Late Late Show Trad Special: Guests, Time & Highlights

Few moments in Irish television felt as inevitable as a Trad Night on The Late Late Show—yet the 2026 edition broke new ground by becoming the first-ever episode dedicated entirely to traditional Irish music. Airing Friday, January 9, 2026, the special brought together artists who’d spent decades keeping the tradition alive alongside younger performers pushing the genre in fresh directions.

First-ever full Trad Special: Dedicated to Irish traditional music · Key Guests: Lisa Canny, Kevin Conneff, Wallis Bird · Announcement Date: 8 Jan 2026 · Review Published: 12 Jan 2026 · Playlist Features: Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Eleanor McEvoy

Who is the Irish guy on The Late Late Show?

The question surfaces regularly in search traffic, reflecting how Irish audiences track both familiar faces and rising talent. When it comes to identifying “the Irish guy,” viewers had multiple candidates across the Trad Special lineup—artists whose careers span different generations and corners of the traditional world.

Garron Noone background

Garron Noone gained recognition through social media and performances that showcased his Irish heritage, though his specific role in the Trad Special remained unclear in pre-broadcast coverage. Sources like Wikipedia provide biographical context for understanding Noone’s background within the broader Irish music landscape.

Role in Trad Special

The Trad Special brought together established names like Kevin Conneff of The Chieftains alongside newer voices. According to the official RTÉ announcement, the show featured musicians “from Ireland and around the world, including many from TradFest 2026,” creating a lineup that blended generational experience with contemporary energy.

The pattern across these guests suggests RTÉ wanted breadth: Conneff represents the institutional backbone of Irish trad (five decades with The Chieftains), while Lisa Canny of Biird represents where the tradition is heading. Whether Noone appeared as a performer, presenter, or guest remained dependent on the actual broadcast content.

What is the traditional Irish goodbye song?

The Parting Glass stands as perhaps the most recognized Irish farewell song, traditionally sung at the end of gatherings and social occasions. It’s a standard in the repertoire of traditional musicians and appears regularly at sessions, funerals, and cultural events across Ireland and the Irish diaspora.

The Parting Glass details

The song’s lyrics speak of goodbyes, healths (toasts), and the hope that friends might meet again. Multiple versions exist, with the most common attributed to Scottish songwriter Robert Burns, though the melody and spirit connect it firmly to Irish tradition. The song typically uses a minor key and slow tempo, creating an atmosphere of sincere farewell.

Connection to Trad Special

Given the Trad Special’s focus on traditional Irish music, songs like The Parting Glass would fit naturally into a setlist celebrating Irish heritage. The show’s bill included “best-known Irish trad songs” alongside surprise collaborations, according to About RTÉ. Whether The Parting Glass was performed specifically remains subject to the actual broadcast content, though its cultural weight makes it a natural fit for such an episode.

How much is Patrick Kielty getting paid for The Late Late Show?

Salary questions follow every high-profile TV host, and Patrick Kielty’s compensation has drawn curiosity since he took over Ireland’s longest-running chat show. The interest reflects both the show’s cultural significance and the broader conversation around public broadcaster spending.

Salary reports

Public records and media reports have explored presenter remuneration at RTÉ, though specific contractual details for Kielty remain closely guarded. Industry estimates suggest established Late Late Show hosts command salaries in line with comparable positions at major European broadcasters, but precise figures for the 2026 season were not confirmed in available sources.

Host background

Patrick Kielty brings extensive experience to the role—he’s a comedian, actor, and broadcaster who previously worked across BBC Northern Ireland and Virgin Media Television before taking the RTÉ slot. His comedy background and ability to navigate sensitive topics have been noted as assets in his hosting approach.

Who are the guests on the Late Late Show Trad Special?

The guest list for the Trad Special read like a roll call of Irish traditional music royalty, with appearances from veterans who’ve shaped the genre across decades and younger artists who’ve found new audiences for trad in the streaming era.

Tonight’s lineup

According to About RTÉ and Extra.ie, the confirmed lineup included:

• Peggy Seeger (90) — American folk legend performing tributes to late husband Ewan MacColl, including “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
• Kevin Conneff — Longtime member of The Chieftains, sharing stories and performances
• Lisa Canny — Biird founding member who toured with Ed Sheeran in 2025
• Ricky Tomlinson — The Royle Family actor discussing banjo playing and Ireland connection
• Dónal Lunny — Legendary producer and musician in conversations
• Wallis Bird — Award-winning Irish guitarist and singer
• Fiachna Ó Braonáin — Performer sharing passion for trad music
• Zoë Conway — Featured in the official lineup
• Mike Hanrahan — Performer listed by Extra.ie
• Tara Howley — Known for viral tin whistle pop covers

Surprise collaborations

The RTÉ announcement promised “surprise collaborations,” and the lineup of performers from different trad backgrounds made cross-generational pairings likely. The first induction into The Late Late Show Trad Music Hall of Fame added a ceremonial element, though the specific inductee remained unconfirmed in pre-broadcast materials.

What time is the Late Late Show Trad Special?

The Trad Special aired Friday, January 9, 2026, at 9:35 pm on RTÉ One, as confirmed across multiple sources including RTÉ’s own entertainment reporting and Extra.ie. This time slot positions the show in the traditional Friday evening prime-time slot, competing directly with other broadcasters’ flagship entertainment programming.

Broadcast details

RTÉ One serves as Ireland’s primary national channel, with the Trad Special marking one of the first major broadcasts of 2026. The channel’s typical Friday evening schedule leads into later regional programming, making the 9:35 pm start time significant for planning viewing around family commitments or other Friday evening activities.

How to watch

Beyond the live broadcast, viewers could access the special through RTÉ Player, which makes Late Late Show episodes available post-broadcast. The YouTube playlist published after the show provided another access point, with confirmed performances from artists like Lisa Canny, Kevin Conneff, and Wallis Bird available for replay.

For Irish music enthusiasts, the Trad Special marked something long overdue: a full episode of Ireland’s longest-running chat show dedicated entirely to traditional music. The broadcast showcased the genre’s depth by bringing together performers like Peggy Seeger (still active at 90, with seven decades of music behind her) alongside Irish talent like Kevin Conneff and Lisa Canny who represent where trad is heading next. The first induction into The Late Late Show Trad Music Hall of Fame elevated the evening beyond a standard variety format.

The implication for traditional music culture is straightforward: mainstream television recognition validates the genre’s ongoing relevance. For Irish audiences, the question becomes whether RTÉ follows up with more trad specials or treats this as a one-time event.