TWO budding Limerick news hounds made history this week when they debuted on the nation’s first Irish language channel for children, Cúla4.
The Treaty’s Aisling Ní Dhonnabháin and Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin stepped in front of the camera for the first time on Tuesday (September 12) as the presenters of the new channel’s news programme, ‘Nuacht Cúla4’.
The programme, which will air in six-minute episodes at 1.30pm from Tuesday to Friday, aims at creating an avenue for schools to tune in during class hours to live news programming that explores the events of the day through the Irish language.
Caherdavin woman Aisling Ní Dhonnabháin makes up one part of the new presenting team. She was previously a presenter of ‘Eco-Laoch’ and ‘Lá Dár Saol’ on TG4. The multi-talented Aisling, who attended Mary Queen of Ireland National School and Laurel Hill Coláiste, holds a Masters degree in Irish translation as well as speaking English, French, and Spanish.
Aisling says she holds the environment and biodiversity as a top priority, and always tries to reduce her carbon footprint. In her spare time, she attends rugby matches with her family in Thomond Park and enjoys walking the ‘Three Bridges’ route in Limerick City.
Joinin Aisling in the Cúla4 newsroom is Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin from Annacotty, County Limerick. Seán has been working in Irish language media for a number of years, hosing the ‘Gaeilge Anois’ podcast as well as radio sports show ‘Comhscór’ on Raidió Rí-Rá.
He is currently studying for a Masters degree in Journalism and Broadcasting through Irish at the University of Galway.
Representatives of the new Cúla4 channel say the Limerick pair’s news show is catered to a younger audience and will “provide relevant, up to date news in a unique way, catering for children and their interest in news”.
The new children’s channel was launched last Friday (September 8) by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, Catherine Martin. The channel airs daily from 6am to 8pm on Saorview, Virgin Media, Sky, and Eir, as well as across its own online streaming player.
