The radio worth listening to over the festive period...

CHRISTMAS EVE
Mooney  RTÉ R1, 2pm

This afternoon, before taking to the skies, Santa Claus takes to the airwaves with messages for children from all around the country.

Joe Duffy on Grafton Street RTÉ R1, 9am

Joe Duffy invites listeners along for his traditional live Christmas Eve programme from Grafton Street.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Parky’s Jazzy Christmas BBC R2, 5pm

Michael Parkinson plays two hours of his seasonal favourites.

A Christmas Gathering with Pat Kenny RTÉ R1, 11.35am

Pat Kenny hosts a festive gathering of artists and writers with seasonal musings, readings and music.

ST STEPHEN’S DAY

The Michael Littleton Lecture RTÉ R1, 7pm

This year’s lecture is delivered by Fiona Shaw. John Kelly in Washington RTÉ R1, 11am John Kelly relives encounters he had in 2000 with Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Ricky Skaggs and others.

SUNDAY

Sunday Playhouse: The King with Horse’s Ears RTÉ1, 8pm

Based on the book by Fergus Linehan and starring Rosaleen Linehan, Des Keogh, Lisa Lambe and Mark O’Regan.

Sunday Love Songs BBC R2, 9pm

Ronan Keating takes over from Steve Wright to present a specially themed selection of love songs from the past decade.

MONDAY

Conversations at the Áras RTÉ R1, 1.30pm

Joe Duffy presents a series of programmes hosted by President McAleese in which guests discuss a range of themes relevant to Irish life, beginning with Gabriel Byrne.

One Hundred Years of Names RTÉ R1, 6.05pm

Documentary looking at the top 100 Irish baby names, and the changing fashions of the past century.

TUESDAY Mooney RTÉ R1, 3pm

Derek Mooney goes walkabout to see first-hand some of the wading birds who are annual winter visitors to our shores.

Lennon’s Guitar RTÉ R1, 10pm

Garrett Keogh plays band manager Jemmie, who has been waiting for the big break for so long, that the fine line between fantasy and reality has become blurred.

WEDNESDAY
The Beatles – Here, There and Everywhere BBC R2, 5.05pm

Cameron Crowe, Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne, Mika, Tom Petty, Slash and others talk to Paul Gambaccini about the legacy of The Beatles.

NEW YEAR’S EVE
The History of the Third Millennium BBC R4, 6.30pm

Comedian Andy Zaltzman concludes his excellent series in a timely fashion by asking whether or not the world is still fit for purpose. T

The Blue of the Night RTÉ R1 and RTÉ Lyric FM, 11pm

Ellen Cranitch sees out the old decade and welcomes in 2010 with the best in jazz, classical, world, secular and sacred music.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds BBC R2, 10pm

A bit of prog-rock apocalyptica to usher in 2010 as the BBC broadcasts this multimedia extravaganza