Among the many must-listen to shows will be a tribute to the late Monaghan GAA star Ógie Ó Dufaigh.
he young U20 Monaghan football captain who was tragically killed in July and will be remembered in the documentary Ógie, to be broadcast on 3 January as part of the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Christmas schedule.
Ógie was killed just hours after captaining the Monaghan Under 20 team to victory in the Ulster football final. His father, Brendan, speaks to Michelle Nic Grianna about his son, his tragic death, and how the family got to know him anew through the stories people shared with them after his death in the programme Ógie on Monday 3 January at 11 am.
As we mark 1,500 years since the birth of Saint Colmcille this year, in the programme Colmcille: Cosantóir na mBan on 29 December, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin reflects on the significance of this extraordinary man who was a missionary, a poet and scribe, a diplomat, and learns why Colmcille became known as the protector of women.
Albert Fry playing guitar
Albert Fry, a well-known and respected figure in the Irish-language community, died in the summer, leaving a lasting legacy. A former president of Conradh na Gaeilge, he taught Irish in Cumann Chluain Ard in Belfast throughout his life and was central to the Irish-language revival in the North. He had a strong connection with the Gaeltacht areas of the country, particularly Rann na Feirste in Donegal. In Albert Fry on 28 December, Damien Ó Dónaill sifts through the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta archives to bring us recordings of Albert that illustrate his life and work.
The glory year of 1992 will be recalled by four members of Donegal’s All-Ireland winning football team, Anthony Molloy, James McHugh, John Joe Doherty and Sylvester Maguire, on Spórt an tSathairn on 1 January at 2 pm, and in Seal sna Cruacha at 11 am on 4 January, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin paints an audio picture for us of life in the area of Na Cruacha Gorma in An Ghaeltacht Láir in Co. Donegal – the Bluestacks. This area was renowned for its rich tradition of storytelling, music and song, and the programme will include recordings of Máire Ní Cheallaigh, Seosamh Mac Giobúin, Joe Beag ‘Ac a Luain, Paidí ‘Ac a Luain and the folklore collectors Caoimhín ó Danachair and Séan Ó hEochaidh.
Earlier this year, Damien Ó Dónaill met with local historian Donnchadh Ó Baoill to walk the historic Abhainn Chroithlí river that separates Gaoth Dobhair from Na Rosann. Donnchadh described the placenames, the local history and the natural environment that surrounded them as they made their way from the Crolly Distillery to the sea, and listeners can hear this programme, Abhainn Chroithlí, on Wednesday 29 December at 11 am. Áine Ní Bhreisleáin looks at another type of distilling, poitín, in Scéal an Phoitín on 30 December at 11 am.
Listeners will also get another chance over Christmas to hear Ciúnas i gCeann Dubhrann, a documentary by Damien Ó Dónaill examining the history of Rann na Feirste National School in northwest Donegal, which was closed by the government fifty years ago, and then reopened after a successful campaign by the local community.
The RnaG Christmas schedule will also include the story of seven Kerry families who were transplanted to the parish of Kilbride in Co. Wicklow in the 50s as part of a government resettlement scheme in Ó Chorca Dhuibhne go Cill Bhríde, an exploration of the song tradition of Na Déise in Waterford, with father and sonSéamus and Seán Mac Craith in Mo Ghrása thall na Déise, an examination of the work and the legacy of the radical Innti generation of Irish-language poets of UCC, a special edition of Munster magazine An Saol ó Dheas featuring an interview with the seven children of Seán and Ruth Ó Riada recorded on the weekend of the fiftieth anniversary of their father’s death, as well as great concerts, sports and entertainment.
This is just a selection of the programmes on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta this Christmas, full details can be found at www.rte.ie/rnag.
