Donegal listeners can look forward to an array of special programmes on Raidió na Gaeltachta over the Christmas period, including documentaries, music programmes, and a look back at the highlights of the year.
Na Cruacha is a documentary about Na Cruacha, or the Bluestacks area, of Donegal’s Gaeltacht Láir. In the programmee we join legendary fiddlers Jimmy and Vincie Campbell as they travel around the area and remember how it once was. Fear an Éisc is a documentary on fishmonger Jack McDevitt, and follows him for the day from his early morning visits to the fish sales in Killybegs, to different markets throughout Donegal, and selling door to door.
Gearóidín Breathnach is a documentary on the acclaimed sean-nós singer from Rann na Feirste. Neily Mulligan, the much loved local character from Gaoth Dobhair who passed away recently, will be remembered in a special programme in the New Year called simply Neily Mulligan.
In Hughie Fada, we hear an interview with Hughie Mac Laifeartaigh from Na Dúnaibh about his life and his work as a nurse in St. Conaill’s Hospital in Letterkenny. Other documentaries will include one on the historic tradition of making kelp on Machaire Rabhartaigh strand in the early 20th Century, Ceilp, and a programme about the many ships that have been wrecked off the northwest coast over the past 400 years, Na Wrecks.
Cursaí Liteartha i nDún na nGall 1901 looks at what can be read from the Census in terms of literacy in different regions of Donegal at that time. In CLG Ghaoth Dobhair 1961 members of the Gaoth Dobhair football team that won the championship 50 years ago rember their glory days.
Listeners may also be interested in the two editions of the programme Mo Scéal Féin to be broadcast in the first week of the new year, which will feature interviews with Niall Ó Donnghaile, Lord Mayor of Belfast, the first Gaeilgeoir and the youngest person ever to hold the post, and also an interview with Ruairí Ó Bléine, a doctor who worked for years in the Royal Victoria Hospital and author of the book Presbyterians and the Irish Language.
News junkies can listen back to some of the stories that made the headlines during the year on Dún na nGall 2011, presented by Michelle Nic Grianna.
Aodh Máirtín Ó Fearraigh from the Doirí Beaga news room and sports enthusiasts can reminisce about sporting highlights of the year on the programmes Súil Siar Peile, Súil Siar Iomána and Súil Siar Spóirt 2011, which will look, respectively, at the football, hurling and sporting highlights of the past year. Music fans may be interested in the series Dúchas an Cheoil, which will be guest presented by musicians including Gary Hastings from Belfast and Robbie Hannan from Co. Down.
Leading up to Christmas Rónán Beo @3 and Barrscéalta will keep listeners in the loop in terms of Christmas events in the county, and the Rónán Beo @3 crew will broadcast live from Tigh Sheáin Óig in Gaoth Dobhair on Friday 23 December for their Christmas party.