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TG4 IS SET to make history with the launch of the first-ever Irish language children’s channel today.
Cúla4 will broadcast a host of shows aimed at those aged 12 and under in what is an exciting step in the promotion of our national language. Featuring a mix of entertainment, drama and news, Cúla4’s content is designed to keep the kids happy.
“It’s a brand new TV station that belongs to the young people of Ireland,” said Niamh Ní Chróinín, one of the presenters of Cúla4.
Young people’s opinions are the most important thing in any decision that’s been made so far about Cúla4 and that will be made in the future. A rule of thumb in the office is if in doubt, ask a kid,” Niamh said.
Cúla4 will air for 14 hours daily, from 6am until 8pm. You can find it on Saorview on channel 18, channel 602 on Virgin Media and channel 624 on Sky and Eir. The ground-breaking channel will also be available online via the Cúla4 player and also the Cúla4 app.
Alongside Niamh, who will be on our screens in the afternoon, Seosamh Mac Seoin and Síle Ní Chonghaile will cover the morning show from 6am and the educational zone from 9am, respectively.
Also on the channel will be news bulletins for young people during the week with Aisling Ní Dhonnabháin and Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin covering local, national, local and international news. Schools will be able to tune in from their classrooms from Tuesday to Friday at 1:30pm to keep up with the news of the day.
Cúla4’s launch will ensure the next generation of children in Ireland have another outlet in media where Irish is spoken and comes at a time when there is widespread interest and support in the language. A recent survey from Ipsos MRBI saw widespread support for the creation of a dedicated children’s channel in Irish, with 89% of respondents saying they agree or strongly agree that it is important for our society that a children’s channel is available in the Irish language on a free-to-air basis.
For Niamh and Cúla4, it’s about normalising the Irish language and making it part of everyday life for children, as well as for their parents and teachers.
“It’s not just something you do in school,” Niamh said. “It’s an actual living thriving language and providing content as Gaeilge to young people who really want to watch content in Irish.”
We see huge demand for Gaelscoileanna, and there’s a growing number of activity groups and sports groups who are training through Irish. It’s essential that young people, parents and teachers have top quality content available to them all the time, and that’s what Cúla4 is going to do.”
250,000 primary school students throughout Ireland already use the TG4 or Cúla4 Player in the classroom, according to RED C research. The launch of the standalone channel will only see these numbers increase, but Cúla4 is “not a school lesson” according to Niamh.
“It’s about providing fun and entertainment and it just happens that it’s in Irish at the same time,” she said.
As well as on our televisions, Cúla4 will meet kids where they consume their media, with regular uploads to its YouTube channel every week. Children will be able to stumble across content from Cúla4 in all of their regular spaces, further normalising the Irish language in media.
“The new Cúla4 channel ensures that Irish language content is more accessible for our younger audiences, and will hopefully strengthen their engagement with it, as they are the future generation,” Karina Feirtéar, Channel Manager of Cúla4, said.
“We developed a space for our audience to enjoy entertaining content when they like, and will continue to make sure that we represent our diverse audience as best we can by showcasing lives in Ireland today.”
Launching today, Cúla4 will air for 14 hours daily, from 6am until 8pm on Saorview on channel 18, channel 602 on Virgin Media and channel 624 on Sky and Eir. Cúla4 is also available online via the Cúla4 player and the Cúla4 app.
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TG4 is a much better station for entertainment than RTE . Well done for doing something positive to keep our native language alive
@Patrick MC Dermott: Well said Mr McDermott Try and do anything in this country and people will have a good moan. They can go watch CBBC bunch of west Brits the lot of them.
@Modern Irish Dad:
Riiiiight, so anyone who doesn’t watch TG4 is a west Brit…..
TG4 viewership hits the lofty heights of 2%.
Sounds like according to Modern here we will be rejoining the UK very soon
Tally ho!!!
@P.J. Nolan: It’s the people who are moaning about things that are being done to improve the use of the language that are the West Brits. You sir are made of straw. So off you pop you know where the airport is. The rest of us will hopefully all get behind trying to improve that 2 percent.
@Modern Irish Dad:
More like the hundreds of thousands, probably millions of us that had Irish beaten into us over the years which made us hate the language with a passion.
I actually don’t object to efforts to improve the use of Irish, the success of gael schools is there for all to see, one of the reasons for that is it’s NOT COMPULSORY to attend them.
Allow kids who aren’t interested move on.
@P.J. Nolan: Do you mean allow Irish parents who have no time for the language to pass on their dislike for it because they had the language beaten into them.
Irish was beaten out of us, Irish was beaten into us and now a channel comes along that seeks to address this matter and people moan. The Irish language does not stop with any one generation. I do feel sorry for people who had a terrible time in school. But the language must move forward and this seems like a way to try.
@P.J. Nolan: It’s not all that different from the schools, if you don’t like the channel move on, but maybe be honest about it and ask yourself why.
What a waste of money.
Propaganda. For a language no one else speaks.
@Hector turtlehead: Amadán
@Eddie Taylor: No, it’s Hector!
@Hector turtlehead: It’s our native language. “No one else speaks” Here’s a station doing something to remedy that.
@Hector turtlehead: maith an bhfear! Tá tú ceart. That’s all the Irish I know which was beaten into me by sadistic presentation brothers. Given that there is some good westerns on now and again, but down with this Irish language thing.
I give it 3 months
@Rafa C:
It’s the Irish language, viewership numbers are Irrelevant
@P.J. Nolan: Budgetary reviews. Revenue streams vs cost of running. That’s what it comes down to. Don’t be naive. If they’re not making money it will be gone.
@Rafa C: Did you say that when Ros na Rún was first broadcast?
In 1996…..
@Reuben Gray: you got me there. You’re right they’ll waste away the tv license money and call it innovation and hide the money in other funds and barter accounts while they sip champagne from platinum glasses and deficate in gold toilets.
I have no idea what Ros Na Run is. A show about Ros not Running? Sounds like a borefest .
What do I care anyway. I don’t watch any rte or Irish channels.
I pay my tv license though so those who don’t pay will have the pleasure and get to watch these delightful awful shows and channels for free.
Please enjoy the free tv at my expense.
@Rafa C: you might want to read up on your facts! 7% of revenue from the TV licence fees is paid to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the Broadcasting Fund. It is used to support the production of programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience and programmes to improve adult literacy.
The remaining revenue (approximately 85%) from TV licence fees goes to RTÉ to carry out its public service broadcasting commitments.
@Frainc Ó Broin:
57% of all facts are made up.
Again, others will enjoy the free shows, broadcasting, and all things related to TV license fees when they are not paying it. I am paying it, so I am paying for others to watch TV shows and broadcasts that I do not watch at all.
It’s very ironic.
@Rafa C:
Sounds like you never worked in the state or semi state sector.
@P.J. Nolan: sounds like a riot. Stealing money and getting free flip flops
Well done, best of luck
Utter nonsense and a huge waste of money..
Get the kids hooked early.
Irish children: why are they talking in a language no one can understand?
School: we don’t teach Irish anymore, because teachers can’t afford to live in the city.
Cula4 President in 2035: between the spending scandals, the allegations of a toxic workplace scandals and viewership numbers that never materialised, we’ve taken the hard decision to close the station down permanently.
CSO: Cula4 cost taxpayers 60M euro and never managed to reach a meaningful audience.
@Chris O’Brien: a leithéid de sheafóid!
TG4 have in the past, and still do show some great programs, homegrown and international. Inevitable BUT: The name immediately smacks of patronisation, and what if it doesn’t hit the viewing figures? Ireland sure does like to spend money recklessly. This isn’t the promotion of kids tv programs at a time when kids can tune into TG4….but a whole new station based not on demand, but the demand to watch. Goodluck.
How much are they are getting in flip flops?
@Mick Hanna: you get one flip flop as a gift when you start. And after 25 years of service you awarded the other flip flop so you have a pair.
Nice one, best of luck tg4
I miss the den
Will it be encrypted on sky like the other Irish stations meaning a sky subscription is needed ad well as a tv licence to view if a dish is your only means.
Off course Britain ensures its citizens get there domestic channels free while many of us pay them to view ours
A truly appalling waste of our money!
Iontach an scéal é sin. Comhghairdeachas TG4 arís
Amadán Hector ag dul thár an Domhain, and costing TG 4 a fortune for the pleasure of boring the audience with his nonsense about locations that you can actually Google !
the name sounds familiar.. is this really the 1st time that channel goes on air?
Is it cula four or cula ceathair?
Please excuse my ignorance
@Anne O’Hara: que!
Yuck!
Another appalling waste of taxpayers’ money!
A waste of taxpayers’ money!
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