Fáilte Cúla4: first ever Irish language kids’ TV channel goes on air

Ireland’s newest television channel, Cúla4 – a “cainéal teilifíse Gaeilge do pháistí” or Irish language television channel for children – has gone on air in a bid to provide the next generation with “an entertaining and fun daily point of contact” with Irish.

TG4 said it was a “historic day” as Minister for Media Catherine Martin launched what is the first ever dedicated Irish language children’s channel on Friday afternoon from its headquarters in Baile na hAbhann, Co Galway.

While Cúla4 is expected to become an important resource for primary classrooms, the Minister also noted that for non-native speakers, it would help bring Irish “out of the school environment and into their homes”.

Cúla4 will air for 14 hours daily from 6am to 8pm. It is available on Saorview channel 18, Sky Ireland channel 624 and Virgin Media Ireland channel 602, as well as through EirTV. It will be supported online via a player at cula4.com and also the Cúla4 app.

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The channel, aimed at 0- to 12-year-olds, will feature entertainment, drama and a children’s news service, and will be a mix of home-produced content and acquired programming “revoiced to Irish” by independent production companies. It will be anchored throughout the day by presenters Seosamh Mac Seoin, Síle Ní Chonghaile and Niamh Ní Chróinín.

The channel’s six-minute news service, scheduled Tuesday to Friday at 1.30pm, will be produced by independent production company Fíbín Media and hosted by Aisling Ní Dhonnabháin and Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin.

Other programmes commissioned for the channel from the Irish production sector include water-based game show Uiscenauts made by Abú Media, weather-themed game show Anfa made by Fíbín Media and Teach Spraoi, a programme produced by Macalla in which groups of children are given two days to design and build a playhouse.

The Minister, who secured €3.3 million in funding for the development and launch of the channel in Budget 2023, said the channel would “embed and normalise” the daily use of Irish for the next generation.

“This Government has demonstrated the importance it places on making the Irish language a living language. The increase in funding and support I have provided to TG4 to ensure increased Irish language content is available, is a clear signal of the important role that public service media can play in this regard,” said Ms Martin, who is also Minister for the Gaeltacht.

Karina Feirtéar, the channel manager for Cúla4, said it was a historic day for TG4 and the Irish language. The channel aims to give its young viewers “a fun and colourful experience” as it immerses them in Irish, she said.

TG4 director general Alan Esslemont said Ireland’s ability to pass its own language from generation to generation was its biggest single contribution to global diversity.

“The English language is omnipresent in media globally and, if Irish is to continue as a community language, TG4′s services for children must be prominent, dynamic and attractive, strengthening children’s relationship with Irish language media and, through that, sustaining their relationship with the Irish language.”