RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s new Autumn Schedule will begin on Monday 9th September, and we are delighted to announce a selection of new programmes, as well as new presenters and some other presenters returning to the airwaves.

Dónall Mac Ruairí is returning to his music and entertainment programme, Cóisir Cheoil, from three to five Monday to Thursday.  Dónall, an award winning broadcaster, is a member of the family music group Clann Mhic Ruairí and has spent six years as producer of ‘Barrscéalta’.  He feels that the world of music has changed a lot since streaming services emerged.  It is more important now than ever to find worthwhile musical treasures that are hidden and present them to the public. “Isn’t it a nice opportunity”, says Dónall, “Listening to music and presenting it to the world, and there will be all sorts of things to hear on the programme from traditional and world music.  I think it’s possible and worth spinning the many strands of music together and creating a musical banquet or a music party.”

Pé Scéal É is a new programme to be aired every Friday from three to five with the well-known personality, Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill at the helm.  Máire Treasa has spent many years on television programmes and working on sport, but now she turns her hand to radio.  In this new entertainment series, live from studio in Casla and from outside broadcasts across the country, she will kick off the weekend with a lively start.  There will be live music in studio, interesting interviews, she will be speaking to young people around the country about what is happening and what is planned for the weekend. Máire Treasa will also be heard on the RnaG sports programmes over the weekend.

The book Jimín Mháire Thaidhg was published more than a century ago, but now, in this drama series of the same title, Jimín Mháire Thaidhg, the most famous and fun character in Irish language youth literature is reimagined. This new radio drama series, can he heard every Friday at 2.35 pm or online on the RTÉ Radio Player.  It connects the era is which Jimín is set to the present day and we will also hear a new generation of young actors emerging, including Seán Dalby who plays the part of Jimín.  This is a drama series for young and the not-so-young, produced by Macalla Teo., and funded by Coimisiún na Meán from the Sound & Vision Scheme.

Contemporary music, world music, new and old music.  That’s what we’ll hear on Saturday night from 9 pm to midnight on Rianta le Marcus Mac Conghail.   Marcus is a musician and singer who has years of experience on stage with various bands but is currently playing with the group Spásas.  Marcus will provide space for Irish music, new and old, Irish language music, as well as a great mix of other music on his new programme.

Ceoltóirí na Mumhan will feature musicians and singers from Munster being interviewed by renowned musician and broadcaster Pádraig Ó Sé.  Various parts of Munster have a strong tradition and a unique style of music, and in conversation with those musicians, Padraig and we will learn about their music, about themselves and about what influenced these musicians from Munster.  The programme will be broadcast on Sundays at 7pm and will be followed by another musician, Nicole Ní Dhubhláine with her choice of music on an An Braon Gaelach at 8pm.

Gearóid Mac Donncha, Ceannaire of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta says:   “We are delighted to be launching a new and lively autumn schedule on RTÉ Raidió”na Gaeltachta. There are new programmes in the schedule and presenters are engaged in various and different programmes,  which will add to the freshness and vibrancy of the output.  These developments will benefit the service, and most importantly, the listeners of the service at home and abroad. As we have been doing for years now, we want to bring the Radio out to the public, and this will continue in the autumn as we visit different communities with outside broadcasts, concerts, and when covering major events.“

In addition to the new programmes scheduled, many programmes will return to air after the summer break.

Gormfhlaith Ní Thuairisg will be returning to the presentation of Adhmhaidin five days a week for the autumn schedule. Gaeltacht and Irish language stories, national and international news will be explored in detail on the programme, and Gormfhlaith is looking forward to the challenge. Other programmes on the station will also discuss news and current affairs.  Fionnuala Uí Neachtain will be back on Nuacht a hAon at 1pm Monday to Friday, and Fachtna Ó Drisceoil will be in Dublin on Tús Áite at 5 pm from Monday to Friday.   At the weekend, the big news and political stories of the week will be explored at 11 a.m. on Saturdays on An tSeachtain le Máirín Ní Ghadhra.

Another series of Cuan an Cheoil will begin on Thursday 12th September at 7 pm.  This series is presented by Liam Ó Maonlaí, who performs and chats with various guests each week.  Among the guests to be heard in Season 4 will be Colm Ó Snodaigh, Eithne Ní Chatháin or Inni-K, sisters Deirdre and Aoife Granville, Seána Davey, Neil Martin, PJ Ó hIarnáin and Moya Brennan, to name but a few.  Videos of the programmes will also appear online each week, and the series is a Stiúideo Cuan production funded by Coimisiún na Meán under the Sound & Vision Scheme.

Seoda Foinn by Caitlín Ní Chualáin, a well-known singer and former winner of Corn Uí Riada, will be back every Thursday at 8.30 pm, and the emphasis in this programme will be on the best of sean-nós songs and singers of old but also on new recordings.

If country music has a place in your heart, listen to An Bóthar go Nashville with Jó Ní

Chéide every Monday from 9 pm to 11 pm and Tequilla Tíre with Josie Ó Cualáin every

Sunday from 10pm to midnight.  Jó will have two hours of country music every week, and she will also inform us about concerts, some of the tours that are taking place, and snippets of information about country music’s best-known singers.  Josie will stay a little closer to home with his choice of music and always welcomes requests from listeners.

Eibhlín de Bhailís will be back with Cuideachta Ceoil every morning from Monday to Friday at 10.15am, and she hopes the programme will give listeners a break from the talk and the big stories of the day with a great selection of music.   From 7am Monday to Friday, Gráinne Ní Dhomhnaill will present the music and requests show Nead na Fuiseoige.

A glimpse of the arts world is available on An Cúinne Dána with Tristan Rosenstock and the programme has a new time slot on Thursday at 2.05 pm and will be repeated on Sundays at 6.30pm.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s sports team will be on the road with commentary, analysis and reporting on sport events from the west, north, south and east in the autumn, as is the case during the year. The GAA championships in the Gaeltacht counties will be broadcast live, as will key rounds in the Club Championships and inter-county games in the new year when the National League resumes. There will be plenty of discussion on the big sporting stories here at home and further afield on Spórt an tSathairn, Spórt an Domhnaigh and Spórt an Tráthnóna every weekend.

The full schedule and further information is available at www.rte.ie/rnag.