News > 2008

NEW GAELIC TV CHANNEL – BBC ALBA – CELEBRATES FINAL COUNTDOWN
IT’S HERE – BE PART OF IT!

BBC ALBA, the new Gaelic television channel goes live tonight. Today (Friday) Gaelic school children launched the final 12 hour countdown to the moment that is being hailed as a milestone in Scottish broadcasting.

Launch day at Glasgow Gaelic School

Pupils from the Glasgow Gaelic School, which has a school roll of more than 400 pupils, celebrated the launch of the channel with leading figures from BBC ALBA and the Scottish Government Minister for Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP.

Pupils from the school who are part of the Glasgow Islay Junior Gaelic Choir will be performing at this evening’s launch event for the new channel at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, as well as pupils also featuring in the video being screened.

Ms Fabiani and guests were welcomed to the school by two pipers and a folk group of primary pupils who performed throughout the event.

Mrs Donalda McComb, Head Teacher of Glasgow Gaelic School said: “This is a great day and the school children are all very excited. They love to speak Gaelic which is very much alive and kicking and are thrilled to be at the forefront of the launch of the new channel.

“With over 400 pupils attending the school in both primary and secondary, we are going from strength to strength. The launch of the channel will be a major highlight for the school and testament to the popularity of the Gaelic language, which is very much a language for the future.”

Minister for Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP said: "This is a momentous day for the Gaelic community, as well as for Scottish broadcasting. Thanks are due to everyone who has worked so hard over the years to get us to where we are today, ready for the launch of BBC ALBA. The channel will play a key role in promoting the Gaelic language and making it accessible to a national audience. It will also make a significant contribution to upholding our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and successful future for Gaelic.”

BBC ALBA is a partnership service between MG ALBA and BBC Scotland which will deliver high quality, distinctive home-produced programming.

Speaking at the Glasgow Gaelic School, Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA said: “This is a tremendous day for all of those with the interest of Gaelic at heart. The channel has been a long time coming and I am now delighted that the launch day has finally arrived. The channel will be a high quality channel that will serve Scottish broadcasting well with a premier package of new programmes that will be attractive to viewers throughout Scotland, reaching out across all target audiences.”

The channel’s children’s programmes will offer a selection of high quality content for pupils in primary two to six, forming an integral part of their Gaelic education. Long-standing popular Gaelic brands including Eòrpa, Dè a-nis? and the Cbeebies Gaelic block will be broadcast on BBC ALBA.

Donalda MacKinnon, Head of Programmes and Services for BBC Scotland said: “All those involved in getting the new channel on air have been looking forward enormously to today’s launch. It’s involved a huge amount of hard work but I’m sure all the efforts will be rewarded when the audience tune in tonight and in the weeks and months to come.”

Presenters of BBC ALBA’s Gaelic children’s programme, De a-nis?, Calum "Caxie" MacAulay from North Uist and Siobhan MacInnes from Lewis and Uist who will be making her debut on the programme, provided the pupils of Glasgow Gaelic School with their highlight of the week, when they made a guest appearance at the school.

Siobhan MacInnes and Calum "Caxie" MacAulay

BBC ALBA will go live at 9pm with the big switch on being celebrated with a new version of the classic Runrig song Alba, specially re-recorded for the occasion by a host of Gaelic stars and a major outside broadcast - a live music special from the Isle of Skye will also take place, featuring Mary Ann Kennedy, Julie Fowlis, Skippinish and others.

An original drama Eilbheas set in 1970s Lewis and starring Greg Hemphill as Elvis, and a gripping drama/documentary “Peter Manuel – Deireadh an Uilc? (The End of Evil?)” starring Andrew Clark, will broadcast following the launch celebrations.