DONEGAL TV TO HIT SCREENS NEXT MONTH

Donegal TV will broadcast for the first time next month – with four special half-hour programmes – with a big emphasis on The Gathering.

Every Thursday during April, Donegal TV will be broadcast at 7.00 pm on the Sky Showcase Channel (191), Freesat Channel 400 and will be available online at www. donegaltv.ie.

The first programme will be aired next Thursday, April 4th and will include a welcome from Donegal Mayor, Cllr. Frank Mc Brearty and an exclusive interview with General Martin E. Dempsey, the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Combined Forces – the highest ranking military figure in the United States – who has strong connections with Ranafast, Co. Donegal.

Packie Bonner will bring viewers on a whirlwind tour of his home area while the recent Donegal County Enterprise awards will also be featured in the first programme.

Later programmes will include a special tribute to Donegal Person of the Year Jim Mc Guinness, actor Sean McGinley, and behind the scenes footage of the magnificent dedication of last year’s joint person of the year Anne Marie Ward. A series of features on the beautiful attractions and events in Donegal will also be included with many well known Donegal personalities taking part.

The concept of developing Donegal TV has been driven by Newtowncunningham man Shane Wallace of Wallace Media, and it is seen as a great platform to promote and tie in with The Gathering.

“I am delighted about this new initiative where a number of people based in the Business Development Centre at LYIT, namely Wallace Media & Grace Ann Consultancy have brought this innovation to our efforts here in Donegal,” said Paddy Harte, Chairman of the Donegal Gathering organising committee.

“The gathering is a year long celebration of all that is great about Donegal. Over 150 events will take place in the County this year which range from small community gatherings to large scale international events and the TV programmes are an ideal platform to encourage our diaspora to visit home this year,” he added.

Along with Sean Perry they will be reporting on numerous features with Wallace Media providing the production expertise and facilities.

The project comes under the able stewardship of Paul McLoone, former Chief Executive of North West Tourism.

“This is a pilot project to explore the possibility of developing TV programmes within the County. We have the technology, the expertise and the capacity to produce quality television programmes in Donegal and we know we will learn from this initiative and go on to produce shows on a more regular basis into the future,” stated Mr. McLoone.

“The programmes are about Donegal and are made and presented by Donegal people. We are the only county in Ireland producing programmes like this and I am asking the people of the county to spread the word to family and friends based either at home or abroad to tune in,” Mr. Harte continued.

The programmes will also be available on playback on the website so if you miss them first time around you can watch them again at your leisure.

“The programmes are aimed at the people of Donegal and our diaspora and hopefully in these difficult times will give people a bit of a lift and will show Donegal again leading the way in 2013,” he said, adding: “Let’s put Donegal TV on the map this 2013 Gathering.”