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THERE's a host of seasonal programming to be enjoyed on WLR over the Christmas period!

THERE's a host of seasonal programming to be enjoyed on WLR over the Christmas period!

The on-air festivities start on Christmas Eve when the man himself, ‘Santa Claus’ pops into the studio to speak to boys and girls from across Waterford.

Join Santa, live on air, with Aoibhin Fallon from 3pm.

The annual Dungarvan Community Christmas Concert which was recorded earlier this month at the Friary Church in Dungarvan airs on Christmas Eve at 6pm and is repeated at 6pm on Christmas Day. Hosted by WLR’s Oliver Carroll, the concert includes delightful performances from The Dungarvan Brass Band, The Dungarvan Youth Band, The Voiceover Choir, The Friary Choir, and the Abbeyside, Ballinroad, Garranbane Liturgy Group. Christmas Day on WLR is jam-packed with Christmas fun!

Whether you're driving to see the in-laws, preparing the turkey, or just having a break from it all, we've got loads to keep you entertained!

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Mary O’Neill is waking up Waterford on Christmas morning from 7am, followed from 10am by Maria McCann with a tasty ‘Déise Today’ with all the trimmings!  Geoff Harris joins the party from 12pm with some classic hits and then, at 1pm, Mary O’Neill will bring you the full Waterford Lions Club Christmas Carol Concert, recorded at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford city. She'll be followed on air at 3pm by Aoibhin Fallon who'll bring you three hours of her favourite Christmas songs.

Ray C will wind down Christmas night from 7pm with some festive classics and then it's over to Michael Byrne to wrap up the day with two hours of more festive tunes.

St. Stephen’s Day on WLR is packed full of great music, giveaways and entertainment with another full schedule of programmes including John O’Shea’s annual music special, airing at 10am and featuring two hours of classic hits with the best festive songs.

 2018 marked 100 years since the end of World War 1. The youngest recorded casualty on the Allied side was Waterford-born Private John Condon who died in Flanders at the tender age of just 14.

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'The Boy Soldier, as he is now known, grew up in the Ballybricken area of Waterford city at the turn of the last century and WLR will remember John in a special docu-drama written by Ben Hennessey, and directed by Liam Maher. 'The Boy Soldier' airs on WLR at 6pm on St. Stephen’s Day.

On Thursday Decemeber 27th at 6pm, the station will broadcast a documentary called “An Ice Cold Hug” in which Aoibhin Fallon  looks at the benefits of swimming in the sea, particularly to people’s mental health, and meets the people who swim in the ocean all year around to find out what draws them to the swell.

2018 marked another big year in GAA. Tomas McCarthy looks back at the season in our GAA review of 2018. This features lots of GAA news, including Ballygunner's fine win in the Munster Club Championship as well as Beth Cartons All-Star win.

On Saturday December 29 at 12pm, Gavin Whelan will bring you the 2018 WLR Sports Review and will look back on Waterford FC’ s European finish, new senior managers in GAA hurling and football, as well as trainers and jockeys who had success in 2018 plus much more.

The WLR series of special documentaries continue on Sunday December 30.

When the Mallow to Rosslare railway line closed for good in 1967, the old railway stations were left empty and forgotten about.  But 15 years later a Welshman who had never been to Ireland had a dream.  It involved salmon fishing and the derelict Ballyduff railway station overlooking the river Blackwater.  This is the story of the unique life of Ballyduff train station that first served local, rural communities for transport and goods, before finding a remarkable second life as home to one of Ireland's premier salmon fisheries.  'The Railway Fishery' airs at 7pm on Sunday December 30th.

As we embark on a new era of European soccer with Waterford FC, 50 years ago in 1968 football directors throughout Europe gathered in Switzerland to make the draw for the European Champions Cup.

Waterford FC, the champions of Ireland, are drawn against the champions of Europe, the mighty Manchester United.

Two months later, on a warm September evening, the teams lined out in Lansdowne Road before a crowd of more than 50,000 supporters, with a return leg two weeks later at Old Trafford.

 On this the 50th anniversary, hear the WLR documentary 'Waterford FC and the European Kings' which recalls one of Waterford’s and Ireland’s most memorable sporting occasions through the voices of those who were there

'Waterford FC and the European Kings' airs New Years Eve from 10am.

Ring in the new year with Ray C and Mojo live on WLR from 7pm until 1am on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Day Join Geoff and the team at the annual New Year’s racing festival in Tramore with thanks to 'Raglan Road' Bar and 'Esquire Restaurant'

Then at 6pm on New Year’s Day, Anthony McFeely looks back on a year of news in the special WLR 'News review of 2018'.

 A jam-packed schedule from WLR to take you from Christmas right into the new year

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