RTE issue major announcement on huge new programme featuring Dublin music veteran and Love/Hate favourite

RTE will broadcast a huge live concert with a star-studded line-up to mark 100 years of the Irish State.

The national broadcaster has confirmed plans for Ireland 100: An Old Song Re-Sung to air across RTE TV and radio next month.

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The concert will feature a massive Irish line-up including Damien Dempsey, Kin star Aidan Gillen, Tolu Makay – who shot to fame with her reimagined version of The Saw Doctors’ N17, as well as Donal Lunny and Hothouse Flowers singer Liam O Maonlai.

RTE will present the concert in association with South Wind Blows and the Department of Culture at Dublin’s RDS on Saturday October 7.

And members of the public can now apply for limited free tickets via rte.ie/culture.  

The show will then be broadcast on RTE One and RTE Radio 1, as well as on the RTE Player on Monday October 30.

RTE chiefs said the mega concert will commemorate through song, music, dance and spoken word, the 100 years from 1923 to now “through the lens of Irish culture”.

Other artists on the bill include Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Síle Denvir with Blath na hOige as well as Iarla O Lionsird, Loah, Martin Hayes, FeliSpeaks, Diarmaid Ferriter, Sally Mulready, the London Irish Pensioners Choir and more.  

New RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst said: “We are proud to partner with South Wind Blows and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in this special event to mark 100 years of the Irish State.

“Through our involvement in the Decade of Centenaries, RTE has been part of a range of important programmes and events.

“So many of the stories which have featured on this journey have been made all the more memorable through song, dance, spoken word, film, documentary and drama, which are so central to Irish culture.

“We look forward to bringing contributions and performances from some of Ireland’s outstanding artists, singers, musicians, dancers and broadcasters to audiences and to playing our part in sharing such a historic occasion across our services.”

And Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin said the concert will be an “exceptional cultural event”.

She said: “It is has been my great pleasure to lead on and oversee the co-ordination of the final phase of the cross-governmental Decade of Centenaries Programme 2012-2023.  

“I am delighted that my Department is supporting this impressive live production planned for the RDS.

“This event highlights the important role artists and cultural organisations have played throughout the Decade of Centenaries and I have every expectation that it will be an exceptional cultural event that appropriately reflects on the historic period and its legacy.  

“I am delighted that members of the public will get to enjoy this event and would urge people to apply for tickets as soon as possible.”