Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 14, 2025, because you won’t want to miss this eclectic mix of stories, poetry, and music on RTÉ.ie’s Sunday Miscellany. But here’s where it gets intriguing: to dive into this rich audio experience, you’ll need to either disable your ad blocker or whitelist the site—a small step that opens up a world of creativity. And this is the part most people miss: the lineup is a treasure trove of diverse voices and genres, blending tradition with contemporary flair.
Kicking things off is Victoria White with Fanny Alexander, followed by Seán O'Gorman’s Skerries Solstice. Lisa McInerney brings a festive twist with Christmas Cheese, while Jim Maguire serves up a hearty dose of nostalgia in Pork Chops, Peas, Chips, Tea, Bread and Butter. The late Judith Mok honors tradition with Hannukah, and Denise Blake and James Harpur share poignant reflections in their poems Gratitude and The Deer of Light, respectively.
Now, let’s talk music—because this is where it gets controversial. From the timeless hymn Once in Royal David’s City by Cecil Francis Alexander, performed by Voces 8, to the hauntingly beautiful Éiridh Na Gréine by Steve Cooney, the playlist is a cultural mosaic. Cormac Kenevey and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, conducted by David Brophy, deliver a stunning rendition of A Winter’s Tale, while Wham!’s Last Christmas adds a pop of nostalgia. But here’s the bold question: does Umm Kulthum’s Alf Leila wa Leila belong in a winter lineup? And is Conor Linehan’s interpretation of John Field’s Nocturne No. 5 the perfect way to close the show? We’ll let you decide.
This episode isn’t just a collection of pieces—it’s a journey through emotions, cultures, and seasons. So, what do you think? Does this lineup hit all the right notes, or is there a piece you’d swap out? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
