For One Night Only is an Irish

Republic of Ireland

Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 light entertainment

Light entertainment

Light entertainment is a term used to describe a broad range of usually televisual performances. These include comedies, variety shows, quiz/game shows, sketch shows and people/surprise shows.-Light entertainment in Britain:...

 show hosted by Gay Byrne

Gay Byrne

Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...

. The studio-based show aired on Friday nights as a summer "filler" between 15 July and 19 August 2011 and features music and chat with a special guest musician.

History

Following Gay Byrne's retirement as host of The Late Late Show

The Late Late Show

The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...

in 1999 he has occasionally returned to present numerous shows from time to time. These have included The Gay Byrne Music Show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Make 'Em Laugh

Make 'Em Laugh (TV series)

Make 'Em Laugh is an Irish comedy show hosted by Gay Byrne. The studio-based clip show aired for one series in 1999 and featured Byrne taking a look at some classic comedy moments from the RTÉ archives....

, Class Reunion, Gaybo's Grumpy Men

Gaybo's Grumpy Men

Gaybo's Grumpy Men is an Irish version of the BBC conversational-style television programme Grumpy Old Men on RTÉ which debuted in 2005...

and The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of Life (TV series)

The Meaning of Life is an Irish television programme, the first series of which was broadcast on RTÉ One in 2009. It is presented by the veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne. Each episode involves Byrne interviewing a well-known public figure. The series is broadcast each Sunday night at 22:20.In 2010 The...

. Many of these shows have often reflected Byrne's own personal interest in a particular subject.

Production

For One Night Only was recorded before an audience of 200 in Studio 4 in the RTÉ Television Centre

RTÉ Television Centre

RTÉ Television Centre is a television studio complex which is owned by Radio Telefís Éireann and has been home to the national broadcaster of Ireland since 1961. It is situated at Montrose, Donnybrook, Dublin 4...

 at Donnybrook

Donnybrook

Donnybrook may refer to:Placenames* Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland** site of the original Donnybrook Fair***donnybrook is a brawl - named for the fair** Donnybrook Stadium, Ireland, a rugby union stadium...

, Dublin 4

Dublin 4

Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....

. The series of six shows is broadcast on Friday nights immediately after the RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock

RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock

RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock is the flagship evening news programme for Irish television channel RTÉ One. It is presented by Anne Doyle, and deputised by Eileen Dunne. It is the final comprehensive news programme of the day on RTÉ One...

at 9:35 p.m.

Format

For One Night Only is described as giving an "intimate and emotional look at the featured artist's life story." The show offers a This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...

-style interview with a special guest musician and is punctuated by performances by that musician.

Broadcast dates

Show	Guest	Broadcast date	Recording date
1	Imelda May Imelda May Imelda Mary Higham, Clabby , known as Imelda May, is an Irish vocalist and musician. She began her career in music at 15 and released her debut album in 2005. She also plays the bodhrán and guitar...	15 July	16 June
2	Bob Geldof Bob Geldof Robert Frederick Zenon "Bob" Geldof, KBE is an Irish singer, songwriter, author, occasional actor and political activist. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s alongside the punk rock movement. The band had hits with his...	22 July	29 June
3	Christy Moore Christy Moore Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...	29 July	9 June
4	Daniel O'Donnell Daniel O'Donnell Daniel or Danny O'Donnell may refer to:* Daniel O'Donnell, Irish singer* Daniel O'Donnell , American legislator from the state of New York* Danny O'Donnell * Danny O'Donnell...	5 August	15 June
5	Mary Black Mary Black Mary Black is an Irish singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both folk and contemporary material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland, and in many other parts of the world....	12 August	7 June
6	Paul Brady Paul Brady Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter, whose work straddles folk and pop. He was interested in a wide variety of music from an early age...	19 August	30 June

Christmas special

There was a special edition broadcast on the eve of The Dubliners

The Dubliners

The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...

 50th anniversary, presented by Gay Byrne and featuring guests such as Declan O'Rourke

Declan O'Rourke

Declan O'Rourke is a 33 year old platinum record singer/songwriter from Dublin, Ireland.-Career:At the age of 13, when living in Australia with his family, O'Rourke was given his first guitar by a priest in Kyabram who recognised his potential and love for music, hence the title of his debut album...

, Sharon Shannon

Sharon Shannon

Sharon Shannon is an Irish musician. She is best known for her work with the accordion and for her fiddle technique. She also plays the tin whistle and melodeon. Her 1991 album Sharon Shannon is the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released there...

, Shane MacGowan

Shane MacGowan

Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...

, Mary Coughlan

Mary Coughlan (singer)

Mary Coughlan is an Irish jazz and folk singer and actress. She has received great acclamation in her native country, for her emotional and heartfelt jazzy musical renditions.-Background:...

 and Liam Ó Maonlaí

Liam Ó Maonlaí

Liam Ó Maonlaí is an Irish musician best known as a member of the Hothouse Flowers. Ó Maonlaí formed the band in 1985 with his schoolmate Fiachna Ó Braonáin....

.