The BBC have announced a new initiative to boost the prominence of Northern Ireland's Ulster-Scots and Irish Language television programmes.
The BBC iPlayer will be used to make these programmes more accessible to audiences around the UK. A collection of programmes that have been supported by Northern Ireland Screen's Irish and Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund will have a dedicated and extended portal on the BBC iPlayer, which UK audiences will be able to access beyond the usual 30-day period.
The initiative made by the BBC is a commitment that is part of its partnership agreement with Northern Ireland Screen and will considerably increase the accessibility of Irish language content to those in the UK.
Irish Language programmes to feature on the BBC iPlayer portal:
- Ar Bhealach na Gaeltachta, in which presenter Conall Ó Máirtín visits the islands and coastal Gaeltacht regions around Donegal meeting those who live and work there
- The Beart Is Briathar series, in which Eamonn Mallie interviews four high-profile Irish-speaking personalities
- The music series Trad Ar Fad! Hosted by John Toal and Pauline Scanlon
- Cumhacht An Cheoil, which sees Irish musician Neil Martin explores the powerful effect that music has on people’s lives as he composes
- Daniel O’Donnell music series Opry an Iúir
- Children’s series Cosmic Quantum Ray.
Peter Johnston, Director, BBC NI, said:
“We have commissioned a diverse and ambitious mix of programmes with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Broadcast Funds. These reflect and celebrate our linguistic and cultural diversity. Making them available on BBC iPlayer will allow audiences to enjoy them again and make them much more accessible than ever before. It’s a tremendous development and a further enhancement of local content and presence on BBC iPlayer.”
Richard Williams, CEO, Northern Ireland Screen, added:
“These important broadcast funds ensure that the heritage, culture, and language of both Irish and Ulster-Scots are expressed through moving image. We are delighted that the wealth of content funded by both is now being made available on the BBC iPlayer. Audiences are in for a real treat and there is sure to be something on there for everyone, with such a vast amount of programming on offer covering documentary, music, drama, children’s, animation, lifestyle and factual.”
