International Award for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and Máirtín Tom Sheáinín

Máirtín Tom Sheáinín

Dáithí Ó Sé agus Beirní Ní Chuinn

CD - Ceol agus Foinn - Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy

Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh

SBB sna 70aidí

Leagan Gaeilge

A radio programme about the life and death of Corporal Ciara Durkin has won a Silver Medal at the prestigious New York Festival.

An international jury awarded the Silver Medal for Best long-form Coverage of an Ongoing News Story to broadcaster Máirtín Tom Sheáinín Mac Donncha for the programme Ciara na Gruaige Rua Ciara of the Red Hair which was first broadcast in October 2007.

Ciara Durkin was killed while serving with the US Armed Forces in Afghanistan in September 2007.

Born in Eanach Mheáin in Co. Galway in 1977, she emigrated with her family to the US in 1986 and subsequently enlisted in the US National Guard in Massachusetts.

Working with the 726th Finance Battalion on Bagram Air Force Base she was found dead on 28th September 2007 with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Máirtín Tom Sheáinín attended the memorial service for Ciara in Quincy, MA, in on 6th October 2007 and reported on her funeral in Ireland, held in Leitir Móir, Co. Galway the following Saturday 13th October 2007.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcast a programme on Ciara's life and death featuring interviews with members of Ciara's family on October 10th 2007. The international jury awarded the Silver Medal for this broadcast.

Managing Editor, Programmes, of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Seán Ó hÉanaigh commented:

'This international competition attracted entries from 17 different countries and it is a mark of Máirtín Tom Sheáinín's professionalism that this programme has been honoured in this way.'

Máirtín Tom Sheáinín Mac Donncha is a producer with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and presents the popular weekly Togha agus Rogha music request show and the award-winning daily programme Ardtráthnóna.

The award-winning programme Ciara na Gruaige Rua can be heard as a podcast here.

New album of music from the Willie Clancy Summer School


A new archival CD of traditional Irish music was launched by RTÉ Director General Cathal Goan at the Celtic Media Festival held in Galway over the weekend. Entitled
Music and Songs from the Willie Clancy Summer School, the CD is the initiative of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Since 1973, the Willie Clancy Summer School is held annually in Miltown Malbay Co. Clare, in memory of piper Willie Clancy. It is a Mecca for traditional musicians and singers. Last year 1500 students attended 150 workshops at the Summer School! Every year, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has recorded hundreds of hours of music and song from the festival, and this new album is an opportunity for people to share in the rich tradition of the Summer School. On the album are just some of the wonderful artists who have taken part in the festival from the late 1970's to the present day.

There are 40 tracks on this double album and among the well-known musicians and singers to be heard are Willie Clancy, Micko Russell, Seán Ryan, Junior Crehan, Hugh Healy and Jimmy Ó Ceannabháin, to mention just a few.

Muiris Ó Rócháin, School Director, had this much to say regarding the recordings:
"RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has been to the forefront in supporting traditional musicians and singers since the start of the Summer School. This is the first album of its kind to be produced, and it gives me great pleasure that RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta have issued such a fine album".

"Music and Songs from the Willie Clancy Summer School is an important gem in the continuous development of traditional Irish music. We are delighted to be associated with the Summer School" said Edel Ní Chuireáin, Ceannaire, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Comhairle RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

Fifteen members have been appointed to Comhairle RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (Advisory Board) announced on the 27th November 2006. An tOllamh Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh has been appointed Chairperson.

An tOllamh Gearóid Ó Tuathaigh is Professor of History with the National University of Ireland, Galway, and served as a former Chairperson of Údarás na Gaeltachta (1996-1999). He was joint editor of the lecture series Pobal na Gaeltachta: a scéal agus a dhán broadcast by RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta in conjunction with the radio service in 2000.

Comhairle RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta will serve a three year term in an advisory capacity to the RTÉ Authority regarding all aspects of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's broadcasting policy.

The newly appointed Comhairle comprises the following members:

Rónán Ó Dubhthaigh
Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, An Cheathrú Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe.

Caitríona Bhreathnach
Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál, Luimneach

Antóin Delap
Aturnae, Baile Átha Cliath

Micheál Ó Gallchóir
Bainisteoir Oibriúcháin, Bia Ghaoth Dobhair, Contae Dhún na nGall

Aoife Ní Scolaí
Iar-Ard-Rúnaí Gníomhach, Conradh na Gaeilge

Seosamh Ó Méalóid
An Mullach, Contae an Chabháin

Tomás Ó Cruadhlaoich
Príomhoide Mheánscoil na Toirbhirte, An Daingean, Contae Chiarraí

Seán Ó Sé
Iar-Uachtarán ar Oireachtas na Gaeilge, Corcaigh

Pádraig Ó Ceithearnaigh
Stiúrthóir Gníomhach, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge

Róisín Ní Mhainnín
Ros Muc, Contae na Gaillimhe

Seán Mac Donncha
Doire Fhatharta, An Cheathrú Rua, Contae na Gaillimhe

Áine Ní Chiaráin
Cúl na Gréine, Béal Easa, Contae Mhaigh Eo

Maighréad Uí Mháirtín
Cathaoirleach, Foras na Gaeilge

Anna Ní Ghallachair
Stiúrthóir, Ionad na dTeangacha, Ollscoil na hÉireann, Maigh Nuad.

Tomás Mac Con Iomaire, former Ceannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta will serve as secretary to the Comhairle and a staff representative will also be elected.

The new Comhairle took effect on 27th November 2006.