Simon Schama: The Road to Auschwitz
RTÉ 2 Saturday, December 20, 8 pm
In the most personal and unflinching film of his career, historian Simon Schama confronts the Holocaust as not just a Nazi obsession but as a European-wide crime of complicity.
The Catholic University of America’s Christmas Concert
EWTN Sundy, December 21, 6 am
The annual Christmas concert presented by the Catholic University of America, featuring a brilliant blend of angelic voices and the wonderful sounds of the Christmas Season.
Songs of Praise
BBC One Sunday, December 21, 1.15 pm
Aled Jones presents a musical feast of traditional carols and festive favourites from the Victoria Hall, Bolton, with special guest performances by Tony Hadley and Phebe Edwards.
Carols by Candlelight from Knock Shrine
EWTN Sunday, December 21, 8 pm
Experience the sights and sounds of Christmas from the Marian Shrine in Knock, Ireland. This beautiful concert of Christmas carols, sung by candlelight, will lift your spirits and bring joy to this wonderful season.
Reclaiming the Carol
EWTN Sunday, (night) December 21, 3 am
The late Charles Dickens returns to find that A Christmas Carol, and the holiday it celebrates, has become overshadowed by glitz and commercialism in this touching story about the true meaning of Christmas.
Film: King of Kings
BBC Two Monday, December 22, 9.15 am
This biblical epic concentrates on three main elements of the New Testament story – the life of Christ, the tensions between Herod’s court and the Roman administration culminating in the execution of John the Baptist and, finally the story of Barabbas.
Father Brown
BBC One Monday, December 22, 11:35 am
The Eagle and the Daw: When an old foe tells him that she has arranged the death of her former lover, Father Brown soon finds himself blamed for the murder. Ser 5 Ep 6.
Film: Nativity!
BBC One Monday, December 22, 2.20 pm
A little white lie gets out of hand when teacher Paul brags that his movie producer ex will turn the school play into a film. Festive family fun with Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen.
G.K. Chesterton’s, “The Surprise”
EWTN Monday, December 22, 3 pm
EWTN’s original production of the G.K. Chesterton play, “The Surprise”: A fascinating story spun around a travelling playwright who creates a set of puppets to perform one of his plays.
Secrets of the Conclave
BBC Two, Monday, December 22, 9 pm and Monday, December 29, 6.10 pm and (night) 3.35 am
Featuring unseen footage and with exclusive access to the Vatican, this is the inside story of the papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, told by the cardinals who were there.
Greatest Story Ever Told
BBC Two Tuesday, December 23, 9 am
From his lowly but venerated birth through his adult years as a teacher roving the Holy Land, Jesus attracts admirers and enemies unlike any man before. Sweeping cinematic retelling of the life of Jesus Christ.
Theatre of the Word
EWTN Tuesday, December 23, 2 pm
A Morning Star Christmas: Several one-act performances on the Christmas spirit presented by the Morning Star Players and other actors from the Theatre of the Word.
Give Up Yer Aul Sins
RTÉ 1 Tuesday, December 23, 2:50 pm
The Birth of Jesus: The Christmas story of how Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn, with children’s voices from inner city Dublin.
The First Christmas
EWTN Tuesday, December 23, 3.30 pm
A colourful, animated production, narrated by Christopher Plummer, that tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus.
The Way We Were at Christmas
RTÉ One Tuesday, December 23, 4:35 pm
The programme casts a warm nostalgic eye over the themes of an Irish Christmas, asking how much has changed and how much has soothingly stayed the same. Ser 2 Ep 1.
The Cork Nativity
RTÉ One Tuesday, December 23, 5:40 pm
The people of Cork give contemporary life and voice to the 2000-year old Gospel Nativity story, in a hope-filled journey, celebrating the county’s diversity, culture, and places.
Carols from Kings 2025
BBC Two Christmas Eve 5.45 pm (and Christmas Day 8.45 am)
A celebration of Christmas from the stunning, candlelit King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, beginning in the time-honoured way as a solo chorister sings the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City.
Christmas in Kilmainham
RTÉ One Christmas Eve 6.20 pm. RTÉ Lyrics FM 9 pm
Marty Whelan presents this special celebration of Christmas, with guests including Imelda May, Garron Noone, the High Kings, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and some very special visiting choir from Palestine, the Daughters of Jerusalem.
Solemn Mass of Christmas in Rome – Midnight Mass
EWTN Christmas Eve 6.30 pm
Pope Leo XIV presides over the Christmas Midnight Mass at the breathtaking St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
The Miracle Club
RTÉ One Christmas Eve 8:45 pm
There’s just one dream for the women of Ballygar to taste freedom: to win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes.
Midnight Mass
RTÉ One Christmas Eve 11:00 pm
Midnight Mass from the Church of the Nativity, Rathfarnham, which, this year celebrates its 150th anniversary. Mass is celebrated by Fr Martin Cosgrove.
Midnight Mass
BBC One Christmas Eve 11.50 pm
A live celebration of the First Mass of the Nativity with carols, readings and the traditional blessing of the crib. Led by the Rt Rev Msgr Canon Harkness.
A Christmas Choir with Michelle McManus
BBC Two Christmas Day 8 am
Michelle McManus is joined by two wonderful choirs to celebrate the season with a sack ful of Christmas songs.
Mass for Christmas Day
RTÉ One Christmas Day 10:0 am
A live Eurovision broadcast from the Church of St Martin in Malvaglia, in the Italian-speaking Ticino canton of Switzerland. The celebrant is Bishop Alain De Raemy.
Urbi Et Orbi: Pope Leo’s Christmas Message
EWTN Christmas Day 11 am, RTÉ One 11.45 am
Pope Leo XIV delivers his Christmas Message and Blessing to the Vatican City and to the World, with commentary and translation by Lydia O’Kane.
The Archbishops’ Christmas Message
RTÉ One Christmas Day 12:10 pm
The Catholic and Church of Ireland Primates of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell, offer a seasonal message and blessing.
The Kilkenny Nativity
RTÉ One Christmas Day 12:25 pm
St Luke’s account of the Christmas story told through the voices of the people of the city and county of Kilkenny. A follow-up to the multi award-winning Cork Nativity of 2020.
Film: SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT
Channel 4 Christmas Day 12.55 pm
(1993) Whoopi Goldberg and James Coburn star in director Bill Duke’s family comedy sequel. Deloris van Cartier (Goldberg), who is now a famous actor, agrees to become an undercover music teacher in order to help the convent nuns who became her friends in the first movie.
Divine Sparks with Áine Lawlor
RTÉ Radio 1 Christmas Day 2 pm
Join Áine Lawlor for a festive feast, with beloved carols, seasonal stories, childhood wonder and memories shared. Plus, award-winning writer Seamus O’Rourke takes us on a journey back to rural Christmases long gone.
In Concert: Sing Noel! A Christmas Concert
EWTN Saturday, December 27, 9.30 pm
From Ottawa, Canada, the Thirteen Strings Candlelight Orchestra and the Seventeen Voyces choir perform Fantasia on Christmas Carols and the Christmas Oratorio; French Noels sung by the Children’s Choir from the Ecole Secondaire De la Salle.
The Priests – Don’t Give Up the Day Job
RTÉ One Sunday, December 28, 11 am
Frs Martin and Eugene O’Hagan and Fr David Delargy, and the record executives who signed them reveal the story of how ‘The Priests’ were discovered and catapulted to fame.
Songs of Praise
BBC One Sunday, December 28, 12.50 pm
In this joyful singalong, Pam Rhodes celebrates the fourth day of Christmas with hymns and carols reflecting on the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Three Wise Men.
Father Brown
RTÉ One Tuesday, December 30, 8:40 am
The Lepidopterist’s Companion: When Mrs McCarthy takes over the running of the mobile library, Father Brown discovers a shocking secret. Ser 5 Ep 9.
Film: HIDDEN FIGURES
Channel 4 Tuesday, December 30, 5.40 pm
(2016) Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe star in director Theodore Melfi’s Oscar-nominated fact-based drama about three extraordinary women, whose genius in mathematics and engineering made a significant contribution to the space race. Themes of racism and sexism. Religion portrayed positively.
Daniel O’Connell – The Emancipator
RTÉ One Wednesday, December 31, 1.10 pm
New documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Ireland’s great liberator on the 250th anniversary of his birth.
Chariots of Fire
RTÉ One Thursday, January 1, 7.35 am
Two men, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, race for the gold in the 1924 Olympics. While one runs for his faith, the other participates to leave prejudice behind.
Church and the Poor: Caribbean Christmas
EWTN Thursday (night), January 1, 12.30 am
The Missionaries of the Poor celebrate the Birth of Christ with enriching, joyous melodies and vibrant presentations with a Caribbean Spirit.
Father Brown
RTÉ One Friday, January 2, 8.35 am
The Theatre of the Invisible: When radio quiz “Up to You” comes to Kembleford, Father Brown suspects that one of the cast are responsible for their landlady’s murder. Ser 5 Ep 12.
A Man for All Seasons
BBC Two Friday, January 2, 11.35 am
Multi-award winning historical drama about Sir Thomas More’s refusal to acknowledge Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church. Starring Paul Scofield.
