A major new series profiling each of the 1916 Proclamation signatories; the story of the man who invented the documentary film using the Aran Islands as his testing-ground; a revealing television history of Irish rugby; Hector’s invasion of Canada; award-winning documentaries and a return to free-to-air TV for Magner’s League rugby are to form key elements in the TG4’s 2010 Autumn Schedule.
Hector O hEochagáin officially launched the new TG4 Autmn schedule in the new Aviva stadium yesterday, Tuesday, August 31st. Introducing the theme of scheduling for the broadcaster he announced: “There are many jewels in the Auutmn line-up and it’s a schedule full of emotion. That’s our key word this Autumn: Emotion.” The Irish language broadcaster has a theme this year where it looks to bring a selection of emotions and sensations such as Joy, Fear, Pride and Sorrow which was illustrated in a promo shown of the upcoming series and documentaries.
Director General of TG4, Pól Ó Gallchóir started his speech with a tribute to the late actor, Mick Lally who had starred in the company’s on-going soap, ‘Ros na Rún’ in recent years. Pól went on to further discuss TG4’s schedule, telling IFTN: “This is a schedule that will celebrate our identitiy and freshness. Along with new series and shows we will also introduce a new look Nuacht, all the while maintaining our ‘Súil Éile’ approach. It is a rich schedule and I’m delighted with it.” He also made reference to the re-appearance of some well-known TG4 faces, commenting that “We are delighted to welcome back Hector – in double dosage! – and of course Dáiti O’Sé.”
Said ‘double dosage’ will arrive in the form of Good Company Productions’ ‘Hector i gCeanada’, which will see the presenter on his travels again, and sports quiz, ‘Ceist GAA’. Transmission of the former, which starts on November 28th, will see Hector will join cameraman Ross O’Callaghan (Hector san Aifric) and producer Evan Chamberlain (Hector san Oz) as they embark on an epic trip from Novia Scotia to Alaska. Hector will furthermore appear on screens in new sports series from Sónta, ‘Ceist GAA’ – TG4’s first ever sports quiz. Staring on the 12th of September, 16 of the biggest GAA Clubs around the country will do battle to see who which club has the ultimate GAA knowledge in Ireland.
In TG4’s 'Daithi ar Route 1', O Sé returns to the US where he will travel south along the east coast from the Canadian border to Florida. Throughout the series he will go on patrol with US guards on the US-Canadian border, sing with the Naked Cowboy, visit Stephen King's home and perform a routine with the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders.
TG4’s other major production is ‘1916 Seachtar na Cásca’. Produced by Abú Media and narrated by Emmy winner Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), is a new seven-part drama-documentary telling the story of each of the seven signatories of the 1916 Easter Proclamation. The names of the men involved, such as Thomas J. Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada, James Connolly, P H Pearse, Éamonn Ceannt, Thomas MacDonagh and Joseph Plunkett are familiar but this series goes in search of the men, their backgrounds and their families.
Other upcoming series include Fastnet Films’ ‘Gualainn le Gualainn’ - a major new four part television history of Irish rugby; the 15th season of ‘Ros na Rún’ from Tyrone Productions and EO Teilifis and ‘Making a Difference’ which features the stories of important figures in recent Irish history, from the pioneering feminist doctor who transformed children’s health in Dublin to the man who “invented” film documentary making by immortalising the Aran Islands and a no-holds barred look at Tom Barry and Dan Breen, two of the most controversial military leaders in the War of Independence and Irish Civil War. The schedule also sees the return of popular series such as ‘Geantraí’, ‘Cúla4’, ‘Ponc’, ‘Comhrá’ and ‘Cogar’.
Where documentaries are concerned, in ‘An Píopa’ Risteard O'Domhnaill will examine the story of the small Mayo community which has taken on the might of Shell Oil and the Irish State whilst in ‘Scéal an Airgid’ Máire Bhreathnach goes in quest of the green shoots of the economic recovery and comes face-to-face with those trying to make it happen - small indigenous business owners the length and breadth of the country.
With ‘Stróc’ political journalist Harry McGee charts those audacious and cunning plans that made the headlines and achieved notoriety for their perpetrators – but which are now largely forgotten – like the iodine tablets that would help save us all from nuclear attack and in ‘Do Thinteán Féin’ presenter Eimear Nic An Bháird, former editor of House and Home Ireland attempts to turn a townhouse into her dream home on a very small budget.
Sports-wise ‘Rugbaí Beo’ will present live coverage of the Irish provinces’ quest for Magner’s League success in this crucial year for Irish rugby. This coverage will include the Leinster v Munster game broadcast from the Aviva Stadium on October 2nd. ‘International Rules Football’ meanwhile will provide live and exclusive coverage of the much-awaited two tests Ireland v Australia, as our fearless amateurs take on the might of the professionals from Down Under in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick and Croke Park. Finally ‘GAA Beo’ will give audiences a wide variety of exclusive live TV coverage of Gaelic games coverage every weekend.
