ONE OF THE true joys of Christmas is that you need no excuse to sit on the couch and enjoy countless films and series. It’s a time for catching up with classics, as well as enjoying brand new shows.

This Christmas, TG4 and Seinnteoir TG4 (TG4.ie) have a brilliant line-up of shows.

Here are some of the highlights:

Gene Kelly – Réalt an Rince 

• Christmas Day: 10.05pm on TG4 

Gene Kelly was a Hollywood icon. An actor, dancer, singer, and director, he starred in some of the most enduring musicals of all time, from An American in Paris to Singin’ in the Rain. But did you know he was the grandson of Irish immigrants, and extremely proud of his Irish heritage?

Gene Kelly - Réalt an Rince on TG4

This documentary, directed by Brian Reddin, takes in the whole of Kelly’s story. It shows what made him the star he was, as well as revealing how he holidayed in Ireland frequently and was fascinated by Irish dance, culture and history. 

Scannán Cine4: Fidil Ghorm

• Christmas Day, 8.30pm on TG4 and TG4.ie (Available Worldwide)

Scannán Cine4: Fidil Ghorm Martin Maguire Martin Maguire

Enjoy the TV premiere of this gorgeous Irish language film, which stars Edith Lawlor, Ruadhán Ó Flatharta, Barry Mc Govern, Siobhán O’Kelly and Aindrias De Staic. Directed by Anne McCabe, it tells the story of a 10-year-old girl called Molly who believes that if she learns to play the fiddle that she can wake her dad from a coma. Though she hears a doctor tell her mom that it would probably take a miracle to wake her dad, her mom tells Molly that a miracle is a kind of magic. There is also a grumpy old man in the rehab home who had once been a champion fiddler – so can he help Molly?

Bruce Willis in Die Hard TG4 TG4

TG4’s festive film line-up is diverse, spanning acclaimed Irish cinema and global favourites. Highlights include Die Hard, Walk the Line, Bridget Jones’s Diary, My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, Pitch Perfect 2, and Calendar Girls alongside family classics such as The Karate Kid, Matilda, and Mrs Doubtfire’.

An Cailín Ciúin

The Cine4 favourites An Cailín Ciúin agus Róise & Frank will also be on TG4 over this festive season. Check out TG4.ie for schedule information.

George Best i gCorcaigh

• St Stephen’s Day: 8.15pm on TG4 and TG4.ie (Available Worldwide)

George Best i gCorcaigh Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

This documentary tells the extraordinary story of George Best and his time with Cork Celtic. It features exclusive interviews and rare archive footage of Best in action with Cork. He was the one of the greatest footballers in the world. An icon revered for his skill on the pitch and his extravagant lifestyle off the pitch. He played with Manchester United as one of their star players for 11 years and when he left, the world wondered what was next for George Best. As it turned out, the next thing for him was a stint in Cork. 

Cartlann Christy Moore 

• New Year’s Eve: 10.10pm on TG4 and TG4.ie (available worldwide)

Cartlann Christy Moore: Liam O'Connor and Paula Meehan look at Christy Moore's archives.

After turning 80, Christy Moore has donated his entire personal collection to the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) in Dublin. This collection contains a vast store of rare manuscripts, recordings, letters, setlists and unseen lyrics that opens a window into a creative spirit and social conscience that has shaped generations.

Gradam Ceoil TG4 @ Expo 25: Dhá Oileán Ceolmhara 

• 21 December, 9.30pm on TG4 and TG4.ie (Available Worldwide)

Gradam Ceoil TG4 @ Expo 25: Dhá Oileán Ceolmhara: Cathy Jordan and Misako TG4 TG4

Gradam Ceoil TG4 @ Expo 25: Dhá Oileán Ceolmhara is a documentary uncovering for the first time, the deep cultural relationship between Ireland and Japan through the prism of a shared passion and reverence for Irish traditional music and arts.

The 2025 recipients of the Gradam Ceoil TG4 awards, the foremost Irish Language event celebrating Irish Traditional music, who represent the ‘best of the best’ of traditional Irish musicians in the country travelled to Japan to take part in a major gala concert, curated and led by Ulster composer, Neil Martin, held in a 2,000 seater performance space in the Irish Pavilion at Osaka Expo 25. Musicians and singers, such as fiddler Siobhán Peoples, singer Cathy Jordan, group Flook, composer Johnny Óg Connolly, young musician and piper Colm Broderick, lifetime achievement and fiddler, Matt Cranitch, and community awardee and former broadcaster Áine Hensey, joined pianist Rod McVey, and sean-nós dancer Becky Ní Éallaithe.

This incomparable assembly of Irish artists were joined by the finest of Japanese folk artists; Singer Misako Koja, accompanist Kazuya Sahara, dancer Taka Hayashi, flautist Kozo Toyota, Taiko drummers Hiro & Luke Hayashida, piper Atsushi Yamane and snare drummer Kyoko Yamane.

Take it easy this Christmas season by taking time to relax and enjoy new films, thought-provoking documentaries and family friendly classics on TG4 and TG4.ie. Sí an Nollaig í!