Tag Archives: RTE

VIEWERS tuning into Friday’s return of the Late Late Show to our screens were in for a big surprise when some very familiar faces were beamed to the nation. The popular Ennis Brass Band played a starring role in the opening sequence of the first show of the new season, playing its famous theme tune along with two other bands surrounded by dancers. Grainne Kearney of the Ennis Brass Band told The Champion they were sworn to secrecy about their involvement with the Late Late ahead of the broadcast, and they have been delighted with the reaction to their appearance. The filming was done in Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh GAA club with Grainne saying it was a fantastic experience for the band. Explaining how they got involved she said, “They got in touch and told us they wanted to do something to show that Ireland is up and running, that people are back doing their hobbies and enjoying themselves. I’m not …

STUNNING scenes from deep under the waters off the Clare coast, captured by a Lahinch-based film-maker, will be showcased on RTÉ next year.  As part of the national broadcaster’s new season, ‘North Atlantic’ will air early in 2023, providing what RTÉ described as “a reflective, insightful narrative … featuring blue-chip natural history scenes bringing the viewer into the actual moment of discovery of marine creatures”. The three-episode series follows Ken O’Sullivan’s highly-acclaimed, ‘Ireland’s Deep Atlantic’, which aired in 2018.  The new work, which has been in production for two-and-a-half years features scenes captured during the height of the pandemic when coastal areas were almost empty. “Our funding came through a week before the first lockdown,” Ken told The Champion. “We were listed as essential workers, but were very careful not to stick to the guidelines and to avoid going in among people in small coastal communities. I shot a lot of footage on my own in my kayak. There was …

RTÉ’S outdoor recreation series, Tracks and Trails, will focus on Lough Derg next Thursday, June 30.  The hugely popular show returns to the national broadcaster for its tenth series, with a total of four programmes that will cover every corner of the country. This season, viewers are taken along trails that showcase Ireland at its most beautiful with a chance to explore some of the many walking and Blueway trails on offer for the outdoor visitor. There is also an easy urban trail by bike from Titanic Quarter in Belfast along the River Lagan and then for something totally different to a mountain trail for a hike steeped lyrical mysticism on Slieve Gullion outside Newry,; to the winding, mystical forest and pilgrim trails of County Wicklow; to heart stopping views of the Blasket Islands and the soaring majesty of the mountains on the lakes in Killarney. In this series producers promise  something for every level of hiker or visitor. In …

THE Giant’s Playground in the Burren was one place that made a great impression on Justine Mitchell who plays Elaine in the RTE hit show Smother. The show was filmed in North Clare and on a Zoom call with the press last week she said the location had stunned her. “The Giant’s Playground in the Burren, that was incredible. It really did feel like we got there and moments before like two dinosaurs had stopped fighting each other and gone around the corner somewhere. It has this ancient feeling, and it’s really good for you soul, you go like I’m so tiny, I’m so tiny!” She said the opening shot of the second series of Smother helped evoke the feeling the Burren gave her. “We are tiny little specks on this eternal landscape, and that’s so good for your head.” James O’Donoghue who plays her on screen son Calum was also hugely impressed by the North Clare landscape. “We all …

GAA manager Davy Fitzgerald is making a second series of Davy’s Toughest Team with Animo TV for RTÉ in 2022, and applications are now open for those who want to take the challenge. In series one, Davy met a group of young men aged 18 – 22, who found themselves at the crossroads of an uncertain future. Many of the group had battled with issues such as crime, unemployment, addiction and mental health. Over the course of a number of months, Davy guided and mentored the group as they tackled their issues and trained for an intense physical challenge – climbing Carrauntoohil. The seven young men who took part in the first series have since spoken publicly about the lasting impact the programme has had on their lives. Animo TV and RTÉ are now making a second series of ‘Davy’s Toughest Team’ and are currently looking for a diverse new group of 18 – 22-year-old men to take part. Davy …

CLARE Champion mascot, Daisy, will feature in an RTÉ calendar after a photograph taken by company director, Shelly Galvin beat off stiff competition to secure inclusion in this almanac. A photograph of Daisy standing in a pumpkin patch is the October image for the ‘Today Show Animals in my Life Pet Calendar 2022’. Shelly Galvin recalled she took this photograph during a visit to Ballycross Apple Farm in Bridgetown, County Wexford, in late September. “I took a few photographs of Daisy standing on a pumpkin on the farm and sent them in to RTÉ. “I am delighted that this photograph will be included in the Today Show calendar. It is a very nice feeling because I have not been taking photographs that long. “I got an email to say I was shortlisted in the last batch, and then I got confirmation that my photograph was selected in the final 12. “Daisy has been selected for the month of October. This …

AN Ennis toyshop will feature in a brand new television show airing this week on RTÉ. Little Ones on Parnell Street, in the county town, which specialises in traditional wooden toys and children’s gifts, is among the stores to appear in The Toy Shop which airs on RTÉ One on Wednesday evening at 9.30pm and again on Christmas day on RTÉ 2 at 8.45pm. The programme has been made by Atom Films, the makers of the acclaimed Older Than Ireland, Abbeyfealegood and The Irish Wedding. Fiona Ryan, owner of Little Ones, told The Champion she was delighted to take part in the programme and to be able to share the joy that toy shops can bring into people’s lives. “I was contacted by Atom Films to take part in the programme, I don’t know how they found out about us but I think originally they were looking at doing a programme on toys in general, then they wanted to focus …

AN Ennis girl who touched the hearts of the nation with an appearance on last weekend’s Late Late Toy Show has described the experience as “amazing”. 12-year-old Isabella Sydney Mulvey was born with Lumbosacral Agenesis which necessitates her using a wheelchair as her legs were amputated at the age of seven. On the show, which has been watched by 1.8 million people all over the world, Isabella spoke with host Ryan Tubridy about her favourite sensory toys and her ‘Adventure Book’ which includes all her favourite wishes including a dream to visit the Louvre in Paris. She was then surprised by Ryan who revealed she and her family would be going on a magical trip of a lifetime to the French capital including a visit to Disneyland Paris. Speaking to The Clare Champion this week Isabella said, “Being on the show was great, it was amazing. Ryan was really lovely and nice.” She said she is “very much looking forward” …