TG4 is pleased to collaborate with BBC ALBA, to bring the annual awards ceremony and showcase of Traditional Irish Music, GRADAM CEOIL TG4, live to homes across Scotland and the UK for the first time. TG4’s Gradam Ceoil will be televised live on both on TG4 and BBC ALBA at 9:30pm on Sunday evening, from Belfast Waterfront Hall and will also be available as catch up on BBC iPlayer and worldwide on the TG4 player TG4.ie
TG4 Director General, Alan Esslemont, welcomed this collaboration between TG4 and BBC ALBA:
“As Ireland’s Irish language Public service broadcaster TG4 aims to extend the reach of TG4’s Irish language and cultural content to audiences worldwide. Our collaboration with BBC ALBA this year is an opportunity for Scottish and UK audiences to celebrate the best of traditional Irish music Live on the night.”
BBC ALBA Channel Editor Margaret Cameron said:
“BBC ALBA and TG4 have enjoyed a valued partnership on co-productions over the years but this is our first joint broadcast of a LIVE music event. And we look forward to bringing a lively night of traditional Irish music to audiences throughout the UK.”
TG4, the Irish language television channel is an independent statutory entity (Teilifís na Gaeilge). The channel has been on-air since late 1996. TG4 is a free-to-air channel, with a strong viewer base throughout the island of Ireland. It is currently the 6th most watched channel in Ireland, ahead of BBC 2 and Channel 4.
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, a community owned estate in the north west of Lewis, receives £1,000 to spend on equipment.
Louise Senior from Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, said: “The young people who volunteered their time and energy to make the film showed such passion and we are so pleased to see their dedication recognised with an award. The whole process has been a real team effort so we will have to sit down and decide together how best to use the prize money.”
BBC ALBA, the Scottish Gaelic channel in the UK, is a partnership channel between MG ALBA and the BBC and has been operating since 2008.
Women lead the way in this year’s accolades, with ‘Musician of the Year’, ‘Young Musician of the Year’ and ‘Composer of the Year’ all set to be awarded to highly talented female musicians. Harper Laoise Kelly from Westport, Co. Mayo is this year’s TG4’s ‘Musician of the Year’ and is one of the youngest recipients of the main award to date. Fiddle and Cello player, Sharon Howley, from Kilfenora, Co. Clare has been selected as the 2019 Young Musician of the Year, having been immersed in traditional music from a young age with a rich musical lineage.
Lillis Ó Laoire, two-time winner of the premier sean-nós singing competition Corn Uí Riada in 1991 and again in 1994 is to be awarded the title of Singer of the Year.
The other award recipients are Lifetime Achievement Award to Séamus Connolly, Outstanding Contribution Award to Nenagh’s Ned Kelly and Composer of the Year to Josephine Marsh.
Gradam Ceoil is the premier annual traditional music awards scheme, with this year’s event set to be televised live on TG4 from Belfast on Sunday 23rd February thanks to support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund. Some of Ireland’s most notable stars from across music, film, sport and civic society will assemble in Belfast this weekend for the 2020 Gradam Ceoil music awards, taking place at the Waterfront Hall on Sunday 23rd February. The internationally acclaimed traditional Irish music award ceremony will welcome an array of prestigious guests including Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar, GAA Presidential Candidate Jarlath Burns and Minister for
Communities Deirdre Hargey. Trad sensation Beoga, who collaborated with Ed Sheeran for his 2017 chart topping hit ‘Galway Girl’ will also take to the stage alongside the 2020 award recipients for what is set to be the biggest Gradam Ceoil to date.
Beoga talked about their upcoming performance and return to Belfast:
“We are delighted to be involved in the 23rd annual Gradam Ceoil TG4 traditional music awards celebration. We are proud to be associated with such a prestigious event that celebrates highly-talented Irish and international musicians and we can’t wait to take to the wonderful Waterfront Hall stage on 23rd February.
“It is shaping up to be an incredible showing of the best in Irish traditional music, and we look forward to playing in Belfast on the night.”
For more information see www.gradam.ie or Facebook and Twitter @GradamCeoil @bbcalba #Gradam
A film highlighting the effects of climate change on the Scottish islands has picked up the Film Dùthchais (Community) award at this year’s prestigious Gaelic Short Film Competition (FilmG) ceremony in Glasgow.
AN DRÀSTA! (RIGHT NOW!), made by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) on the Isle of Lewis, features young people from across the Western Isles who have been involved in the recent Climate Strikes.
The film focuses on the effect that climate change will have on their own communities, and other communities across the world, and encourages people to get involved in Climate Change activism to make a difference.
Liam Crouse from Uist, who featured in the film, said: “The Western Isles are among the first areas in Scotland that will be affected by the steadily worsening conditions which climate change, and sea-level rise, will bring. Areas such as Am Bràigh in Lewis and Cille Pheadair in South Uist are extremely vulnerable to the more severe and more frequent extreme weather. AN-DRÀSTA helped to highlight this existential threat to politicians, islanders and the wider public.”
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, a community owned estate in the north west of Lewis, receives £1,000 to spend on equipment.
Louise Senior from Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, said: “The young people who volunteered their time and energy to make the film showed such passion and we are so pleased to see their dedication recognised with an award. The whole process has been a real team effort so we will have to sit down and decide together how best to use the prize money.”
This year’s hotly contested People’s Choice award went to Staffin Primary School in Skye, who mounted a robust social media campaign to garner an impressive 1210 votes to come out on top. Their tongue-in-cheek tourism infomercial, Fàilte don Eilean, takes a practical but entertaining approach to advising tourists on how to behave when visiting the island.
Presenting the award was the Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, Kate Forbes MSP, who said: “It was great to attend the FilmG awards, an evening which showcased the great wealth of talent out there and which celebrates Gaelic storytelling and media skills. It was my pleasure to present the People’s Choice award to Staffin Primary School for their highly entertaining and original take on tourist advice.”
FilmG is run by MG ALBA and Skye-based media company Cànan Graphics Studio, to encourage the growth of Gaelic media talent. It has been running for 12 years, and has been the platform for many people now working within the Gaelic TV and film industry.
Cànan Graphics Studio Business Development Manager, Garry Noakes, said: “The judges were handed an unenviable task in choosing the winners from such a strong field of entries. Congratulations and kudos to all who took part in the film making process and have contributed to making FilmG 12 such a big success.”
Murdo MacSween, Communications Manager for MG ALBA, said: “FilmG is hugely influential, with films covering important topics but also injecting some fun into the process of how to create Gaelic content. The awards this year were fantastic in celebrating what the future of Gaelic media has to offer and I’m looking forward to seeing more and more from everyone who took part.”
Meabh NicChoinnich from South Uist, who stars in the film, was also shortlisted in the Best Performance category, but on the night the £200 prize went to joint winners, Euan MacDonald and Lachlan Peel, both from Edinburgh, for their performance in Lachlan’s film, Àrdan is Aineolas: Soidhnichean. Lachlan, a winner in last year’s competition, was also nominated in the Best Film and Best Student Film categories for his film, which takes a light hearted look at why the general public seem to get so upset by Gaelic signage.
The title of Best Film went to Shannon NicIlleathain of Tobermory, who scooped the £1,000 prize with her delightful documentary, Seònaid, which looks at the life of Janet MacDonald, who has spent her life supporting the Gaelic language on Mull. Shannon had also received a nomination in the Film Dùthchais as Fheàrr category.
Best Student Film, and the £1000 prize, was won by Joseph Flower of Dunbar for his film Sgiùradh, based on the traditional folk tale of the washer woman, but with a twist. Joseph himself doesn’t speak Gaelic, but his sister Izzy does, and she was nominated in the Best Performance category for her role in the film.
The Best Industry Director award went to Hamish MacLeòid of Glasgow for his spectacular climbing documentary, Aig an Oir, filmed on a rocky Ayrshire crag, the use of drone footage brilliantly showing the scale of the climb. Hamish’s film was also nominated in the Best Film category, but his Best Industry Director prize sees him win £2,500 to spend on equipment.
Winning a television production placement in the Highlands through HIE is Mara Drysdale of Lochcarron, after picking up the award for Most Promising Director. Her documentary Gualainn ri Gualainn traces the history of the Lochcarron shinty team and its importance within the community.
Best Mobile Short was won by last year’s winner of the same award, Eilidh NicIain from Dingwall, for her psychologically disturbing film Smuaintean an Diabhail, in which we see a young woman journey from sane to psychotic over the course of the film. Eilidh was also nominated for Best Performance for her own role in the film, and wins a placement on BBC’s The Social as her prize.
The only film to pick up two awards in this year’s competition featured in the Youth category and was made by Anndra Cuimeanach of Gairloch. Siùbhal gu Sear sees Anndra travel the breadth of Scotland on two wheels within a day, and was the recipient of Best Documentary and the Gaelic Award for Fluent Speakers.
This year’s award for Best Film in the Youth category was picked up by Culloden Academy in Inverness, for their surreal comedy, Eilean nam Muc, following one farmer’s attempts to produce a more humane black pudding.
Ardnamurchan High School in Acharacle, were the recipients of two awards for their two films in this year’s competition. The school received four nominations in total, but were the very worthy recipients of the FilmG International Representative award for their film Reòite, and the Gaelic Award for Learners for their film An Cuach, na h-Iuchraichean agus an Dron.
This year’s Best Young Filmmaker was Alice Gordon of Glasgow, with her cleverly made film An Losgann agus An Sgairp, which takes viewers on a thought-provoking journey into the darker side of vlogging. Alice was also nominated for Best Performance for her part in Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu’s (Glasgow Gaelic School)’s film Ar Solas.
And fellow Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu (Glasgow Gaelic School) pupil, Conor Galbraith, picked up the award for Best Performance for his entertaining portrayal of Detective John Reid in the school’s who-dun-nit police drama, Fo Chasaid Muirt.
The award for Best Production was won by Plockton High School in Wester Ross for their high crime drama, An Corp, which sees murder and suspicion on the west coast.
Isle of Lewis school, Sgoil an Rubha’s film Cuairt Cuimhne took home the award for Best Youth Group Film for their heartfelt story of how we can learn and support each other across the generations.
A programme with highlights of the FilmG 2020 awards ceremony at The Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow airs on BBC Alba on Friday, February 21st at 9pm.
MG ALBA is yet again one of the ‘Best Places to Work’ in television, according to one of the industry’s leading publications.
For a fifth consecutive year, Broadcast Magazine has named the key partner behind BBC ALBA as one of the top TV companies across the UK.
Committed to identifying and recognising the best employers in TV, Broadcast assesses companies on everything from leadership and planning to corporate culture, work environment, training and salaries.
MG ALBA has appeared on the list every year since inception in 2016, sharing that honour only with London-based production companies Shine TV and Dragonfly TV.
Firmly established as an industry leader, MG ALBA, the Gaelic broadcast service, employs almost 40 staff across sites in Stornoway, Glasgow and Inverness.
Primarily known as the partner organisation behind the Gaelic language service BBC ALBA, the organisation is also a key partner in LearnGaelic, a comprehensive online resource for the language, and FilmG, an annual Gaelic short film competition which this year attracted record entries.
The Broadcast magazine shortlist is compiled through independent research, with senior management and staff members at companies across the UK asked to give their views about their own organisation and its culture.
MG ALBA Chief Executive Donald Campbell says:
“MG ALBA is again recognised as an example of good practice in the media industry in both Scotland and the UK as a whole. Our commitment to staff wellbeing as well as to our audiences and communities creates great sense of togetherness and a culture that promotes creativity and talent.
“Gaelic media makes a big economic impact in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in particular and creates hugely aspirational jobs. I’m so proud that MG ALBA has yet again been listed as one of the best places to work in TV and we will continue to work hard work to secure investment into Gaelic media and to serve our audiences.”
With a fantastic line-up of live sport and entertainment programmes, more than ever before, there’s something for everyone on BBC ALBA.
Presenters Joy Dunlop, Fiona MacKenzie and Mary Ann Kennedy come together to celebrate the best in music and entertainment programming over the coming weeks.
Music fans are in for a real treat this weekend with the talented Joy Dunlop co-hosting the ‘BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Final 2020’ with Bruce MacGregor, live from Glasgow’s City Halls. Six of Scotland’s best young musicians will perform live in the final of this prestigious competition on the final night of Celtic Connections 2020 and the winner will be announced on the night.
Competing for the title this year are singers Josie Duncan from the Isle of Lewis, Cameron Nixon from Aberdeen, along with accordionist Pàdruig Morrison from Uist, whistle and pipes player Ali Levack from Dingwall, Perthshire fiddle player Mhairi Mackinnon and Aberdeenshire musician Calum McIlroy who sings, plays mandolin and guitar.
BBC Radio Scotland and BBC ALBA will broadcast the event simultaneously at 5.05pm on Sunday, February 2.
Fiona MacKenzie brought the best of the Celtic Connections festival to BBC ALBA in her live chat-show ‘Nochd’. The final episode airs on Saturday, February 1 and the whole series is available to view on BBC iPlayer.
The established Celtic Connections music series, ‘Seirm‘, starts on Saturday, February 8. Presented by Mary Ann Kennedy, this is filmed before an audience at the Arches in Glasgow and features lively performances from the best of the festival.
Look out for more live sport on BBC ALBA with the eagerly anticipated Women’s Six Nations Rugby, presented by Iona Whyte, starting on Sunday, February 2 with Ireland v Scotland.
Scotland v England takes place on Saturday, February 9 at Scotstoun in Glasgow and Italy v Scotland on Sunday, February 23, Scotland v France on Saturday, March 4 and Wales v Scotland on Sunday, March 15.
BBC ALBA will also broadcast the SPFL Challenge Cup games – Partick Thistle v Raith Rovers on Friday, February 14 and Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Rangers Colts on Sunday, February 16, followed by the final at the end of March.
Iseabail Mactaggart, Director of Multiplatform Content at MG ALBA, which operates BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC, said:
“BBC ALBA has been so successful with regards to live programming.
“For example, our hugely popular Hogmanay Ceilidh each year and our coverage of major sporting events such as the Women’s World Cup last year and the Women’s Six Nations for two years now and, of course, our fantastic music content. People watch BBC ALBA to see things they can’t watch anywhere else.”
MG ALBA (the Gaelic Media Service) has announced the appointment of Ealasaid MacDonald to the post of Director of Strategy & External Affairs.
The newly created post will take a leading role in nurturing important stakeholder relationships and in developing a renewed Lèirsinn (Vision) with partners for the future of Gaelic media. The post will also take a lead role in proposing and delivering strategies for transformation as MG ALBA and its partners face increasing levels of challenge and opportunity in the media sector.
Ealasaid will take up the role in Stornoway, starting on 27 January.
Originally from Eriskay and South Uist, Ealasaid previously worked in policy for Renfrewshire Council and has been living and working in the Isle of Lewis for the past five years, working as a freelance policy and public affairs consultant.
Donald Campbell, Chief Executive of MG ALBA, said: “This is a time of unprecedented change for us. Ealasaid will be a fantastic addition to our senior management team and we’re excited that she is joining us to help make the most of the opportunities ahead of MG ALBA and the Gaelic media sector in the near future.”
Voting is now open for this year’s entries into FilmG Gaelic Short Film Competition
There were a record-breaking number of entries for this year’s Gaelic Short Film Competition, FilmG, and they are all available now to watch online.
A massive 103 entries were submitted in total, including 23 films to the open category, 75 films made by young people aged 5-18, and five scripts.
The competition is now well-established in schools and with Gaelic speakers and filmmakers across the country.
Voting for The People’s Choice Award is open until the end of January.
Shortlists chosen by a panel of media professionals will be announced in January and their winners will be unveiled at the Awards Ceremony on 14 February 2020.
Each year, FilmG encourages aspiring filmmakers to show off their talent and creativity. This year filmmakers were tasked with making films relating to the theme “Treòraich,” which means guide or lead.
Eilidh Rankin, FilmG Project Manager, said: “It’s been a joy to go through this year’s entries. We are delighted to see numbers growing year on year – a sign that the competition is increasing in popularity.
“It’s also really exciting to see such a breadth of topics and genres being covered, and the overall quality of the films is so high.
“It’s great to see familiar faces returning to our screens, as well as new talent coming to the fore.”
Project Funders MG ALBA were also delighted at the standard of entries, and Communications Manager, Murdo MacSween, said:
“It’s great that FilmG continues to grow and it’s really inspiring to see funny, dramatic, fascinating content made in Gaelic with such enthusiasm!
“FilmG is a fantastic route to get noticed and to lay a marker for the future and as an industry it’s encouraging to see so many come through FilmG to a career in Gaelic media.”
Many Glasgow and Edinburgh based filmmakers took part including industry entrant, Glasgow-based freelance filmmaker Hamish MacLeod.
His documentary film Aig an Oir (The Edge) follows Lochalsh-born climber Kenny Rankin as he takes on a renowned route in Ayrshire, and ex-pupil of Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld, filmmaking student Tommy Hammond’s documentary film, celebrates the work of two influential Gaelic teachers in his old school.
Primary schools in the area showed an interest as well, with Condorrat in Cumbernauld and Mount Cameron (East Kilbride) primaries taking part and Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghleann Dail on Glasgow’s South Side who have had a film club running in order to make their film An Coidse (The Coach).
Edinburgh entrants have also been creative across the youth and open categories, with Queen Margaret University student Cara Turner exploring a world where guidance on all of life’s issues comes at the touch of a button in her drama film, EFFY. While Napier student Joseph Flower’s film Sgiùradh (Scrubbing), follows a washing woman who has secret powers, as she quietly solves problems for her neighbours.
Pupils at James Gillespie’s High School, also in Edinburgh, made a film as part of the FilmG Workshops process, and two independent entries including a comedy based at a tea-making championship.
In the Highlands and Islands, comedy was popular this year. Kilmuir Drama Club in north Skye adapted a stage play for screen in Bùth nan Èisg (The Fish Market) which follows a cheekily-named proprietor, and a variety of weird and wonderful staff and customers as they go about their business.
Advanced Higher S2 pupils at Stornoway’s Nicolson Institute made a film called Holiday Inn-tinneach which sees holidaymakers arrive at Lewis’ answer to Fawlty Towers, while Gaelic learners in Culloden Academy in Inverness made a film about an old man who comes up with an innovative solution to a shortage of black pudding.
Some of the high schools have taken a supernatural or historical slant on the theme, including Ardnamurchan High School (near Fort William) where fluent speakers made a sci-fi film Reòite! (Frozen) which sees science whizz John invent a machine that can stop time, only for it to land in the wrong hands.
Dingwall Academy, Inverness, created a drama film with influential characters from Scotland’s past while Citadel High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada, took part for the first time with a film based on a traditional Cape Breton tale.
The newly-introduced award for Best Documentary in the youth category has been popular too.
Fluent speakers at Castlebay High School (Isle of Barra) made a film Tìr a’ Gheallaidh (Land of Promise) which tells the little-known story of the Annie Jane, a ship which was wrecked off the coast of Vatersay in 1853 with 450 passengers, mostly emigrants, on board.
Independent filmmakers have explored a variety of topics within the documentary genre, as well as making drama, comedy, and animation-based films.
Visit www.filmg.co.uk to see this year’s entries.
‘Peatlemania’ will be in full flow this New Year on BBC ALBA with the popular band Peat & Diesel appearing as one of the headline acts on the channel’s Hogmanay Ceilidh programme, which will broadcast live from Motherwell.
The Stornoway-based band have taken the Highland music scene by storm this year after they went viral on facebook with their Hebridean themed songs and won the award for best Live Act at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2019.
Peat & Diesel sold out their upcoming Barrowlands gig in January within hours, leading to a second date announced at the iconic Glasgow venue, as well as their 2020 UK and Ireland tours. A huge feat considering their grassroots origins playing in kitchens, barns and pubs on the Isle of Lewis just last year.
Cèilidh Na Bliadhn’ Ùire 2019 will be broadcast live from Motherwell Concert Hall in Lanarkshire, and hosted by popular BBC ALBA stalwarts Cathy Macdonald and Niall Iain Macdonald.
Motherwell’s name originates from an ancient water source in the area, ‘Tobar na Màthar’, which translated from Gaelic means the ‘Mother’s Well’.
Lanarkshire has strong links with Gaelic, including Gaelic-medium education provision from nursery all the way to secondary and the Cumbernauld Gaelic Choir is a regular winner at the Royal National Mod.
This year’s Hogmanay programme offers an array of stunning Gaelic singers and musicians providing ceilidh craic to take viewers and listeners through the bells and into 2020.
Also performing live on the night is Mànran, who celebrate 10 years together in 2020 and will be joined by singer – Kim Carnie in her first TV appearance as part of the band.
Other acts include the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, renowned Gaelic singer Margaret Stewart and Scotland’s first ever entry to a Eurovision content, the Alba Choir, conducted by BBC Weather presenter Joy Dunlop.
Hosts Cathy and Niall Iain are popular in Scottish broadcasting. Cathy presents the Royal National Mod coverage and hosts her own radio shows whilst Niall Iain this year presented live from the TRNSMT festival on BBC ALBA and live from Belladrum festival on both BBC ALBA and BBC Scotland on the same nights!
Niall Iain Macdonald said: “We are really looking forward to raising a glass at the bells with the BBC ALBA viewers and Radio nan Gàidheal listeners and bringing in the New Year in style.
“Cathy and I love being in amongst it all and it’s hard not to forget that we are there to work and just join in the dancing with everyone else.
“It’s going to be a great night in Motherwell and we can’t wait to get the ceilidh going.
“Tune in live to the ceilidh and raise a glass with us at the bells as we bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the New Year.”
Cèilidh Na Bliadhn’ Ùire 2019 airs on BBC ALBA on Tuesday, December 31 from 11.30pm to 1.30am, on Radio nan Gàidheal and is available on BBC iPlayer and worldwide via bbc.co.uk/alba
A new documentary by BBC ALBA pays tribute to the remarkable life and achievements of the hugely influential environmental campaigner Colin MacLeod, the Birdman of Pollok.
In the 90s, Glasgow didn’t have a Greta Thunberg, they had Colin MacLeod.
Colin grew up in Pollok where gangs, drink and drugs were part of life but he was also a Glasgow Gael and used his own Gaelic heritage as a foundation and set up the Pollok Free State in an area of Pollok Country Park to try to give a voice back to the people.
The programme includes previously unseen archive photos and video footage, kindly loaned by his wife Gehan and closest friends.
The story beings with his protest in the early 90s when he spent nine days up a tree in Pollok Country Estate to protect land that was going to be bulldozed to make way for an extension of the M77 motorway.
Pollok Country Park had been gifted to the people of Glasgow and Colin viewed it as a playground for the poor children of Pollok, a place to escape.
When it was under threat, children walked out of school on strike, protesters blocked roads, tens of thousands marched against the environmental impact of the plans for the new motorway.
Alastair MacIntosh, friend of Colin MacLeod, said:
“He was a chieftain in the true ancient sense. He broke his heart fighting poverty in Glasgow.”
This fascinating documentary features exclusive new interviews with Colin’s father Donald, his friend and fellow activist Barbara NicGriogair, his wife Gehan, friend and environmental campaigner Alastair MacIntosh, former MSP Rosie Kane McGarvey and her nephew, the author of Orwell Prize Winning book ‘Poverty Safari’ Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey, who dedicated a whole chapter to Colin and his work in his book.
Darren McGarvey spoke highly of Colin in the programme, he said:
“He was magnetic. He had those qualities that a true leader has.”
Alan Torrance, who met Colin during the beginnings of the GalGael and still works there today, said: “He was a very brave man. He stood in defiance of tyranny. He led from the front.”
The M77 was extended anyway, but Colin went on to found GalGael ‘the free child of Pollok Park’, a Gaelic-inspired movement for cultural renewal in inner-city Glasgow.
When Colin died aged 39 in 2005, the streets of Govan stopped, with 600 mourners behind his handmade coffin.
Filmmaker Nina Torrance said:
“There is so much happening today that parallels what Colin was fighting against that it felt we needed to hear his story today more than ever.”
The music was composed by John Cummings (formerly of Mogwai).
The Birdman of Pollok/ Curaidh na Coille airs on BBC ALBA on Monday 30th December at 9pm and will also be available on the BBC iPlayer.
MG ALBA is delighted that Ofcom has today announced four appointments to its board.vLisa Annette, Rhoda MacDonald and Iain MacMillan will take up their roles on 1 January 2020 and Ceit-Anna MacLeod will join the Board on 1 May 2020. All four have been appointed for terms of four years.
Ofcom’s announcement contains new member biographies.
MG ALBA’s chariman Allan MacDonald welcomed the news:
“I am delighted to welcome these four very talented individuals to join the MG ALBA Board beginning in the New Year. As a team we will have very significant challenges to overcome in the next five years, including funding, technology, and distribution amongst other broadcasting hurdles.
“It’s a time of great challenge and change as we approach one hundred years of Gaelic broadcasting in 2023, and it is our job to ensure high quality multi-platform content distribution in collaboration with our BBC partners.
“Let us be clear that the expectations of our young people have never been higher.
“Our new board colleagues will help us in pursuit of the answers we believe are needed to the mounting challenges and risks that Gaelic media faces. They – like all of us – have a big part to play”.
BBC ALBA has announced its Christmas and New Year schedule, offering a fantastic line-up of programmes from home and around the globe.
The Kitchen Coves are back to take on a Christmas Feast challenge in Seòid a’ Christmas. Roddy Angus and Uisdean cook all the things you’d want from a classic Christmas dinner, but with their own Highland twist on some of the courses – especially the Yule Log!
Iain MacKinnon presents a special Christmas celebration of carols and readings with Alleluia na Nollaige, with performances from Alasdair Whyte, Mischa MacPherson and the specially formed choral group Caireall.
Choirs galore feature in Eurovision Choir Gothenburg 2019 which charts the story of the Alba Choir who made their debut at the Eurovision Choir competition this year in Gothenburg.
Cathy McDonald reveals the forces that shaped the very different lives of two sons of the Hebrides in a compelling historical documentary Macleod MP/Maclean KGB. This tells the story of a Soviet Spy Donald MacLean and Tory Cabinet Minister Iain Macleod. Born in 1913, they both went to Cambridge University and in their own ways tried to change the world.
A fascinating mini-series of three programmes Sgoil nan Sagart/Priest School follows Ronald Campbell from Benbecula who becomes the first Catholic priest to be ordained there. Solus productions gained unprecedented access to the Vatican City, St Peter’s Basilica and the Apostolic Palace.
The award-winning, young humanitarian Gemma Steele makes a very special trip to her second home Kenya, in Am Pòsadh Afraganach/The African Wedding. On this visit she is accompanied by family and friends and her husband Shaun as they celebrate their marriage with her ‘other family’ at St Jerome’s orphanage.
BBC ALBA meets three Scottish dancers in Paris at the Moulin Rouge as the world-famous cabaret celebrates its 130th birthday. Moulin Rouge Écosse is a colourful and lively documentary about these young Scots who are living their dancing dream. Feathers, sequins, glitz and glamour presented by Cathy Bhàn – this show has it all.
Curaidh na Coille/Birdman of Pollok pays tribute to the remarkable life and achievements of the environmental campaigner Colin MacLeod. This programme follows his protest in the early 90s when he spent nine days up a tree in Pollok Country Estate to protect land that was going to be bulldozed to make way for an extension of the M77 motorway.
A heart-warming family documentary Sgeulachd Syd Agus Millie/Two Go to Tolsta tells the story of brother and sister Millie and Syd’s story. As young children in 1949 they ran away from their home in Hertfordshire and travelled over two days by train, bus and boat to the Outer Hebrides, with no money and no adult supervision to arrive at their granny’s house in the village of North Tolsta without having been stopped or challenged once. Their story hit the headlines at the time and now 70 years on Millie and Syd reminisce about their experience.
The hugely popular and award-winning sketch show FUNC returns for a special Hogmanay edition, starring some very special guest stars and a mix of the surreal, satirical and downright silly.
And it’s all back to ours for BBC ALBA’s fabulous Hogmanay Ceilidh live from Motherwell Concert Hall, hosted by Cathy Macdonald and Niall Iain Macdonald. With Peat & Diesel, Mànran, Alba Choir, Margaret Stewart and the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, viewers are sure to be entertained through the bells and into the new decade!
And it doesn’t stop there. On New Year’s Day, BBC ALBA star Anne Lundon gets behind the wheel and travels Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way in a new 4 part series. Following on from driving the North Coast 500 in Scotland, Anne finds out just what draws people to this stunning Irish West Coast route.
One of Glasgow’s best-known hostelries, the Park Bar, is also featured on New Year’s Day, with a programme charting the history of the popular pub which is a hub for many local visiting islanders and Highlanders.
The following day, on the 2nd, BBC ALBA gets to know the family behind the world famous Ardbhan fold of Highland cattle reared in North Uist. The film follows a year with the Macdonalds and their herd of award-winning cattle.
January also sees the return of a few BBC ALBA favourites with crofting tales from An Lot, Farpaisean Chon Chaorach / Sheepdog Trials and we go out and about with Ramsay in Mach à Seo!
And plenty of festive fun for children thanks to a great line-up of programmes
BBC ALBA has revealed a seasonal stocking filled with goodies for children over the festive period thanks to a fantastic line-up of programmes with a real focus on original content for younger viewers.
There’s a selection of seasonal treats for the little ones on Christmas Day including the channel’s own enchanting animated versions of Julia Donaldson’s An Fhaochag agus a’ Mhuc-mhara/The Snail and the Whale and the global hit the Moomins, in Gleann na Mùmain.
Two world-class European Broadcasting Union (EBU) films, a children’s drama and a short documentary, will also air on Christmas Day.
Both programmes, made by Sorbier Productions from Glasgow, received funding from the new Young Audience Content Fund (YACF), which is managed by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Rùn / Private Pet is a quirky comedy drama about listening and learning, in which a mischievous deaf boy’s world is transformed thanks to a four-legged friend who becomes the “ears” he never had and Balach aig a’ Mhullach /Boy at the Top is a breath-taking documentary with stunning scenery charting a boy’s attempt to climb the equivalent height of Everest – mountain by mountain in Scotland.
These programmes will also be available on the BBC iPlayer from 9am on Christmas morning, perfect for when all the presents have been unwrapped!
And from this year’s bumper Royal National Mòd, there is a chance for families to see their young ones performing with unseen footage from October’s winners.
And if the kids can stay up late enough on Hogmanay, everyone’s favourite riotous band Peat & Diesel will be helping bring in the bells alongside BBC ALBA stars Cathy MacDonald and Niall Iain MacDonald.
Bill MacLeod, Commissioning Editor for BBC ALBA said:
“BBC ALBA showcases some of the very best children’s programmes in the world. Presented by a brilliant cast of wacky, young presenters in our CBeebies and CBBC studios we can guarantee a feast of fun for the festive season – easily accessible on both the BBC ALBA channel and iPlayer.”
Find more information about the festive programmes here
Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr bho BBC ALBA!
