Irish Language

RTÉ committed to broadcasting a minimum of 530 hours of Irish-language content across our four linear television channels from 2020 onwards, an increase of over 400 hours of content. These hours featured a mix of in-house and commissioned originals as well as acquired programmes from TG4. By December 2020, RTÉ had broadcast in excess of 700 hours of Irish-language content on television, over 1,100 hours on RTÉ Player and nearly 9,000 hours on radio.

Television

Despite the challenges of Covid-19, in-house Cláracha Gaeilge delivered a strong and varied slate of programming, maintaining full production in a challenging year and putting 25 half hours into the schedule. Returning series and audience favourite Scannal covered a wide range of stories, among them the Bertie Bowl Saga, the tragic story of Philip Cairns, and the smoking ban. The series yielded a 22% average share. Cloch le Carn celebrated the lives of Big Tom, Feargal Quinn, Larry Gogan, Jack Charlton and Brendan Bowyer, and delivered an average overall share of 28%.

In April, Ar Scáth a Chéile, a one-off user-generated programme, went behind the hall doors of the nation and gave an insight into how our fellow citizens were managing in the Covid-19 emergency. In June a new six-part series, Saoi sa Chathaoir, invited well-known faces to take a sit in the cathaoir and reflect on key moments and turning points in their lives. In the autumn, a three-part series, Cosc, looked at the banning of Enda O’Brien’s Country Girls, the history of jazz music, and the classic Casablanca. Two one-off specials were also broadcast: Guth Vibrations during Seachtain na Gaeilge, and Laochra Cois Laoi celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Cork Double of All-Irelands.

The output was boosted further by a strong slate from the independent sector. An Teach Seo Againne (Below the Radar Films), a four-part observational documentary series following the lives of one-parent families across Ireland, broadcast to critical acclaim. Production began on three further series in 2020. My Tribe: Mo Threibh (Mind the Gap Films), a four-part bilingual BAI-supported series, is the definitive story of Ireland’s musical tribes. Ireland’s Lost Railways (Sonas Productions) sees former Taoiseach Enda Kenny discovering the lost railway routes of Ireland. The six-part series was supported by the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and will broadcast in April 2021. Ar an Sliabh (Strident Media), a co-production with BBC Northern Ireland, will chart the lives of people living on mountains today.

Online

Rte.ie/gaeilge saw a 61% increase in traffic year on year, with a huge variety of content to attract audiences of all ages. The Beo ar Éigean podcast has broadcast over 130 editions since its inception and, in 2020, presenters Siún Ní Dhuinn, Sinéad Ní Uallacháin and Áine Ní Bhreisleáin brought the popular series to RTÉ Radio 1, with further special editions also on RTÉ Radio na Gaeltachta.