Stellar line-up guarantees the festive spirit from Spiddal’s spiritual home of music

For over 20 years the traditional music series Geantraí has been the lynchpin of music programming on TG4 – and after a comeback to the small screen this year, a new series kicks off with Geantraí na Nollag on Christmas Day at 9.35pm.

This one-hour special gathers the cream of the country's traditional and folk music talent for a Christmas night celebration, recorded in Tigh Hughes and anchored by the new series presenter – acclaimed singer and RTÉ Folk Award nominee 2022, Pauline Scanlon.

For this very special show from this iconic pub Pauline will be joined by Johnny Óg Connolly as co-presenter to bring us on a trip down memory lane when this establishment was open to the public and had the legends of Irish music playing there.

On the night Galway native Mary Coughlan who is celebrating 40 years in the business will be accompanied by some of the finest local talent where ceol, craic and collaborations will make for perfect Christmas Night viewing.

Remembering Charlie Lennon and Johnny Connolly who both played here for many years will be friends and family of these two cultural icons.

Galvian Way who established themselves in Tigh Hughes when they were teenagers have a lot to owe to this place.

Viewers will hear from the woman herself Breda Hughes about the many amazing nights of music when the Waterboys used to be regulars and maybe the odd visit from Adam Clayton and local legends De Danann.

The series return will come as a Christmas gift to music and culture fans length and breadth of the country and the programme will be the first in the new series return which will go to air on January 12.

Pictured: Mary Coughlan with Geantraí na Nollag presenters Johnny Óg Connolly and Pauline Scanlon.