RTÉ RADIO’S ANNUAL Christmas Eve broadcast live from Grafton Street will not take place this year. 

The traditional broadcast, which had been taking place for 50 years, was first hosted by Gay Byrne before he passed the torch to Joe Duffy in 2000. It was cancelled for two years during the Covid-19 pandemic before returning in 2022. 

The programme is broadcast entirely live from Dublin’s main shopping thoroughfare from 9am to 11am, often attracting hundreds of people, with Duffy chatting to many of them, and features live performances, special guests and prize giveaways. 

Duffy hung up the Liveline mic for the final time in June this year, with Kieran Cuddihy taking over the role permanently in November as part of a shake-up at RTÉ Radio 1 which saw the launch of its new schedule. 

RTÉ’s Christmas schedule, which was published earlier this week, states that Oliver Callan will be hosting “a very special Callan’s Christmas Eve” programme from 9am to 11am from RTÉ’s Radio Centre this year. 

It states that Callan will be joined “by special guests, a live audience, Christmas favourites and festive performances”.

In a statement to The Journal, a spokesperson for RTÉ said the decision was made to “pause” the traditional Christmas Eve broadcast live from Grafton Street this year “for operational reasons including the launch of a new schedule”.

“In keeping with tradition of airing a Christmas Eve special on RTÉ Radio 1, listeners will be treated to a special programme presented by Oliver Callan, ‘Callan’s Christmas Eve’ live from Studio 1 in the RTÉ Radio Centre from 9am to 11am with a full live audience.

The spokesperson added: “Our plan is to return to Grafton Street next year and for many years to come.”

Before the confirmation was issued, Fine Gael TD Naoise Ó Muirí had called for RTÉ to clarify why the live broadcast would not be going ahead this year, describing the move as “deeply disappointing”.

“As a former Dublin Lord Mayor, I saw firsthand how special this show was for the thousands of festive shoppers who have made it part of their Christmas celebration,” Ó Muirí said. 

It was a cherished public service broadcasting tradition which captured the spirit of Ireland at Christmas with music, laughter and the unique atmosphere from the centre of our capital.

Following the news that RTÉ plans to return to the live broadcast next year, Ó Muirí told The Journal he was “delighted to hear” the news. 

“I look forward hearing the traditional show for years to come,” he said.