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The Holiday Spirit & The Countdown

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Monday, December 22nd 2025 at 8:41 GMT by RTE Online

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RTE Radio 2fm’s “Greene Room” – A Full‑Day Look at 21 December 2025

On the evening of 21 December 2025, listeners tuned into RTE Radio 2fm’s flagship breakfast show “Greene Room with Jenny Greene” for a late‑winter run‑through of politics, pop culture, local stories, and a touch of holiday cheer. The show, which typically runs from 6 am to 10 am, launched with a “Christmas Countdown” special featuring classic festive tracks and a preview of the day’s guests. The episode’s headline moments were a mix of political commentary on the upcoming general election, a heart‑warming charity interview, and a live acoustic performance that kept listeners humming long after the show ended.

1. Opening: “The Holiday Spirit & The Countdown”

The show opened with Jenny Greene welcoming listeners to “a snowy, coffee‑drunk morning” and reminding them to join the [ Greene Room community page ] for live updates. A quick rundown of the day’s schedule set the tone: “We’ve got a political panel, a local hero story, a new music release, and a live stream from a nearby Christmas market.”

The “Christmas Countdown” segment featured a rotating list of 12 classic Irish Christmas songs, each accompanied by a brief anecdote from the host. Listeners were invited to tweet their own festive memories using the hashtag #GreeneRoomChristmas and were told that the top three tweets would be read on air later.

2. Political Pulse: “Election 2025 – The Debate Begins”

The first major segment was a live discussion with two prominent figures from the upcoming 2025 general election. Senator Aoife O’Leary (Independent) and Mairead McLaughlin (Sinn Féin) joined the call to debate the “post‑COVID economic recovery plan” and “education reform.” Jenny facilitated a balanced conversation, steering the debate away from partisan shouting matches by asking clarifying questions that highlighted each candidate’s policy specifics.

Key points from the debate included:

• Economic Recovery: O’Leary proposed a “Green Growth Initiative” focused on renewable energy jobs; McLaughlin warned of “unfair austerity” and urged increased public investment in rural communities.
• Education: Both agreed that early childhood education needed a €1.5 billion boost but differed on the role of technology versus traditional teaching methods.
• Healthcare: McLaughlin cited a “recent data leak” from the Health Service Executive (HSE) showing a shortage of nurses, while O’Leary argued for “private‑public partnerships” to fill gaps.

The segment concluded with a brief summary by Jenny, who urged listeners to “stay informed, stay engaged,” and reminded them to read the full interview transcript on the [ RTE News website ].

3. Local Hero Spotlight: “Cassandra O’Connor & the Youth Mentoring Programme”

The next segment shifted from national to local, featuring Cassandra O’Connor, a Dublin‑based social entrepreneur who has run a successful youth mentoring programme in the inner‑city district of Clontarf for over a decade. The interview highlighted how the programme uses art‑based workshops to help at‑risk teenagers develop confidence and skills.

Cassandra spoke about:

• Program Growth: From 30 participants in 2018 to 120 in 2025.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with [ Clontarf Community College ] and the [ Irish Youth Foundation ].
• Future Plans: A scholarship fund to allow successful mentees to pursue higher education.

Listeners were encouraged to support Cassandra’s work by visiting the [ Clontarf Community College website ], where they could volunteer or donate.

4. Music Moment: “Live Acoustic from The 2fm Lounge”

As the mid‑morning lull began, Jenny welcomed Bono Bono, the rising indie‑folk star who had just released his debut EP “Starlight.” A live acoustic set was streamed directly from the 2fm lounge, complete with a backstage chat with the musician. Bono shared stories behind each track, including the influence of the Irish countryside on his songwriting and a brief message about mental‑health awareness.

Following the performance, the host played the [ official music video ] for “Starlight” on the 2fm social media channel, urging listeners to stream the full EP on Spotify and Apple Music. Bono also announced an upcoming charity single with the [ Red Cross ], reinforcing the theme of community solidarity that ran throughout the episode.

5. Community & Culture: “Clontarf Christmas Market Live Stream”

In the late‑morning segment, Jenny introduced a live video stream from the Clontarf Christmas Market—a small but vibrant festival featuring local crafts, food stalls, and a performance by the Clontarf Christmas Choir. The host interacted with vendors, asking them to explain how they prepare for the holiday rush and what makes their stalls unique.

Key highlights from the market included:

• Hand‑made Stollen: A local baker, Mairead Sullivan, offered a 10‑minute live tutorial on how to make the traditional German bread.
• Craftsmanship: A glassblowing workshop with [ Gleno' Glassworks ], giving listeners a behind‑the‑scenes look at the art form.
• Music: A spontaneous performance by a quartet of local musicians, which Jenny invited the audience to share on Instagram using the hashtag #ClontarfChristmas.

The live stream concluded with a quick recap of the [ holiday calendar ], reminding listeners of upcoming events like the Dublin Festival of Lights and the “New Year’s Eve Fireworks” at Rathmines Park.

6. Wrap‑Up & Good‑Bye

In the final minutes, Jenny thanked all guests and listeners, provided a quick recap of the morning’s highlights, and reminded everyone that the next “Greene Room” would go live at 6 am on 22 December, featuring a panel discussion on “Ireland’s Climate Commitments.” She also announced a contest where listeners who tweeted the best holiday recipe using #GreeneRoomChristmas could win a one‑hour DJ slot on the evening show.

Listeners left the station with a mix of information, inspiration, and a touch of holiday joy—a testament to how Jenny Greene and her team curate a show that feels like a friendly conversation with a trusted friend. Whether you’re a first‑time listener or a long‑time fan, the 21 December episode delivered a full‑spectrum listening experience that highlighted politics, community, music, and the simple pleasures of the season.