(This article is produced by our Gaeltacht team. You can read an English version of this piece here)

THE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS on TG4 are off to an exciting start with a video of children from Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers in Cork singing a holiday song they composed being shared on the station’s social media.

‘Nollag Do Chách/Christmas for all’ gives a taste of the feast the Irish language broadcaster is preparing for its viewers – with many highlights to come in what is a meaty Christmas schedule.

These include a major documentary about Christy Moore, George Best’s time playing with Cork Celtic, and a soulful film about a young deer, Nollai, and his adventures at this time of year.

Another highlight of TG4′s Christmas schedule is the broadcast of a concert held in the National Concert Hall to celebrate President Mícheál D Ó hUigín before the end of his second term.

And on Christmas Day the station will continue its tradition of broadcasting documentaries about stars from the past with Irish connections. Previously they have had films about Richard Harris and Peter O’Toole – this year Gene Kelly, the famous dancer who was proud of his connection to Ireland and gained fame for his role in the film ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, will be in the spotlight.

Viewers will have the opportunity to revisit major events and occasions in the Irish language and Gaeltacht world throughout the year, with programmes on the Gaeltacht Football Competition in Rath Chairn and the Steip and sean-nós competitions at the Oireachtas, as well as a concert by the winners of the TG4 Music Awards at Expo 2025 held in Osaka, Japan.

TG4 also travelled to Lorient, Brittany to film the multi-talented group ‘Bláth na hÓige’, along with another renowned group, Cuas. These films will be shown on New Year’s Day and 2 January.

Craolfar Cartlann Christy Moore ar Oíche Chinn Bliana ar TG4 TG4 TG4

One of the most anticipated programmes for viewers is Cartlann Christy Moore which will be broadcast on New Year’s Eve (31 December). In the film, the singer and musician who gave us songs such as Lisdoonvarna and Joxer Goes To Stuttgart will be chatting with Liam Ó Connor to look back on his musical works.

George Best in Cork, which will be broadcast on Christmas Day, is a film that tells the story of the time the former Manchester United and Northern Ireland player lined out for Cork Celtic half a century ago.

He was not yet 30 when he played three games for Cork Celtic for IR£1,000 a game but many in the crowd recognised that the best part of his career was behind him – but they turned out in droves for the game and the club got their money back and more.

Becky Ní Éalaithe, a bhuaigh an príomh dhuais don damhsa ar an sean nós, ag an Oireachtas i mBéal Feirste an mhí seo cáite. TG4 TG4

A special film with a festive theme that many will be looking forward to is Nollaí (Christmas Day), a deer who sets out to discover who he is and what he does to the family that raised him.

Sports fans will also have the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the big games of the year again. There will be highlights from the All-Ireland football and hurling finals and the women’s semi-final between Dublin and Galway.

There will also be plenty of live rugby to watch, with inter-provincial clashes taking centre stage, as well as other matches from the United Rugby Championship.

The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme