There will be something for everyone on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta over Christmas, from music fans, to current affairs junkies, sports enthusiasts to history buffs, and plenty of programmes of interest to those in the northwest.
On New Year’s Day at 11 am RnaG will broadcast an interview with Moya Brennan from Clannad about her life.
She describes the rollercoaster journey of her life that brought her from Dobhar in the Donegal Gaeltacht, to the main stages of the world. Moya will also be presented with Gradam Francie Mooney at the Frankie Kennedy Winter School this year. RnaG will be recording the event, which will be broadcast a few days later on Friday 3 January at 11 am.
Feardorcha Ó Colla, or Freddie Fheargail as he was better known, passed away suddenly at the end of October. Feardorcha was one of the seven broadcasters who started with Raidió na Gaeltachta in 1972 when the station began broadcasting. On Friday 27 December at 11 am Séamus Mac Géidigh will bring us some of the material in the archives left to us by him in the programme Freddie Fheargail.
Frances Nic Géadaigh travelled to the London Irish Centre in Camden earlier this year where she met Irish emigrants who have made that city their home. Tune in on Friday 27 Dec at 2 pm to hear emigrants from Donegal, from Connemara, from Munster and from Dublin talking about the reasons they left home, and how they find life in London.
Bus Feda is a documentary about Feda Ó Dónaill’s well-known bus company which has been ploughing the roads between Galway and Donegal since 1983. The programme looks at the importance of the service, and can be heard on St. Stephen’s Day at 11 am.
Sports fan can tune in on Sunday 22 Dec for a look back at the football year, and on Saturday 28 December at 2 pm for a look back at the hurling year. Donegal football fans can also tune in on Tuesday 31 December at 11 am to hear about football in the county in 1963, with Fr. Seán Ó Gallchóir.
Donnchadha Ó Baoill from Rann na Feirste, a member of the Placenames Committee, will be talking about the meaning and origins of placenames in the programme Logainmneacha on 2 January at 11 am. Mary Coughlan gave her first extensive interview since losing her seat in the General Election in 2011 to RnaG in December, and that can also be heard on 2 January at 2 pm.
On Sunday 29 December RnaG will broadcast a lecture by Fr Pádraig Ó Baoill given at Éigse Sheáin Bháin Mhic Menamin 2013 about the literature of Baile na Finne.
The big stories in Donegal will be under discussion in the programme Súil Siar ar 2013 presented by Áine Ní Churráin on Monday 30 December 11 am.
The Fleadh in Derry was a great success, and RnaG was broadcasting live from there over 3 days in August. Tune in on St. Stephen’s Day at 9pm for a look back at the highlights from the Fleadh, presented by Séamus Mac Géidigh.
New music series Seoda Ceoil presented by Fiachna Ó Braonáin will focus on 6 of the albums in the extensive catalogue of the Gael Linn music label, which celebrates 60 years this year, including groundbreaking albums by Clannad and Skara Brae. The series begins on 24 December at 11 pm.
These are just some of the highlights. Full details of the Raidió na Gaeltachta Christmas schedule can be found on their website www.rte.ie/rnag.