Popular Irish Language Broadcast Fund music and chat show Imeall Geal is back on our screens for a third series. Presenters Tomaí Ó Conghaile and Gráinne McElwain return with the first programme in the new series, filmed in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre in Newry, airing on Monday, 27th February at 10pm on BBC Two NI.
The 10 part series recorded over five days in Newry throughout November features the best of musicians and personalities from all parts of Ireland including The Coronas, Pugwash, John Spillane,T with the Maggies, 4 Men and A Dog, Dónal Lunny, Royseven, Gareth Dunlop, Julie Feeney and Gráinne Holland. A special rendition of Brel songs performed in Irish also features.
Guests in the series include the stalwart of GAA commentary, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh; writer and musician Rosa Ó Snodaigh; former member of Irish girlband Wonderland, Leigh Learmont; founder of the Cabaret Craiceáilte and Irish radio broadcaster Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí (with a special guest!); broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille and Oireachtas regulars Ray Mac Mánais and Joe Ó Dónaill…among many others!
Throughout the series members of the audience get the opportunity to pose their own questions to the guests and to subject them to a ‘quiz’, testing their knowledge on all kinds of things from the origins of tea to the creation of the suspender belt!
Each episode of iG is brimming with stories and reports recorded out-and-about by roving reporters Ali Mac Aindreasa, and former Rose of Tralee finalist Siobhéal Nic Eochaidh. Stories from supper clubs, being Belfast’s Lord Mayor, how to walk on stilts to what hypnotherapy is like, are all given the Imeall Geal treatment.
Series Producer Karen Kirby says of this series: “Walking into the auditorium in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre of a night put the audience right at the heart of the show with a new seating arrangement for the guests on the ‘studio’ floor. We made it seem like you could lean over, tap Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh on the shoulder, and ask him about his fascination with greyhounds!
“The lucky few in the audience got to do just that, and Tomaí and Gráinne asked the questions for everyone else! The result was a fantastic atmosphere with the mix of music, chat and craic making the series one to watch out for.” In the first programme Tomaí and Gráinne are joined by leading Irish rock band The Coronas, Rossa Ó Snodaigh and John Spillane.
Imeall Geal is a Big Mountain production for BBC NI with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund. It will be broadcast on BBC Two NI each Monday night at 10pm, beginning from Monday, 27 February.
