Bliain na Gaeilge ar RT https://youtu.be/UpIaA2bvBU0 www.rte.ie/gaeilgeRT is marking Bliain na Gaeilge across radio, television, online and mobile with a range of new innovative content, nationwide educational initiatives, and an extensive, year-long social campaign, all aimed at younger audiences.
On radio
During March, RT Raidi na Gaeltachta will begin a unique six-part series, An Seisi n, featuring some of the country s top musicians, including Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Seo Linn's Stiof n Feargha l, Inni-K and Colm and R n n Snodaigh from K la. Each programme was recorded over a 12 hour period, during which the musicians were tasked with writing and recording three new songs as Gaeilge. The first programme goes out at 9.00pm on Friday 9thMarch.
Also, in a special competition, Amhr in n i N im id n, national schools across the country could be in with a chance to win a share of a 1000 prize fund by sending in a one-minute song as Gaeilge. The song can be recorded on a smartphone or tablet, and the entries will be played on the C isir Cheoil programme during Seachtain na Gaeilge, with the winner announced on 15thMarch.
RT 2fm is set to trial brand-new bilingual news bulletins at peak listening times during Seachtain na Gaeilge (1st - 17th March) and will co-sponsor, along with RT Raidi na Gaeltachta, a competition designed to nurture contemporary Irish-language song-writing the winning song will be play-listed on Ireland's number one national music station.
In addition, following a massive success in 2017, Ceol 2018, in association with Conradh na Gaeilge, will feature high-profile artists singing Irish-language versions of their own songs.
Following their successful radio debut as part of RT Radio 1 s Christmas 2017 schedule,Today's Maura agus D ith will return to RT Radio 1 with special programmes, including, L Fh ile P draig, from 10.00-11.00am on Saturday 17th March.
Also on RT Radio 1, the Book on One will feature Irish-language titles for a two week period during Seachtain na Gaeilge in March, which will be repeated later in 2018. Also in March, and throughout 2018, Sunday Miscellany will feature Irish-language writing. RT Radio 1's Drama on One will feature a number of Irish-language productions, while an RT Radio 1 archive production of Brian Merriman s epic work, C irt an Mh an O che, will feature a contemporary new contextual introduction from a female perspective.
More Irish-language content and productions on RT Radio 1 and RT Radio 1 Extra will be announced throughout the year.
Tracy's learning Irish
Never one to shirk a challenge, RT 2fm's Tracy Clifford has committed to learning Irish for Bliain na Gaeilge (#TurasTracy). Not only does she plan to appear on Bl thnaid Libh on RT Raidi na Gaeltachta and host an interview as Gaeilge on her own show, but Tracy is also aiming to present her own show on 2fm entirely as Gaeilge by the end of the year, live from the RT Raidi na Gaeltachta studios in Kerry.
For more on #TurasTracy see https://www.rte.ie/gaeilge/2018/0207/939001-turas-tracy-through-osmosis-its-happening-slowly-but-surely/.
On television
Bliain na Gaeilge will see RT produce several new Irish-language programmes, includingScannal, Cloch Le Carn, The Geansa and Lig Liom. In Lig Liom (Let Me Be), proud Irish speaker Bl thnaid N Chofaigh explains why she has refused to offer any more excuses to those who don t see that Irish speakers have a place in modern Ireland.
In addition, RT will produce new Irish-language series with the independent sector, includingCas in Cheoil, an RT /BBC Alba co-production that looks at the evolution of Irish and Scottish folk music, and Coimisi in Na Tal n, a four-part series on The Land Commission, which will be presented by the journalist Dan O Brien.
In print and online
In a new learning initiative, the top-selling RT Guide will offer readers a weekly cut-out-and-keep Irish-language phrase guide, with accompanying pronunciation and usage guides.
RT will also feature a wide range of engaging Bliain na Gaeilge content on a special website,www.rte.ie/gaeilge.
Events
RT and the creators of the sell-out Banter shows will co-host a series of talks for Bliain na Gaeilge on a variety of topics related to the Irish language. The first Banter held entirely through Irish has already taken place, with plans in place to hold more events across the year. Stay tuned.
In collaboration with Opera Theatre Company, the RT National Symphony Orchestra has recorded the first ever Irish-language opera, Eithne, which was performed in 2017 for the first time since 1909. Eithne will be launched as a double CD by RT lyric fmlater in the year.
RT will also support Seachtain na Gaeilge and, in a first, RT Supporting the Arts will support the cultural programme of St Patrick's Festival 2018.
Learning
RT is also set to organise a week-long training course in An Cheathr Rua in the Connemara Gaeltacht, which will see twenty transition year students from Gaelscoileanna around the country attend NUI Galway's Acadamh centre, where they will participate in a series of workshops given by award-winning producers of radio, television and online content. The students will receive an invaluable insight into how the media works on a day-to-day basis, with onsite visits to RT RnaG, RT Nuacht and TG4, along with other independent media companies in the area.
Elsewhere, RT will develop a two-month communications course through Irish for Bliain na Gaeilge, which will see RT staff and media practitioners visit students at the Dublin Gaelscoil, Col iste Eoin, and provide a mixture of practical and theoretical classes on media studies. The ultimate aim is to take the learnings from the one-off course and develop it into an online education project available to Irish-speaking
