Live music series sticks to tradition

TG4 stalwart Geantraí features The Chieftains and other special guests on Christmas Day, says Gerry Quinn

GEANTRAÍ, the traditional music television series, is only one of three programmes on TG4 to have survived since the Irish language station began broadcasting in 1996 — Ros na Rún and Nuacht TG4 being the others. Over the years, a comprehensive collection of music has been filmed live in pubs in Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States. A special Geantraí na Nollag on Christmas night will feature The Chieftains, who will celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, Paul Brady, Eddi Reader, The Teetotallers, Mairtín O’Connor and The Kane Sisters. Filmed at The Chieftains’ flute-player Matt Molloy’s pub in Westport, the show will air at 9pm.

Series producer/director Tony McCarthy, of ForeFront Television, is pleased with the show’s popularity. “We are commissioned on the basis of the good audiences we draw in,” he says. “Geantraí grew from the very start of TG4. Obviously, traditional music is part of the Irish tradition and close to the Irish language and is very important to the station’s audience.”