RTÉ to broadcast Christmas Eve show from Kilmartin's N6

Ray Collins is among an array of Athlone talent joining with the staff and customers of a local service station on a Brenda Donohue RTE Radio 1 show, broadcasting on Christmas Eve around lunchtime.

The 45-minute show, ‘Services Ahead’, is coming from Kilmartin’s N6 Service at 1.30 pm on Tuesday, December 24.

“I love service stations, and I see a lot of them in my work while travelling around and I got more fascinated with them and the people going through them, and their attachment to a local community,” said Brenda Donohue to the Westmeath Independent. “I thought about Athlone and Kilmartins and I went down there and recorded and it’s going out (on RTE Radio 1) on Christmas Eve.”

Brenda said she’s familiar with the town and surroundings because of covering the All-Ireland Drama Festival for RTE.

“I saw some great people at Kilmartin’s on the day, and it was ‘love is all around’, with talking to a woman with a new-born baby, and a couple who got engaged and spending their first Christmas together,” said Brenda.

She interviewed the three brothers, Matthew, Luke and Daniel Kilmartin, and the local actor Ray Collins dropped in and entertained the gathering.

“I knew Ray from the Drama Festival and he was on his way to sing at a nursing home, and he talked about his favourite singer, John McCormack and sang for everyone, ‘The Tumble Down Shack in Athlone’,” said Brenda. “We kept it on a musical note, and had the group from Athlone A Cappella singing a Christmas carol, and I saw Fr. Shay there with some international students, who were going to help out at a foodbank. Everyone was really nice and interesting.”

Ray Collins had a good time on the day with Brenda and company in Kilmartin’s.

“I got the customers and staff there to dance the Athlone shuffle,” said Ray laughing. “It was on radio, so you won’t see it, but you’ll get the idea.”

He talked about aspects of his life to Brenda, and about how he was a professional actor, and could have went further with that, only he chose to spend time caring for his late mother, Rose.

“We had the craic there as well, and it a lovely occasion with a great buzz,” said Ray to the Westmeath Independent.

The show, ‘Services Ahead’ is on at 1.30pm on RTÉ Radio 1, Christmas Eve.