RTÉ - The Mystery Train

Follow RTÉ - The Mystery Train
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Mystery Train with John Kelly is an award-winning, multi-genre music show. It travels far and wide through the many wonders of recorded music, from its vintage glories to the very latest sound and each Sunday, John hands over the controls and asks a guest to pick the tunes.

RTÉ:Ireland

  • Aug 30, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • weekly NEW EPISODES
  • 1h 11m AVG DURATION
  • 50 EPISODES


Search for episodes from RTÉ - The Mystery Train with a specific topic:

Latest episodes from RTÉ - The Mystery Train

Paul Noonan joins the Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 55:09


On this week's Mystery Train Sunday Service, Paul Noonan of Bell X1 joins John Kelly in studio and picks the tunes. (Repeat)

Jim Crace joins the Mystery Train Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 73:34


John Kelly is joined by novelist and wordsmith Jim Crace. The author of Harvest and The Gift of Stones picks the music and puts the world to rights.

Novelist Sara Baume picks the tunes and chats about writing and ar

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 84:50


Novelist Sara Baume climbs aboard the Mystery Train on RTÉ lyric fm for a Sunday Service special. She talks about writing and art, her new book Handiwork and picks music by Rory Gallagher, Cyclefly and Joanna Newsom.

Actress Derbhle Crotty joins the Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2020 75:46


Every Sunday night, John Kelly presents a special Mystery Train Sunday Service where a guest picks the tunes. Tonight actress Derbhle Crotty climbs aboard and picks music by Abba, Sly and The Family Stone and Millie Jackson. (First Broadcast March 2020)

Author Eimear McBride picks the tunes and talks literary success and sexism in the industry

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2020 70:29


In another memorable edition of the Mystery Train Sunday Service, John Kelly chats to Eimear McBride, author of A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing and Strange Hotel, about loss, the long road to literary success, training as an actor, sexism in the book industry and being a 'method novelist'.

'The Dark Fields' author Alan Glynn chats to John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2020 64:57


Author Alan Glynn joined John Kelly on Mystery Train. His novel The Dark Fields became the film Limitless starring Bradley Cooper and he spoke to John about the slow road to success and not having a plan B. His very fine music choices include Coleman Hawkins, Nicholas Britell and Ennio Morricone.

Harpist and composer Una Monaghan joins John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2020 73:44


Harpist and composer Una Monaghan climbs on board our Mystery Train Sunday Service, and talks Astro-Physics at Oxford, Brian Wilson and everything in between.

Ian Lynch of Lankum talks epenthetic vowels and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2020 72:39


On tonight's Sunday Service, John is joined by Ian Lynch of Lankum. The musician, folk song collector and folklore lecturer explains the epenthetic vowel and a mondegreen, and picks music by Shannon and the Clams, Portishead and Iron Maiden.

Poet Jessica Traynor picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2020 82:39


Acclaimed poet Jessica Traynor joins John Kelly to chat poetry & plays on our Sunday Service, and she picks tunes by everybody from Vivaldi and Leonard Cohen, to Throwing Muses and Le Tigre.

Derry Girls' Siobhan McSweeney joins John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2020 78:13


Actor Siobhan McSweeney joins John and picks the tunes for our Sunday Service. Best known as the formidable Sr. Michael in Derry Girls, Siobhan works in theatre in Ireland and London and picks music from The Slits, Molly Drake and The Sultans of Ping, of course.

Novelist Danny Denton chats to John and picks the music

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2020 66:23


Danny Denton, author of The Earlie King and the Kid in Yellow, is John's guest on Mystery Train, and he picks all the tunes.

Lisa McInerney picks the tunes on Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2020 120:30


On Mystery Train's Sunday Service John invites a guest to choose the music, and this week is joined by author Lisa McInerney.

Paul Cleary of The Blades join John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2020 69:15


On tonight's Mystery Train's Sunday Service, John is joined by The Blades frontman Paul Cleary. As you might expect, his choices include The Sex Pistols, XTC and The Jam - but there's also Dionne Warwick and the best introduction to Paul Brady's Arthur McBride. He talks about the Dublin band scene of the 1970s and performing again.

Loah picks music by Kamasi Washington, Oumou Sangare and Charles Mingus

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2020 31:47


John is joined tonight by Loah (AKA Sallay Matu Garnett), a singer songwriter of Sierra Leonean/Irish origin. Loah chats about her life and music and also picks the tunes, from Kamasi Washington, Oumou Sangare and Charles Mingus.

Artist Catherine Owens picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2020 75:52


Tonight John's guest is artist Catherine Owens, and she'll be picking the tunes on another Sunday Service.

Composer, producer and musician Seán Mac Erlaine picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2020 55:21


Tonight John is joined for a Sunday Service by composer, producer and woodwind instrumentalist Seán Mac Erlaine, who also picks the tunes.

Folk singer Eliza Carthy joins John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2020 49:34


John Kelly's guest this week is English folk singer Eliza Carthy. Eliza has worked with a diverse array of artists including Paul Weller, Richard Hawley, Peggy Seeger and Van Dyke Parks. She talks about her musical life and picks some fantastic music for the Sunday Service.

Gavin Bryars on working with John Cage and Tom Waits

Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2020 73:01


On tonight's Mystery Train Sunday Service, another chance to hear John's 2018 interview with composer Gavin Bryars who talks about his approach to composition, and working with the likes of John Cage, Tom Waits and Father John Misty.

Artist Michelle Browne chats to John and plays music by Lauren Hill and This is How We Fly

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2020 80:40


Artist Michelle Browne climbs on board the Mystery Train Sunday Service. She chats to John and picks music by Kris Kristofferson, Lauren Hill and This is How We Fly.

Aaron Monaghan chats to John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2020 80:21


Aaron Monaghan joined John Kelly on Mystery Train, bringing with him his choice musical selections and introducing John to the merits of a certain global country music star... He talked about rapping along to Eminem to in advance of performing Shakespeare, inhabiting characters and the irrelevance of relevance.

Film-maker and writer Alan Gilsenan joins John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2020 75:13


Tonight John Kelly is joined by film-maker and writer Alan Gilsenan, who picks tunes by Stiff Little Fingers, Liam Clancy and Emmylou Harris.

Triona Ni Dhomhnaill chats about The Bothy Band, Skara Brae and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2020 57:18


John Kelly is joined by singer, musician and composer Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill for a memorable Mystery Train Sunday Service that spans a varied career from Skara Brae to The Bothy Band and Relativity. Music choices include Rachmaninov, The Beatles and The Band.

Adrian Crowley climbs on board the Mystery Train Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 52:40


Singer-songwriter Adrian Crowley joined John Kelly on Mystery Train's Sunday Service for the chats and a selection of some delightfully lo-fi tunes including Smog, Katell Keinig and Jason Molina.

Inni K joins John in studio and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2020 64:40


On tonight's Mystery Train Sunday Service, John Kelly is joined in studio by the singer songwriter Inni-K, who also picks the tunes.

Martin Hayes chats to John Kelly and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2020 82:35


Master of traditional music and Gloaming mainstay Martin Hayes joins John Kelly for a fascinating chat on the Mystery Train Sunday Service, picking tunes from longtime collaborator Steve Cooney and trad legend Tommy Potts as well as music by Radiohead, Miles Davis and Jeff Buckley.

Writer Nicole Flattery discusses growing up in the midlands and picks music by Sharon Van Etten and Amy Winehouse

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2020 74:33


Writer Nicole Flattery joins John for a Sunday Service special, picking all the tunes. She talks to John about growing up in the midlands, the pressure of a book deal and the many puns available to sub-editors based on her surname. Music choices include Sharon Van Etten, Amy Winehouse and Frank Ocean.

William Brittelle picks the tunes and chats about his 'genre-fluid electro-acoustic song cycle'

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2020 63:46


Composer William Brittelle joins John for a Mystery Train Sunday Service to talk about his music and musical influences. His latest release 'Spiritual America' is described as 'a genre-fluid electro-acoustic song cycle' and music choices include Prince, Bon Iver and Whitesnake.

Novelist Sara Baume chats to John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2020 84:50


Novelist Sara Baume climbs aboard the Mystery Train for a Sunday Service special, and picks music by Rory Gallagher, Cyclefly and Joanna Newsom.

Lisa Dwan joins John for Mystery Train Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 83:10


Tonight, John is joined by actress, writer and director Lisa Dwan. Currently seen in Top Boy and Pale Sister at the Gate Theatre, Lisa chats about life and career and picks music by Nick Cave and Suzanne Vega.

Writer and actor Mark Doherty joins John Kelly

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2020 64:06


Writer and actor Mark Doherty joins John Kelly on board Mystery Train and he'll be picking all the music.

Actress Derbhle Crotty joins the Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 75:47


Every Sunday night, John Kelly presents a special Mystery Train Sunday Service where a guest picks the tunes. Tonight actress Derbhle Crotty climbs aboard and picks music by Abba, Sly and The Family Stone and Millie Jackson.

Novelist Eimear McBride talks loss, literary success and being a 'method novelist'

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2020 70:29


In another memorable edition of the Mystery Train Sunday Service, John Kelly chats to Eimear McBride, author of A Girl Is A Half-Formed Thing and Strange Hotel, about loss, the long road to literary success, training as an actor, sexism in the book industry and being a 'method novelist'.

'The Dark Fields' author Alan Glynn chats to John and picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2020 64:57


Author Alan Glynn joined John Kelly on Mystery Train. His novel The Dark Fields became the film Limitless starring Bradley Cooper and he spoke to John about the slow road to success and not having a plan B. His very fine music choices include Coleman Hawkins, Nicholas Britell and Ennio Morricone.

Harpist and composer Una Monaghan talks New Music Dublin

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 73:44


Harpist and composer Una Monaghan climbs on board our Mystery Train Sunday Service, and talks Astro-Physics, Brian Wilson and New Music Dublin.

Martin Hayes | Mystery Train Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2020 82:35


On this weeks Sunday Service John is joined by fiddle player Martin Hayes as he picks all the music

Ian Lynch | Mystery Train Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2020 72:39


On tonight's Sunday Service, John is joined by Ian Lynch of Lankum. The musician, folk song collector and folklore lecturer explains the epenthetic vowel and a mondegreen, and picks music by Shannon and the Clams, Portishead and Iron Maiden.

Jessica Traynor | Mystery Train Sunday Service

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2020 82:39


Acclaimed poet Jessica Traynor joins John Kelly to chat poetry & plays and she picks all the tunes by everybody from Vivaldi and Leonard Cohen to Throwing Muses and Le Tigre.

Meteorites in gold painted skulls and Mama Cass with Dorothy Cross

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2019 69:03


Meteorites in gold painted skulls. Bronze sharks. Mama Cass and the song of a shark caller in Papua New Guinea. All on Mystery Train, when John is joined by artist Dorothy Cross for our Mystery Train Sunday Service.

Lisa Dwan chats to John and plays Nick Cave and Suzanne Vega

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2019 83:10


Tonight, John is joined by actress, writer and director Lisa Dwan. Currently seen in Top Boy and Pale Sister at the Gate Theatre, Lisa chats about life and career and picks music by Nick Cave and Suzanne Vega.

Colm Mac Con Iomaire talks about going from Slógadh to Bob Dylan, and picks all the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2019 60:44


Colm Mac Con Iomaire joins John for a Mystery Train Sunday Service. Colm chats about a musical life that brought him from Slógadh via The Frames to touring with Bob Dylan, and picks music by Caitlin Maude, Popul Vuh and The Boomtown Rats.

Director Dearbhla Walsh talks Fargo and The Handmaid’s Tale

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2019 77:47


On tonight's Mystery Train Sunday Service, John is joined by Emmy award-winning Irish director Dearbhla Walsh. Dearbhla's many credits include episodes of Fargo and The Handmaid’s Tale, and music choices include Nana Mouskouri, Thomas Newman and Hozier.

Birthday boy Gavin Friday chats about the Virgin Prunes, his musical influences and also picks the tunes

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2019 69:48


Tonight birthday boy Gavin Friday chats to John Kelly in a special Mystery Train Sunday Service. Gavin picks all the records and chats about his varied musical influences and takes a look back over his own musical career.

Director Jimmy Fay talks about Tallaght in the 1980s and working with Sam Shepard

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2019 79:26


Director Jimmy Fay joins John in studio and picks tunes by Lisa O'Neill, Neil Young and Miles Davis. Currently Executive Producer of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, Jimmy remembers Tallaght in the 1980s, working with Sam Shepard and buying his first Beatles album hours before John Lennon died.

Writer Nicole Flattery discusses growing up in the midlands and picks music by Sharon Van Etten and Amy Winehouse

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2019 74:33


Writer Nicole Flattery joins John for a Sunday Service special, picking all the tunes. She talks to John about growing up in the midlands, the pressure of a book deal and the many puns available to sub-editors based on her surname. Music choices include Sharon Van Etten, Amy Winehouse and Frank Ocean.

Cellist Kate Ellis picks music from Bach to Zorn and chats about new Irish music

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019 72:17


Crash Ensemble Artistic Director and cellist Kate Ellis joins John Kelly for a Mystery Train Sunday Service. Kate picks music from Sarah Vaughan, JS Bach and John Zorn, and chats about her career, key collaborations and being allowed to watch Star Trek.

William Brittelle picks the tunes and chats about his 'genre-fluid electro-acoustic song cycle'

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2019 63:46


In advance of a performance at the Sounds From a Safe Harbour festival, composer William Brittelle joins John for a Mystery Train Sunday Service to talk about his music and musical influences. His latest release 'Spiritual America' is described as 'a genre-fluid electro-acoustic song cycle' and music choices include Prince, Bon Iver and Whitesnake.

Writer Emilie Pine picks the music and talks about joy and loss

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2019 76:44


'Notes to Self' writer Emilie Pine picks the music on Mystery Train Sunday Service. She talks to John Kelly about her writing success, and how loss and joy can co-exist.

Bronagh Gallagher talks bebop, soul and Tarantino

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2019 74:42


John Kelly was joined by Bronagh Gallagher aboard the Mystery Train Sunday Service for a whistlestop tour of her extensive record collection, a brief history of bebop and soul music, plenty of hilarious anecdotes and as many top-notch tunes as this pair of music-loving Northerners could wedge into the two-hour journey.

Glen Hansard joins John and picks music by Peadar O'Riada and El Perro del Mar

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2019 52:51


Glen Hansard joins John Kelly for another Mystery Train Sunday Service, and picks music by Joni Mitchell, Peadar O'Riada, El Perro del Mar and Gastr Del Sol. G

'Sweet Home' author Wendy Erskine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2019 63:41


Another chance to hear writer Wendy Erskine joining John Kelly aboard the Mystery Train, and she'll be picking all the music for our Sunday Service.

Claim RTÉ - The Mystery Train

In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

Claim Cancel