christmas Carols.
Clare FM’s West Wind Presenter Eoin O’Neill, was the recipient of the 2015 MÓRglór award in October last at a star studded concert in Glor. This incredible night was recorded live, and the concert will be broadcast on Christmas night from 7 pm.
One of the highlights of the broadcast year was “A Cup on The Bus”. The PPI nominated Sports story by producer Matt Purcell brought back wonderful memories of the Clare hurlers Munster Final glory in 1995 ending a 63-year wait for Munster glory. The programme will be broadcast at 1 pm on St. Stephens Day. At 6pm that evening Caoimhín Ó Sé will host a West Wind Special celebrating the Wren, Caoimhín will be joined by all-Ireland Champions, The Chapel Gate Wrenboys from Cooraclare for what promises to be one of the highlights of the festive period.
This year Clare FM have created a series of very special shows where some of Irelands most beloved musicians tell their life and times in a show called “In My Own Words”. Phil Coulter, Brian Kennedy, Luka Bloom, Séan Keane, Tommy Fleming, Charlie McGettigan and Mícháel Ó’Súilleabháin. From Monday, December 28th at 5 pm for seven consecutive nights you will hear the stories of their lives “In their Own Words”. Producer and creator of the series Head of Operations at the Station Padraic Flaherty “This is something I’ve wanted to do for some time, it’s uniquely different as I gave over complete control to the various artists. There’s no interview style questions, they present and choose the music themselves while taking the listener through the ups and downs of their careers. They loved the concept and the only issue we had at the end was how to fit everything into the allocated two hours for each of them, news spread quickly through the grapevine with each of the artists suggesting friends who they felt would be love the concept. It was a real emotional journey for many of them and we’re delighted with the overall results, it the first series of its type to be broadcast on Irish Radio” “In My Own Words” will be broadcast from Monday December 28th for seven consecutive days from 5pm to 7pm each evening.
Another highlight from the schedule will be Scattery Island: Hidden Treasure” this two part documentary narrated by local historian Rita MacCarthy and produced by Aileen O’Meara is part of the BAI Sound and Vision funding project. It’s a fascinating story of the historic island going as far back as the annals document right up to the present day. The documentary will be broadcast on December 31st and January 1st from 4pm each day.
New Years Eve at 12 pm and New Years Day at 1pm Clare FM will broadcast a two-part documentary series on the history and heritage of Scattery Island. “Scattery Island: Hidden Treasure” is narrated by local historian Rita MacCarthy. Brian Flynn will take to the airwaves with Friends on New Year’s Eve to ring in 2016.
Padraic Flaherty, Head of Operations in Clare FM, said: “This Christmas we will deliver one of the most entertaining schedules we have ever broadcast on Clare FM. From documentaries, to news and sports reviews of the year as well as music specials, we owe it to our Listeners to bring them as many unique programmes as possible and we go into planning for the Christmas schedule from August to ensure that we cover as many areas as possible. Of course we will be there throughout the festive period giving up to date information on all news,sport, weather and traffic conditions. We really hope our listeners at home and abroad enjoy the variety of shows and we would like to thank everyone for listening through 2015 and wish all a very Happy Christmas and 2016”. Full details of the Clare FM Christmas schedule can be found on www.clare.fm
