President Michael D. Higgins and President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the Ros na Rún studios in Spiddal on Friday during a state visit.
Presidents Higgins and Steinmeier made their trip to the television studios out in Connemara on the final day of his three-day trip to Ireland.
The trip also marked the 25th anniversary of TG4, which was actually founded by President Higgins as TnaG back when he was the Minister for Arts.
The station went on air for the first time on October 31st 1996, and in the past quarter century TG4’s vision has been to promote the Irish language and culture in people’s lives, in Ireland and worldwide.
The Presidents were given a taste of the cultural, linguistic, and economic importance of TG4, especially Gaeltacht regions.
They were treated to a live action scene from Ros na Rún actors on set and a musical performance by internationally renowned traditional Irish musician and composer Johnny Óg Connolly and sean-nós singer Pól Ó Ceannabháin.
Johnny Óg is a Spiddal native himself, and has collaborated with Also present were Údarás na Gaeltachta who had a leading role in training and development in the sector in 1996 and continue to work closely with TG4.
Carna man Pól Ó Ceannabháin won the coveted sean-nós singing competition, Corn Uí Riada at Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 2012, was awarded TG4 Gradam Ceoil Singer of the year in 2016 and was ambassador for Culture Night Ireland 2020.
Also present were Údarás na Gaeltachta, who had a leading role in training and development in the sector in 1996, and continue to work closely with TG4.
Chief Executive of Údarás Micheál Ó hÉanaigh said that they were delighted to showcase the “intertwined aspects” of Gaeltacht tradition and modern innovation to the two presidents.
“The audio-visual sector is vitally important to the Irish language and the Gaeltacht itself and it is a source of pride for Údarás na Gaeltachta to have had a central role in the growth of the sector over the last forty years and especially in advance of the establishment twenty-five years ago of Teilifís na Gaeilge or TG4 as it is now.”
Siún Ní Raghallaigh, Cathaoirleach of the TG4 Board said that since the channel first launched, it has been a champion of “Irish culture, creativity and talent”, with an ever growing audience.
“2021 is an important milestone for TG4 as we celebrate our 25th year on air and look forward to continuing to invest in a vibrant, creative independent sector which ensures TG4 and the Irish language remain relevant and important part of Ireland’s Public Service Media.”
