Imelda May to present Sky Arts Christmas special with Glen Hansard, Jack Lukeman, Loah and more

Sky Ireland has announced a Christmas special, hosted by Imelda May, that will premiere on Sky Arts and NOW, this Christmas Eve at 9.30pm.

Filmed at the iconic Pepper Canister Church in the heart of Georgian Dublin, Christmas In Ireland with Imelda May and Friends features music and literary performances from well-known and up-and-coming artists.

Liberties native Imelda May will be joined onstage by musicians Glen Hansard, Jack Lukeman, Loah, Hawke The Band and more.

Produced to celebrate the now legendary Grafton Street Christmas Eve Busk and shot in front of a live audience from the Dublin Simon Community, the Sky Original will feature festive favourites like 'The Wexford Carol' and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'.

Sharon Corr is slated to recite Patrick Kavanagh’s 'A Christmas Childhood' while The Dubliners legend, John Sheahan, performs a self-penned poem that captures the magic of Christmas at home. Viewers will also be treated to a very special rendition of the iconic Marino Waltz that sees John joined onstage by his daughter Ceoladh, Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta and Cormac de Barra.

Christmas in Ireland with Imelda May and Friends is a celebration of the literature and music that has shaped Irish culture. Check out the trailer below.

Speaking ahead of the special, Imelda May said: “We had the most beautiful night you can imagine and captured it all on film so we could share the moment with others. Serendipity was alive and well in abundance and once Maggie Breathnach, Meredith Plant and I got the logistical pieces of the puzzle to fit the evening took on a life of its own. Everyone who was present felt their souls rise and minds calm in the stunning Pepper Cannister Church in Dublin one winters evening. Each artist brought their own divine wonder and brilliance. I wanted to show to the world a true Irish Christmas of all styles, generations and huge talent celebrated through song, story, poetry, family (including my own Dad) and friendship.

Christmas can often get overwhelming, so I wanted us to encapture the true spirit of this time, observed in Ireland for thousands of years pre-Christianity, in all its simplicity and glory. I wanted to acknowledge the struggles many face at this time so invited both clients and volunteers of the Simon Community to show solidarity and thank the workers for all they do all year round. (There’s an unbelievable moment of fate and beauty with Glen and busker Paddy I’ll never forget) I hope this will make you feel uplifted, nourished and fill your heart to the brim with warmth, joy and of course a sprinkling of magic.”

Imelda May at Vicar Street. Copyright Sofia Urrutia/hotpress.com

Imelda May's 2008 self-written & produced album Love Tattoo is the best-selling album of all time by a homegrown female artist in Ireland and her most recent album 11 Past the Hour marks her fourth Number 1 album in Ireland and fourth Top 10 in the UK.

Imelda was discovered by Jools Holland, who asked her to support him on tour. She has gone onto perform alongside legendary artists including Lou Reed, U2, Tom Jones, Noel Gallagher, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison and most recently appearing on albums and associated tour with Jeff Goldblum and Ronnie Wood. She’s performed all over the world in front of royalty & politicians like Obama, to the 52nd Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck to singing the Irish national anthem in Las Vegas ahead of the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor fight in 2017.

Imelda has co-hosted BBC’s Later with Jools Holland and presented her own series The Imelda May Show for RTE Ireland in 2018. 2022 saw her first major film role opposite James Purefoy in Fisherman Friends 2 and present the SKY Arts literary travelogue series Voices of Ireland.

As well as selling millions of records worldwide, Imelda released her first poetry book A Lick & A Promise on Faber Music last year.

Imelda May at Isle of Wight 2021.

“We are honoured to once again be working with Imelda May and the team from Red Shoe," JD Buckley, Sky Ireland CEO, said of the programme. "This Christmas special is a beautifully produced celebration of Ireland, its musical and literary history and the many great artists that come from every corner of the country. Christmas with Imelda May and Friends also celebrates the great work that many of these artists do to raise awareness for the Simon Community, particularly their fundraising at the annual Christmas Eve Grafton Street Busk. We are thrilled to support the production of this Irish programme and it is one not to be missed.”

Produced by Red Shoe Productions in conjunction with Sky and Tourism Ireland, the special is directed by IFTA award-winning Maggie Breathnach, a producer and director with over two decades of experience.

Speaking about the special, Maggie Breathnach said: “Myself and the team at Red Shoe Productions are delighted to be working with Sky Arts and Imelda May again to celebrate Christmas in Ireland. Arts and Culture are the beating heart of what we do at Red Shoe and to have the opportunity to gather this incredibly talented group of musicians and artists together to celebrate kindness and the human spirit at Christmas was just an honour. We hope everyone watching at home feels the magic from the Pepper Cannister Church.”

Christmas in Ireland with Imelda May and Friends, a Sky Original will premiere on Sky Arts and NOW, on Saturday 24th December at 9.30pm.