Tidings of sport across RT this Christmas

S an Nollaig

Celebrate 2025's top Irish sporting stars with RT Sport Awards live from RT Studios on RT One and RT Player

RT pays tribute to Rory McIlroy in two special documentaries on TV and radio in Rory McIlroy A Battle Won and Rory McIlroy's Holywood Ending

A packed live sporting schedule including Racing from Leopardstown, GAA club championships, United Rugby Championship and Champions League Live on RT 2, RT Player and RT Radio 1

This Christmas, RT is serving up the best of sport for all fans across video, audio and online. Settle into a wide selection of live action which promises to have you on the edge of your seat.

2025 was a big year for sport with incredible moments in the Six Nations, GAA championship, golf and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers to name a few. Each year, RT celebrates the achievements of Irish sports men and women, and this year there is plenty to toast to! On December 20, Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and David Gillick will be live from Studio 4 to present the annual RT Sport Awards to honour all their achievements.

RT also pays tribute to one of Ireland's greatest golfers in two documentaries, on radio and TV, looking at the career of Rory McIlroy.

There will also be hockey, racing and athletics offerings to keep you engaged as we swing into the New Year.

The RT Sport Awards 2025

Joanne Cantwell, Darragh Maloney and David Gillick present the RT Sport Awards 2025 on Saturday 20 December at 8.00pm on RT One and RT Player.

After an outstanding 12 months year for Irish sport, the stars gather in Studio 4 in RT to celebrate the achievements of Irish sportsmen and women this year.

The awards being handed out on the night include RT Sport Sportsperson of the Year, RT Sport Team of the Year, RT Sport Manager of the Year and RT Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year. Additionally, a legend of Irish sport will be inducted into the RT Sport Hall of Fame.

Racing from Leopardstown

The festive tradition that is the Leopardstown Christmas Festival begins on St Stephen's Day with four days of action, live on RT 2 and RT Player. RT Sport's Racing team will bring viewers all the action from one of the highlights of Christmas. Ahead of Leopardstown, RT Racing will be live from Cork for Hilly Way Chase Day on Sunday 7 December.

Rory McIlroy's Holywood Ending

2025 was a remarkable year for golfer Rory McIlroy from Holywood, County Down. Already regarded as one of the greatest golfers of the modern era, he finally completed golf's Grand Slam by winning the US Masters at Augusta National.

It was an emotional victory for McIlroy as he claimed the one major tournament that had agonisingly eluded him for so many years. His triumph in Georgia was a roller-coaster journey. It looked as though his dreams would be dashed again when he was forced into a playoff with Justin Rose, but Rory rallied and prevailed to secure his place in golfing immortality.

In a stellar year, Rory went on to win the Irish Open at the K Club and played a key role as Europe retained the Ryder Cup. RT Radio 1 takes look back at a year like no other for Rory McIlroy - one that had a Holywood ending.

Rory McIlroy A Battle Won

Rory McIlroy A Battle Won peels back the layers of McIlroy's mental journey - his struggles with expectation, public scrutiny, inner doubt, and the long fourteen years of emotional toll trying to win The Masters at Augusta.

Blending incredible archive of a young Rory over the years, along with interviews with golfing legends such as Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Bob Rotella, Rory McIlroy The Battle Won is a powerful documentary chronicling Rory McIlroy's long and dramatic journey that began when a nine-year-old boy first told of his dream to win all four Majors and culminates in the sporting year of his life.

The film interweaves iconic moments from Rory's two-decade career-his meteoric rise, the very public setbacks, reinventions, personal growth and eventual triumph.

Champions League Live

The UEFA Champions League continues live on RT 2 and RT Player with live coverage of Real Madrid v Manchester City from the Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday 10 December.

Saturday GAA Live & Sunday GAA Live

The live GAA action continues on RT 2 and RT Player ahead of the festive period with the Leinster Club Football and Hurling Finals live from Croke Park on Saturday 6 December plus the Camogie All Ireland Club Finals on Sunday 14 December also from headquarters.

European Cross Country Championships

Sunday 14 December sees live coverage on RT 2 and RT Player of the Spar European Cross Country Championships from the Mediterranean resort of Lagoa in Portugal.

Hockey FIH Pro League

Sports Campus Ireland will be the venue from 11-14 December as Ireland take on Belgium and England in the Hockey FIH Pro League live on RT News channel and RT Player.

Sport on Radio

Over the Christmas period RT Radio 1 will deliver live coverage of the Irish rugby derbies in the URC. There will also be action in both hurling and football as the All-Ireland Club Football and Hurling Championships reach the semi-final stage. Festive racing comes live from Leopardstown and Limerick and there will be updates and analysis on all the rest of the sporting action at home and abroad right up until the New Year. And, of course, the station will look back at 2025 and preview ahead to 2026 when we'll do it all over again.

After a 2025 series that featured guests like Siobh n McSweeney, Self Esteem and series champion President Michael D Higgins, Eoin McDevitt and Ciar n Murphy return to test the sporting credentials of two new competitors on Second Captains. From the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dublin Celts, Myles Dungan explores the stories that have shaped Ireland's relationship with American footb

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2025/12/03/tidings-of-sport-across-rte-this-chris...
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