A new channel aimed at Irish people living in Britain has been named RTÉ International.

Public service broadcaster RTÉ is recruiting for positions including channel manager, according to the Irish Post.

The service may now launch before the previous target date of St Patrick’s Day next year. The newspaper said RTÉ International would be a combination of RTÉ One and RTÉ Two with some programmes from TG4.

Several RTÉ news bulletins will be carried live. The channel, previously known as Diaspora TV, is expected to be broadcast free-to-air on digital satellite.

RTE International will be a hybrid of RTÉ One and RTÉ Two with selected programming being drawn from the Gaelic-language channel TG4. The main One, Six-One and Nine O’clock news bulletins will be screened live. The broadcaster is currently advertising for senior staff.

The launch of such a channel was mandated in the Irish Communications Act of 2007.

Ireland’s communications minister Eamon Ryan said it would “provide the Irish abroad with a valuable link to home”.

From Digital Spy >

Bertie, as the head of Ireland’s biggest party, will need to form a coalition in order to retake office as Premier for a further term.

This morning’s RTÉ exit poll by Lansdowne Market Research suggest a good day for both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and early tallies suggest this will be the case. Early indications suggest that Fianna Fáil will win the election but not maintain an overall majority but may still lead the new administration.

Bertie Ahern has had an historically important career so far including:

• 1988: Helped negotiate the Good Friday peace accord for Northern Ireland.
• 2004: Led successful Irish presidency of European Union, 2004, brokering agreement on EU constitution and overseeing admission of 10 new member states.
• 2007: Brought power-sharing to Northern Ireland

…and it looks like it’s not over yet!

It seems as if the Irish people are not yet ready to let go of Ahern, who has been in power for over a decade.

To quote former Taoiseach Charles Haughey (and mentor of Ahern):

He’s the most clever,
The most cunning,
The most devious of them all…

In recent years, issues relating to Mr Ahern’s financial dealings have impacted upon his public reputation in Ireland which may account for the slip in support for Fianna Fáil. But has there ever been a Taoiseach that hasn’t been a little bit naughty?

More:

• RTÉ News
• Herald Tribune - Biography of Bertie Ahern

Ireland have completed a major shock in the ICC Cricket World Cup by defeating Pakistan and (virtually) qualifying for the second stage of the competition: the Super 8.

Pakistan were all out for for 132 after 45 overs. After a spot of rain Ireland required a revised target of 128. However, Ireland concluded their own innings with a six to win 133 for 7 wickets. Ireland completed the feat with overs to spare and won by three wickets.

Pakistan have now been knocked out of the competition. Ireland are likely to qualify for the Super 8 if Pakistan can avoid a defeat in the final game against Zimbabwe.

Ireland top the group this Saint Patrick’s Night with three points compared to the West Indies’ two points. The “Windies” have a game in hand and play Zimbabwe on Monday.

Congratulations to Ireland and good luck with the rest of the tournament.

More at www.cricketworldcup.com

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to one and all. Ireland’s Rugby Team may have been robbed of their first Six Nations championship in years but that’s no reason not to celebrate all things Irish.

Ireland beat Italy in Rome and most impressive was that the Irish Cricketers dismissed Pakistan for 132 after 45 overs in their second ever World Cup match. Earlier in the week, Ireland drew with Zimbabwe in the most exciting match I’d ever seen - the only match I had ever seen.

There will be plenty of venues in Crawley that will be serving the Black Stuff tonight but only a few that will also be featuring traditional music and/or Irish Dancing. Why not try the Tavern on the Green in Pound Hill or the Emerald Club on Southgate Avenue?

Have a great night and remember that the Crawley Saint Patrick’s Festivities start at Midday tomorrow so remember not to sleep in!

More details at celtic-irish.co.uk/stpats and from Radio Mercury on 102.7 FM.

Ireland completed their Triple Crown today, a week ahead of the final match against Italy on Saint Patrick’s Day in Rome.

Ronan O’Gara inspired Ireland to their third Triple Crown in four years as Eddie O’Sullivan’s men ground out a narrow 19-18 victory over Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield, the home of Scottish Rugby. O’Gara scored all 19 points for Ireland with a converted try and four penalties.

It was hardly a convincing victory against the Scottish side that lost to Italy two weeks ago. Ireland will hope that a convincing victory against Italy, on Saint Patrick’s Day, will inspire renewed confidence before the Rugby World Cup this autumn in France.

The Italians will be hoping for another upset following their 23-20 victory against Wales and their best Six Nations year with their first ever back-to-back victories. Wales must now beat England convincingly to avoid the Wooden Spoon.

More at rte.ie/sport

The Irish television channel, TG4, reached its tenth birthday yesterday. TG4 is the Irish language channel broadcasting in Ireland, most of Northern Ireland and via the internet.

The Irish language has strengthened in recent years and TG4 regularly attracts approximately 730,000 viewers daily: a sizable chunk of the TV audience. The channel broadcasts at least three hours of new gaelic programming each day as well as live sport and documentaries (also in Irish). As well as Irish originated programming, the channel also broadcasts popular US television shows such as Nip/Tuck in English. In June 2006 TG4 also won the rights to broadcast the first four seasons of The Simpsons, dubbed into Irish.

The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society wish to congratulate the channel on reaching its tenth birthday and wish it the best of luck in the future. The CICS would also like to invite anyone interested in learning the Irish language to come down to the Crawley Fleadh and get involved.

[Crawley Fleadh]

The Irish language Channel, TG4, has began broadcasting live programming via the Internet.

In addition, to progamming in Gaelic, there are also a number of programmes available in English such as Wimbledon tennis highlights. There is also a an archive of recent programming including the Gaelic serial drama, Ros na Rún and the News; Nuacht TG4.

Not all programming is available. However, when programming is being broadcast you can access TG4’s live streaming at www.tg4.tv

Congratulations to Munster Rugby - winners of the Heineken European Rugby Cup 2006. Munster beat Biarritz 23-19 on Saturday.

A capacity crowd of 75,000 saw the Irish team lift the Cup at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

(more…)

A new Gaelic language digital television channel could launch in Scotland as early as 2007 in a deal agreed between Scottish Media Group, owners of the Scottish and Grampian channel 3 licences in Scotland, and OFCOM, the communications regulator.

SMG have agreed to part fund the channel in exchange for the release of primetime public service commitments. The remainder of the funding is expected to come from the BBC and Scottish Executive.

The decision follows the public criticism of the government, by Western Isles MP Calum McDonald, over the level of funding for Gaelic programming. Funding of the Gaelic Media Service is now expected to double to £16 Million. It is presently unclear how the current Gaelic digital television channel, Tele-G, fits into the agreement. Tele-G broadcasts for just one hour per day, 6pm-7pm in Scotland. The new digital channel is expected to greatly increase hours throughout primetime.

Publicly, Gaelic groups in Scotland have broadly welcomed the plans whilst privately there is some criticism and anger that fewer Gaelic programming is to be available on “mainstream Scottish television”. However, Gaelic programming will not be reduced until the new digital channel has been broadcasting for at least 12 months. Currently, two thirds of the population receive digital television and Scotland will be amongst the first to totally convert to digital transmissions between 2008 and 2010. As a result, Gaelic programming should receive more airtime rather than less.

The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society supports the establishment of a new digital channel for Scottish Gaelic speakers and hopes that coverage will be made to as wide an area as possible, throughout the United Kingdom.

[TELE-G] - [BBC News] - [Digital Spy Article]