SO, we’re all stuck at home and wondering what to do with all the spare time we have, (no) thanks to the Coronavirus.
One thing you can do is to listen to the radio or just have it on while you are contemplating your navel or putting your CDs into alphabetical order.
Radio Ulster’s Blas is always worth listening to but if you want to go hardcore, then there is Raidió na Gaeltachta, the Irish language radio station set up in 1972.
Now, of course you won’t everything that is being said or you might understand nothing, or of course, if you are fluent, you will understand everything, whether it is in a Donegal, Conamara, Kerry, Cork, Dublin or Belfast accent.
Here are some programmes to look forward to:
:: Top of the list is the rebroadcast of award-winning radio soap opera Baile an Droichid, which was written by the recently deceased Joe Steve Ó Neachtain and which aired on Raidió na Gaeltacht for ten years becoming a huge hit with listeners.
It told of the daily struggles of the small Gaeltacht community of Baile an Droichid, and although it didn’t shy away from difficult issues, it was also full of humour.
Join them each week to share in the trials and tribulations of the community of Baile an Droichid. The first programme went out yesterday at its regular time of 1.20pm on Sundays but you can catch the repeat on Thursday at 2pm.
n Logainmníocht is an archive series about placenames in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
History experts join Mairéad Nic Seaghain each week, as well as Dónal Mac Giolla Easpaig, who was Chief Placenames Officer, to discuss the placenames of the Donegal Gaeltacht. Today, they look at places in Na Rossa.
Logainmníocht goes out on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, on Saturday 4 April at 6.30pm
:: But RnaG is also bang up to the minute and every morning from Monday to Friday you can tune in for discussion and analysis of the national, Gaeltacht and international news stories of the day. Ádhmhaidin will cover everything from Coronavirus pandemic to international affairs, from Irish politics to local bereavements.
It starts at 8am and is presented by Gormfhlaith Ní Thuairisg.
