Summer is here and BBC Gaeilge is celebrating the season with the best of Irish language music and culture on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle with new presenters and new content.
A new six-part series, Saol na mBan, takes us on a journey through time, weaving together the vibrant tapestry of Irish women’s lives over the past nine decades.
BBC Gaeilge’s award-winning flagship radio magazine programme, Blas, is celebrating 25 years on air and welcomes new presenter Daire Ní Chanáin, who looks over the year so far, showcasing some of the series’ best bits from Wednesday 3 July.
Blas Ón Taobhlíne continues to keep listeners up-to-date will all the big stories from the world of sport with Fearghal Mag Uiginn on Mondays, while Caoimhe Ní Chathail takes over Thursday’s Irish language slot for 90 minutes of music, craic and conversation with a new summer series, Blas an tSamhraidh from Thursday 4 July.
Caschlár continues across the summer with Brian Mullen introducing various world music hits, from pop to roots via trad, blues and soul, on Mondays at 8pm on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Sounds.
Saol na mBan
Starting Tuesday 2 July at 7.30pm
From the hearths of rural homesteads to the bustling streets of urban landscapes, this six-part series brings to life the extraordinary stories of ordinary women who have witnessed and shaped the shifting sands of economics, politics, and social freedoms.
These voices have often gone unheard and presenter Ceara Ní Choinn takes us on a journey through almost one hundred years, starting with the late 1920s. Each episode unravels the story of that generation, laying bare the circ*mstances these women were born into, the challenges they faced and the dreams they dared to dream.
In the first episode we hear from women who were born in the late 1920s and beyond, including Máire Mhic Sheáin, one of the oldest Shaw’s Road Gaeltacht community residents in west Belfast and Patricia Herald, who was born in a mother and baby home in Dublin.
Episode two features the Newtownards-born poet and playwright, Celia de Fréine. Celia talks about her upbringing and life in the world of literature, and what inspired her to write about the Hepatitis C scandal.
We also hear from mother and actress Máire Andrews, who grew up in the 1950s and reflects on finding creativity, love and joy during a life lived in Belfast which was characterised by deep-seated divides.
The series concludes with stories from those born in the 1990s and gives listeners a chance to ponder the last 100 years and the changing landscapes these women have lived through.
The series was co-produced by presenter Ceara Ní Choinn and Méabh Fields.
Méabh says: “From the stories of Maggie Nic Pháidín and her early days in the 1920s and 1930s living on a remote island, to women who lived through the Troubles, and the fun, light-hearted memories of platform shoes, blue eye shadow and 20 people in a car going to a dance, makes each episode a mix of emotions.”
The six part series is produced by Clean Slate TV and is a co-production between BBC and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta made with support from NI Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.
Starts Tuesday 2 July at 7.30pm on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds.
Blas: Monday to Thursday
Blas Ón Taobhlíne: Mondays at 7.30pm (Continues throughout the summer)
Feargal Mag Uiginn continues to keep listeners up-to-date will all the big stories from the world of sport including the All-Ireland Championships and the later stages of Euro 2024.
Caschlár: Mondays at 8pm (Continues throughout the summer)
Brian Mullen introduces various world music hits to us on Radio Foyle and BBC Sounds, from pop to roots via trad, blues and soul.
Blas: From Wednesday 3 July at 7.30pm with Daire Ní Chanáin
This summer season welcomes a new voice to BBC Gaeilge as Daire Ní Chanáin from Derry presents a four part series of highlights from Blas throughout its 25th celebratory year.
Blas an tSamhraidh: Starts Thursday 4 July at 7.30pm
Caoimhe Ní Chathail keeps the summer lit for us with 90 minutes of weekly music, craic and conversation in this new summer series.
BBC Gaeilge on BBC iPlayer
There’s also lots of lots of content to catch up on this summer with the BBC Gaeilge Collection on BBC iPlayer. There’s a range of programmes and series including Peataí!, Gairm le Gaeilge and Kayak Ó Thuaidh.
*Transmission times are subject to change*
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