For One Night Only

Imelda May tells her life story through her songs, from Johnny Got a Boom Boom to Meet you at the Moon - she talks about being a Liberty Bell and shares some hilarious stories from her youth and her life in London, including singing at Bar Mitzvahs to supermarket openings where she had to perform on palettes. Coming from a tight knit family in the Liberties - she speaks with affection about them - even wrangling her father into singing a love song to her mother!

Bob Geldof tells his life story through his songs, - he brings us back to the beginning with Rat Trap - he speaks about his traumatic childhood and how after his mother's untimely death when he was 7, he was 'basically left to fend for himself'. He also speaks of the bleak 80's and his life time spent working in an abattoir - which inspired the song Rat Trap. Following on from this he talks about the Boomtown Rats controversial career - which included the ill-fated gig at Leixlip castle. He also reminds Gay that although he deliberately set out to shake things up on the Late Late, he regretted upsetting his late father. He moves on to recount his solo career, singing The Great Song of Indifference which was a total departure from his early songs and music with the Rats. He also speaks about his new lease of life and the love and peace he has found with Jeanne and sings the song inspired by her - Dazzled by You. He also speaks, for the first time on television about how he seriously contemplated suicide after his traumatic break up from Paula Yates and how the only thing that pulled him through were his kids.

Tonight Christy Moore tells his life story through his songs. He talks about his early influences from the Clancy Brothers to civil rights fundraiser Dominic Behan. He speaks about how much his late mother meant to him an and how she inspired him to write Yellow Furze Woman which he also performs. Being a great social commentator, Chisty talks about the time he was moved to honour Veronica Guerin in song. On a more humorous note he also talks about Garda Brenda Hyland who won the Rose of Tralee and how the thoughts of her took 'his imagination took him to places that he shouldn't go' and inspired the hilarious song Me and the Rose. He goes on to sing his favourite song of all time, Lord Baker, which he performs acapella. The old favourites Ordinary Man, Nancy Spain and Lisdoonvarna are also included in his set as well as the stories behind them. The programme finishes with Gay and Christy reminiscing about the amount of times he appeared on the Late Late (an estimated 22 times in total) and the audience join in with the Cliffs of Dooneen.

Daniel O'Donnell recounts his life and some of the music which corresponds with key moments of his life and career. He goes right back to the beginning of his career, selling albums to Knock pilgrims! He talks about his love of Donegal, a career which has taken him across the globe and about the love and contentment he has found in his marriage to Majella.

Mary Black tells her life story through her songs, From Past the Point of Rescue to Bright Blue Rose, she speaks about her childhood and her faith. For the first time ever she duets with her son Danny (from The Coronas) on a song they wrote together, Your Love, after her mother Patty died in 2003. She also speaks, for the first time, about her spells of depression and how singing has been a cathartic experience for her. Colombus and Song for Ireland also feature. Mary shares her secrets on how she coped with life on the road, as well as being a busy mum, in what has been a stellar career spanning almost 30 years. The programme ends with the latest single from her new album Marguerite and the Gambler.

In front of an invited audience of 200 fans, Gay Byrne this week interviews singer/songwriter Paul Brady about the stories and context behind some of his greatest hits. He talks about how he was an unhappy emigrant in America and how it lead to him writing the first song he was happy with - Crazy Dreams. The Lakes of Pontchatrain is the next song that he performs and he recounts the time he was summoned to London to teach Bob Dylan how to play it - even moving Dylan's hands on the frets when he was playing it right. Steel Claw was his song which appeared on Tina Turner's Private Dancer album. He describes what influenced the writing of the song and how the song came to be recorded by Tina. On a more personal note he sings Helpless Heart which he wrote for his wife Mary and talks about his relationship with her. He plays the programme out with Nobody knows - explaining he has always been fascinated by the role that chance has played in his own and others lives.