TG4 IS “REELING” after the success of their Electric Picnic broadcast, with a senior editor at the broadcaster describing it as a “milestone for Irish music and the Irish language”.

The national Irish language public service provider was the only station televising the country’s largest music festival. RTÉ, which aired the festival in the past, did not have dedicated TV coverage over the weekend.

In the wake of the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage earlier this year, lack of exposure for Irish artists performing at the festival was branded an “opportunity missed” by the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland (MEAI)

TG4 aired an hour-and-a-half special aired on Sunday night, Beo ón Electric Picnic, included Belfast rap trio Kneecap’s performance on the main stage, as well as interviews and performances from artists performing on the Collchoill (Hazelwood) and Puball Gaeilge stages.

The broadcast also featured performances from Irish language artists Bláithín Mhic Cana & Piaras Ó Lorcáin, IMLÉ, John Spillane, Eve Belle, Amano and more.

Dearbhaile Flynn, commissioning editor for TG4, told The Journal that televising Electric Picnic gave a platform to the Irish language and served a younger generation who are embracing it. 

Flynn said that although the broadcaster has not made any decisions on whether Beo ón Electric Picnic will become an annual feature, they would “love to go bigger and better” with coverage of Electric Picnic.

“We would love to work with Electric Picnic again. Their commitment to the Irish language and the Irish language speaking acts is just something that really resonates with us.”

No extra funding

RTÉ provided live coverage and highlights from Ireland’s largest music festival for a number of years about a decade ago, but last did so back in 2017.

An RTÉ spokesperson previously told The Journal that the decision not to broadcast the festival this year was “an editorial decision”.

Although both are state-funded entities, RTÉ and TG4 are operating at very different budgets. TG4 was allocated €60m in Budget 2025, while last year the government announced funding of €725 million for RTÉ, to cover 2025, 2026 and 2027.

According to the broadcasting regulator, TG4 is part-funded by the Irish Exchequer, with additional income from the sale of commercial airtime while RTÉ is part-funded by the licence fee and part-funded by commercial revenue.

Jackie Conboy, a co-founder of the MEAI which lobbies for more airplay of Irish artists, criticised the public broadcaster RTÉ for not televising the festival, given the three-year €725 million funding package that RTÉ was awarded.

“With the funding that RTÉ got, there should be no excuse, really and truly,” he told The Journal.

“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with funding. They could do it. RTÉ could go in and do it no problem,” he added.

He said that RTÉ broadcasting the festival would give tourism a boost, as well as supporting new music acts.

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Flynn said TG4 received no extra funding to televise Electric Picnic, adding that although more money in the budget would have been helpful, they managed as a team, alongside the production company 84 Productions who originally pitched the idea.

She said the special programme was the result of a “huge group effort”.

“We landed down there last Wednesday, and it was all hands to the pump,” she said.

‘Historic performance’

Last week, Melvin Benn, the organiser of Electric Picnic, criticised actions taken against Kneecap and The Mary Wallopers at UK festivals this summer, and said “mics won’t be switched off” at Electric Picnic.

The BBC did not livestream Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance following calls from politicians and media personalities for the group’s gig to be cancelled.

The Mary Wallopers also had their sound cut off when they displayed a Palestinian flag on stage while performing at the Victorious Festival in Portsmouth last Friday.

Flynn said other than complying Comisiún na Meán’s broadcasting regulations, TG4 had no plans to interfere with the acts playing.