TG4 launched its autumn schedule in the IFI in Temple Bar, Dublin, earlier this week with many of the stations well-known faces in attendance.
This year has been an exceptional one for the Irish language station with the global success of An Cáilín Ciúin having received an Oscar nomination earlier in the year and this Autumn TG4 will expand its offering with the launch a new dedicated children’s channel, Cúla4 and a TG4+1 channel.
The new season’s launch has something for everyone as TG4 continues to deliver more unique home-produced documentaries that reflect Irish life, excellent music and an array of live sports programming, unique entertainment, and an impressive selection of drama series premiering on Irish tv.
“I would like to thank Minister Catherine Martin for her support for TG4 in a year, through ’An Cailín Ciúin’, when Irish language creativity has achieved a global platform of appreciation,” said Director General of TG4 Alan Esslemont at the event. “TG4 has a key role in supporting the Irish language within the wider Irish society and for the community of habitual Irish speakers. TG4 also plays an important and growing role as a public service broadcaster at a time when the needs of the values of public service within the broadcasting ecosystem are increasingly evident."
“I welcome the comprehensive review of Irish language media which is due to be completed by Coimisiún na Meán by the end of 2024. This review offers a wonderful opportunity for the state to learn from best European practice in minority language media, to strengthen existing structures and bring forward new initiatives which will benefit all of Irish society.”
Some of the highlights among the documentary series’ coming this autumn on TG4 is Rúin na bPortach, which is a series about the bogs and peatlands of Ireland and the world. Cormac Ó hÁdhmaill takes us on a journey from the boreal peatlands of Canada, to the expansive peat plains of Finland and the beautiful blanket bogs of home. Misneach is a documentary series that explores the stories of people and communities who have faced challenges in their lives. Ag Triall ar an Tobar is a new 6-part documentary series presented by Manchán Magan that dives into the stories associated with Ireland’s Holy wells. Where have these rituals come from and who are the people that keep the traditions alive.
Rún na Bóinne sees award winning journalist Seán Mac an tSíthigh and a team of leading international scientists undertake an epic quest to uncover the location of a long suspected second chamber at Newgrange. Scéalta Grá na hÉireann is back with six captivating historical love stories. From the 1798 Rebellion to the Easter Rising and beyond, viewers are in for a visceral and compelling journey through time. Na Bealaí Ceilteacha follows Ryland Teifi and his daughters Lowri and Cifa as they embark on a road trip across six counties in Ireland and Wales. Two regions that form one Celtic Route.
With climate change at the forefront of people’s consciences we have Tuilte, an hour-long documentary where we hear personal stories from people who have felt the destruction of recent flooding in Galway, Inishowen, Belfast and Monaghan. The cause of these floods are investigated. Other gems from TG4’s single documentaries, which will broadcast on Wednesdays, include Croíthe Radacacha. This is a documentary about “the love that dares not speak its name” – found at the very heart of the Irish Revolution.
The hidden stories of eight female couples who were central in the fight that freed Ireland from the British Empire; Na Gaeil agus na Chéad Náisiúin is the incredible and untold story of how Irish people interacted with the First Nations of North America with contributions from some of Ireland’s leading historians along with a new wave of First Nations academics and commentators; in Inis Meáin, An Tearmann Thiar we see that 50 years ago, filmmaker Chris Rodmell immortalized life on Inis Meáin – Oileán Árann, capturing the essence of an island community on the cusp of modernity. He returns to witness their captivating journey towards a better future on Europe’s western edge.
Top class home-produced drama as well as critically acclaimed international drama from the US will feature this season. Northern Lights tells the story of two grieving strangers whose worlds collide on a rainy night in Dublin. Revelations, confessions, secrets, and lies envelop this darkly humorous, intimate series of hope. The series is a charming, intimate, funny, and realistic depiction of modern-day Dubliners, living, loving, grieving, and fighting back. The stations’ flagship soap Ros na Rún is back as life in the fictional Gaeltacht village comes with criminal Garda activity, wrongful crime convictions, death, gender, drugs and social issues alongside, love, romance and hearty village fun.
Hacks sees multiple Emmy Award winner Jean Smart star as a legendary Las Vegas comedian who is forced to hire an ambitious young writer (Hannah Einbinder). These two talented comedic voices from different generations form an unlikely bond in this new comedy. Minx is set in 1970s Los Angeles and centres around Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond), an earnest young feminist who joins forces with a low-rent publisher (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women. The Twelve – behind the facade of their anonymity of jury duty twelve ordinary people bring with them their own histories. Lives that are as complex as the trial, full of fractured dreams, shameful secrets, hope, fears, personal trauma and prejudice.
In Aerfort Dhún na nGall, we get a unique insight into the running of Donegal airport, told through the intimate stories of the passengers flying in and out and from the staff responsible for their safety and keeping this vital airport alive. In the brand-new series Tarrthálaithe na hÉireann we follow the brave men and women of the Irish coast guard, mountain rescue teams and community rescue boats across Ireland. Déan Tú Féin É is a 6-part series that seeks to nurture viewers ‘can do’ attitude and give advice and tips about “the how to” and “the when to”, when undertaking big and small DIY projects.
There is plenty of entertainment over the coming months starting with Ireland’s most intrepid traveller, Hector Ó hEochagáin, who is embarking on his latest epic trip Hector – Ó na Philippines go dtí na Solomons. The adventurer, banter-er and mischief maker is primed for another set of adventures as he takes on an amazing trip travelling deep into Southeast Asia passing through the Philippines into Malaysia & Singapore across the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali before crossing into the Pacific islands of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. After coming fourth in last year’s Junior Eurovision the search is on for the next Irish Junior Eurovision 2023 entry. Who will represent Ireland this November? We join fiddler Doireann Ní Ghlacáin as she presents Curfá a brand-new entertainment series, in which she goes in search of the best choir in Ireland. For the adventurers among us Barragram is a must-see adrenaline-filled staycation series where Barra tries paragliding in Kerry, sea-stack climbing in Donegal, zip-lining in Cork, snorkelling in Galway, indoor skydiving in Belfast and kite surfing in Dublin.
There is a great selection of exclusive live games for all sports fans with GAA Beo – The best GAA action all year round, live on TG4. Live games from the Allianz Leagues, the club championships, Ladies Football, underage grades as well as second and third level. Rugbaí Beo TG4’s flagship rugby programme Rugbaí Beo returns to our screens in October with all the best action from the United Rugby Championship. Rugbaí na mBan brings live coverage from the IRFU Women’s Rugby Interprovincial Championship – the top-level women’s rugby union competition in Ireland. In Sacar na mBan TG4 will air live weekly coverage from the FAI SSE Airtricity Women’s National League – the top tier of the women’s game at senior level in Ireland. With the new series of Underdogs the goalposts have shifted as the legendary series tackles Women’s Soccer. A panel of unknown club players will have a massive opportunity to play in the big leagues.
For the music lovers among us, there is a plethora of genres from traditional to country to hip-hop this season. Join the King of Country, Daniel O’Donnell for a brand-new series of Opry le Daniel ar Thuras from the Millennium Forum in Derry. This second series of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy sees the hugely popular traditional music series bring together the very best in traditional music recorded at the festival in July 2023 and will feature entertaining performances and fascinating conversations. Ó Bhéal gives a sharp insight into a new generation of electronic and hip-hop musicians who are drawing on the deep well of the Irish oral tradition. In Slí na mBeaglaoich father and son Breanndán and Cormac Ó Beaglaoich will, this time around, travel up through the midlands from Limerick to Fermanagh, following the route of the majestic river Shannon. They will take us on an Irish musical journey together in their beloved campervan, Beauty.
As always, the Nuacht TG4 team will bring you the latest national, regional, international and Gaeilge related news every night at 7pm and on Tuesdays at 8pm 7 Lá sees hard-hitting weekly analysis of the stories that matter. Fíorscéal brings a season of international documentaries that continue to throw a (sometimes disturbing) light on issues which affect us environmentally, socially, politically and globally.
TG4 has very exciting news for its younger viewers as the station will be launching a brand-new children’s Irish language channel, Cúla4, on September 8th.
MOLSCÉAL will continue to tell the stories from Gaeltacht areas and Irish language communities on social media. BLOC is TG4’s shared social media hub that serves the younger Irish speaking audience ensuring its followers are treated to great content as well as getting the opportunity to become a creator for the brand. BLOC is currently available on Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok, Facebook & Twitter.
The Cine4 scheme continues to deliver more award-winning films with Tarrac due for Cinema release later this year and two further Cine4’s in production, due for release in Summer 2024.
