Press

Bliain na Gaeilge set for a lively start from Kerry Gaeltacht

27.11.17

Having been designated the Year of the Irish Language, 2018 will get off to an energetic and an authentic start with a live broadcast programme from the Dingle Peninsula that will guide viewers into the New Year. The programme, Fáilte 2018, will be broadcast live from the famed Páidí Ó Sé pub in Ard a’ Bhóthair in Ceann Trá, featuring a review of 2017, music, dance and singing, from 11.30pm on New Year’s Eve to 1.15am on New Year’s Day, marking the beginning of Bliain na Gaeilge, a year-long celebration of the language.

This special programme, sponsored by Foras na Gaeilge, the North-South language body, will include a review of the stories that made news in 2017.  It will also look forward to some of the events listed by lead organisation Conradh na Gaeilge to mark Bliain na Gaeilge during 2018.  It will also offer some top musical entertainment from host Pádraig Ó Sé and his group Polca 4 as well as guest musicians, singers and dancers.

This exciting New Year entertainment also marks the first major contribution to the TG4 programme schedule by Aniar, a newly formed production partnership that has won and signed a major output deal contract with the Irish language TV channel.

TG4’s Ardstiúrthóir, Alan Esslemont is looking forward to both the programme and the year for Irish: “The new technologies mean that we can now bring the language to every TV household in Ireland and to every internet and social media user on the globe. We will begin 2018 as we mean to go on – reaching out with authentic content that is attractive, entertaining and relevant.”

Seán Ó Coinn, CEO of Foras na Gaeilge sees the year as a major opportunity to promote Irish:   “The living language endures because people speak it,” he said “and the challenge for all of us for 2018 is to find ways that will encourage more people to do so.”

Julian de Spáinn, Ardrúnaí of Conradh na Gaeilge is excited by the prospect:  “Heralding the beginning of Bliain na Gaeilge with a lively programme of chat, music and dance from the heart of the Gaeltacht seems both natural and exciting,” he said.

Niamh Ní Bhaoill of Aniar promises that viewers will have a feast of music and song to start the year. “The Gaeltacht culture of West Kerry is famed far and wide,” she says “and we will bring the cream of our local talent to the TG4 screen for this exciting live event.”