Tag Archives: TG4

Doireann Ní Ghlacáin tells Jessica Quinn about her documentary on the life of her grandfather Sean Ó Riada FIFTY years after the death of influential Irish composer Seán Ó Riada, his granddaughter the musician and broadcaster Doireann Ní Ghlacáin has explored his enormous legacy as part of a brand new TG4 documentary which will be broadcast on St Stephen’s Day. Originally from Clontarf but now living in Clare with her partner, Doireann says the programme ‘Seán O Riada – Mo Sheanathair’ is the result of an “all consuming labour of love over the past two years”. The documentary sees Doireann investigate her own heritage by charting her grandfather’s life and times, uncovering the true Ó Riada in a moving tribute to this giant of Irish cultural life. The programme, the first feature length documentary by Táin Media, is directed by Feilimí O’Connor and produced by Dónal O’Connor. It was co-written by Doireann and Feilimí in collaboration with executive producers the …

THE Clare edition of TG4 show “Moving West”, hosted by Mary Kennedy, will air on Thursday at 9pm and repeat on Monday, October 18, at 7:30pm, writes Conor Clohessy. The series, produced by Dundara Television and Media in partnership with the Western Development Commission, follows families and individuals who have moved to the west of Ireland searching for a better work/life balance and new career opportunities. Moving West began airing on September 23; its fourth episode follows the journey of Aoibheann Boyle and Adam Coleman, who moved to Kilkee and Lahinch respectively. Aoibheann said: “My mother and I escaped to Kilkee for a few days before the December lockdown, and while we were there I saw an ad for a job in the Tourism Space. Within the year I was moving for that job. When I was abroad, I would always say I’m from the east, but my heart is from the west. Kilkee was more home than home – …

A YOUNG Clare gaeilgeoir features in a new creative series for children on TG4 called Cruthaím. Cathal Ó Conghaile who is nine years old and from Ballycorick features in the series of videos that are broadcast on Cúla4’s YouTube channel. Cathal loves art and spends his time drawing and colouring in. He loves art because of how fun it is and because it allows him to use his imagination. Cathal also builds models and he writes and designs comics. You can watch Cathal’s video on www.cula4.com/Cruthaím The initiative is part of a TG4 partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg 2021. Cruthaím highlights the talent of young Irish speakers across the country and in Gaeltacht areas and their unique creative processes. One young Irish speaker from each county and a representative from the diaspora of Irish speakers showcase their creativity in the series of videos …

CLARE musicians Tara Howley and Doireann Ní Ghlacáin are to feature as part of a new six episode TG4 series of concerts recorded at the Cork Folk Festival in 2020. The episode will be broadcast on Sunday, May 16 at 9.30pm. Tara is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, singer and dancer from Kilfenora. She has spent the last number of years as the piper with Riverdance and is a social media star with her tune a day campaign in 2019. She is also behind her father Pádraic Howley’s runaway Instagram success story ‘Sing and Step with Padraig. She is a two-time senior all Ireland champion on the uilleann pipes. Tara has numerous all Ireland titles in solo competitions and with bands and groups in various instruments such as concertina, fiddle, uilleann pipes and many more. In 2014 Tara toured Britain and Ireland with the group Macalla na hÉireann and The Echoes of Erin. She produced and launched her debut solo album …

A SUPER talented New Quay family have scooped the top prize on TG4’s Réalta agus Gaolta, fighting off competition from across the country and wowing judges with their unique interpretation of The Cranberries ‘Zombie’. The Farrell family will receive a €2,000 cash prize following their win and are said to be on Cloud 9 after their success. Nineteen-year-old Shónagh, who is a student of French and Music at University College Dublin (UCD) and a singer and violinist, was described by her mum Ellie as the “musical director” of the family. “They wouldn’t take any advice at all from myself or Brian,” she laughed. “We were banned from the process! Shónagh would spend lots of time adapting different pieces to suit their style and there results have been fantastic.” Judges, including Irial Ó Ceallaigh and Sinéad Ní Uallacháin were blown away by the performance of Muintir Farrell across the course of the show, and other performances included a hugely popular version …

INTERNATIONAL tributes have been paid following the passing of the acclaimed Bellharbour concerntina player, Chris Droney, who passed away on September 9, at the age of 95. Broadcaster, teacher and musician Kieran Hanrahan, who spoke at Chris’s funeral on Saturday last, said, “He was a chieftain in Clare. Some called him a druid and leader.” The Ennis man credited Chris Droney with inspiring a blossoming of traditional music in the county town and across Clare. “When Chris would come to Ennis for the Fleadhs, he was really what I would call a mega figure,” Mr Hanrahan said. “He was a national figure in the ‘60s and ‘70s and yet he was still so accessible. He always had a word of encouragement, especially for the youth of Ennis in those days. He took a delight in young people playing music. He was always so lovely and so decent. As a person, he was unassuming and an absolutely gorgeous character.” In one …

AN hour-long bilingual documentary, to be broadcast on TG4 on St Stephen’s night, tells the remarkable story of the Tulla Céilí Band. The Tulla Céilí Band tells the story of the band, which has been around for more than 70 years, and also offers a broader and more seamless social history of the times, revealing a tradition that has been handed down from father to son, along with exploring how this tradition was quite often slighted but yet continued to survive in an impatient and quickly changing environment. Directed by John O’Donnell and narrated by Doireann Ní Bhriain, the film explores the Tulla Céilí Band, both past and present, and looks at how their particular style and sound was forged and maintained over the years. When the band set out in 1946, no-one would have guessed that their unique sound would find a home in the hearts of many from Camden Town to Carnegie Hall, along with practically every dance …

Eleven Clare hurlers have been nominated for this year’s U-21 Team of the Year Awards, which will be broadcast live from Croke Park on Saturday, October 11 on TG4. In addition, two players from the Clare team that won three-in-a-row All-Ireland titles, are also nominated for the Player of the Year Award. Colm Galvin has been nominated for the award for the second successive year, while he is joined by Aaron Cunningham and Wexford star Conor McDonald on the three man list. A Player of the Year from the ‘B’ championship will also be announced as part of the live broadcast. Five players who were named on the inaugural Team of the Year in 2013 are again in line to be honoured. Clare trio, Seadhna Morey, Colm Galvin and Tony Kelly, who won both the senior and young player of the year award for 2013, are looking to add this honour to the All-Ireland medals they won following their win …