BELOVED RTE show Songs of Ireland with popular duo Pat Shortt and Stockton’s Wing frontman Mike Hanrahan has vanished off screens.
The new four part series saw the pair taking a musical road-trip around Ireland to uncover the history and significance of the country’s most popular songs.
The show combined the importance of Irish music, unique Irish culture, and the camaraderie between musicians.
In each episode, Pat and Mike traveled through the picturesque landscapes of Ireland and uncovering the history and significance behind some of the nation’s most beloved songs.
Joining forces with both new and established local musicians in each county, Pat and Mike then put their own twist on the well-known Irish songs as they performed in local venues across the country.
The last episode of the series aired last Saturday, May 25 and fans are crying out for more.
Alice tweeted: “Just loved the series.”
Paddy wrote: “Great programme, great series. More of this needed @RTEOne.”
Marie said: “What a wonderful programme county by county, introducing young talent blending with the songs we love so well.
“The rendition of The Town I loved so well was just outstandingly beautiful. Pat and Mike take a bow.”
Noel added: “Great show. Well done to all involved.”
RTE will be showing the film Just Mercy at 9.35pm in Songs of Ireland’s usual slot this Saturday night.
The movie, which airs at 9.30pm, follows a death row prisoner who appeals his murder conviction with the help of a young civil rights defence attorney.
Pat revealed his pub he owned, Pat Shortt’s Bar in Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, was where he bonded with the pub’s chef, Mike Hanrahan, who co-hosted Songs of Ireland.
The Tpperary native owned the pub for nearly a decade but never ventured behind the bar until one night he was short staffed, resulting in fans almost running riot with excitement.
Pat told The Irish Sun: “I popped into the pub one night and whatever happened, one girl was working on her own. I was like, ‘What the hell are we going to do?’
NO SUMMER TELLY LOVIN'
By Georgia Walsh, Deputy Showbiz Editor
AND with that, another popular homegrown TV show disappears off screens
The RTE summer schedule leaves a lot to be desired for TV fans, who have been left to catch up on repeats and movies while most of our popular shows take a summer break.
The Late Late Show won’t be back in action until at least September, with films taking its place in the Friday night slot.
And now Songs of Ireland has wrapped, more movies are slated to fill in the Saturday night lineup.
And while Fair City episodes are continuing over the summer – production is not, with enough filming in the can to halt production for several weeks as part of cost-cutting measures.
Telly faithful will be hoping for the introduction of a few exciting new Irish shows over the summer, and if not, we’ll have to wait to see what RTE offers in its autumn schedule offering.
Thankfully for Virgin Media viewers, Love Island begins on Monday June 3.
Fans can avail of their “long hot summer” telly fix nightly on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Player from 9pm each day.
“Here’s the deal I said, ‘You pull the pints and do the bar and I’ll clear the tables and collect glasses’. It was mid-week so I thought we wouldn’t get that busy.”
However the moment the D’Unbelievables star appeared with a towel over his shoulder picking up the pint glasses it was bedlam.
Pat told us: “People started ringing their friends going ‘you’ll never guess who’s picking up glasses in here tonight. You got to come in and see this’.
“They were taking photos of me and putting them online. By the time it came to ten o’clock, the bar was rammed and I was surrounded with people. It was one of the busiest nights in the bar’s history.”
Pat sold his popular hostelry in 2015 and admitted the first few years were tough.