The Gaeltacht Mafia

dienbienphu

The Gaeltacht Mafia

Off the top of myhead I can think of the following RTE TV presenters who have Gaeltacht backgrounds;Daithi O Shea, Grainne Seoige, Blaithnid Ni Chofaigh, Maura Derrane. If a smallcommunity such as the Gaeltacht can produce TV presenters of such calibre, thenthe rest of the country must have a fair few aspiring TV presenters that havethe same competence as these. But the unfortunate thing is that aspiring TV presenterswill be favoured if they can speak the cupla focal and those who don’t will berejected, which I think is terribly unfair.

If you look at Daithi O Shea’s background, you will discoverthat he was a butcher before he went into television which says a lot about howin demand TV presenters are in TG4.

However, this isn’t just the case with RTE or TG4. As I canunderstand it, most state institutions favour Irish speakers too such as theguards for example. I can remember a couple of years back when I decided tojoin the guards and the interviewer commented on how well I did in my Irish results.I was like ‘’who cares? It’s not much use to you when you leave school anyway.’’

Anyway, my argument is that people from the Gaeltacht i.e.Irish speakers seem to have if very easy when it comes to securing employmentin this country and the only reason for this is because they happen to speakIrish.

I’d wouldn’t say there’smuch of a recession in their houses…

Where To

While allthegether.

ITS_A_BADGER

LOLWUT

dienbienphu

im sorry but the copy and paste seems to malfunction a lot on this

Max Power

What's wrong with being a butcher?

What do you do for a living?

Micilin Muc

Have a look at unemployment rates in the Gaeltachtaí and I'm sure you'll retract that statement!

Also, Gaeltacht people have always had a knack for the arts. Have a look at the Great Blasket Island 100 years ago - dozens of fascinating biographies written by a tiny population! No profit in it either!

super_furry

Just accept that they're better people than you and move on with your life.

Sergeant

They also get enormous grants for wearing aran jumpers and letting their sheep wander on the roads.

dienbienphu

FionnMcCool87 wrote: »

What's wrong with being a butcher?

What do you do for a living?

I was trying to illustrate my point that there is a large demand for tv presenters in TG4 and that they draw from these professions to fill them

dienbienphu

Micilin Muc wrote: »

Also, Gaeltacht people have always had a knack for the arts. Have a look at the Great Blasket Island 100 years ago - dozens of fascinating biographies written by a tiny population! No profit in it either!

ya im sure they're great story tellers

_sparkie_

dienbienphu wrote: »

have it very easy when it comes to securing employmentin this country.

The only reason for this is because they happen to speakIrish.

I’d wouldn’t say there’smuch of a recession in their houses…

Well yeah, being able to spek the national language would be a bit of an advantage when trying to get a job with the national broadcaster.

I dont think people just 'happen' to speak Irish, its not like its something you just discover you can do one day, its takes years to get good at it.

Nobody who speaks Irish lives in a house, they live in beehive huts on skellig michael

super_furry

dienbienphu wrote: »

I was trying to illustrate my point that there is a large demand for tv presenters in TG4 and that they draw from these professions to fill them

I know it's shocking isn't it? Can't get a good steak on the Islands anymore because all the butchers have moved to Donnybrook. And don't even think about looking for a plumber - they're all off recording their X-Factor auditions.

It's shocking Joe, just shocking.

girl in the striped socks

I'd say daithi o Shea has done more to damage the Irish language than promote it.

No one will ever look at him & think "wow he's great, I want to be just like him when I grow up". And he's also very lucky to get employed by rte because he wouldn't survive in the real world at all.

Micilin Muc

dienbienphu wrote: »

ya im sure they're great story tellers

That's what they're famous for, really!

Ask anyone who the great storytellers were and they'll mention any of the seanchaí, Kerry especially!

Pottler

Micilin Muc wrote: »

Have a look at unemployment rates in the Gaeltachtaí and I'm sure you'll retract that statement!

Also, Gaeltacht people have always had a knack for the arts. Have a look at the Great Blasket Island 100 years ago - dozens of fascinating biographies written by a tiny population! No profit in it either!

Was that auld hag Peig one of them? If so, I never absorbed a word of her sheight. It took a bit of doing, tbf.

dienbienphu

so we send all our kids to school to learn irish and the only irish speaking jobs go to natives? Sharon no bheolain is probably the only exception

thror

For tv presenters (and many of the ones you mentioned) I think it's more that they were able to cut their teeth professionally speaking on Irish language media beforehand.

As examples, blathnaid ni chofaigh started on echo island, seoige on TG 4. Along with o Sé who started as a weatherman on TG4. As a result they built up showreels and skills that they could transfer to the English speaking shows and media.

O Sé is indeed seriously one of the worst tv presenters I've ever seen, but such is life.

For the rest of the professions, haven't the foggiest.

super_furry

Micilin Muc wrote: »

That's what they're famous for, really!

Ask anyone who the great storytellers were and they'll mention any of the seanchaí, Kerry especially!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Hf2xLFH-Y

They've got a gift alright.

Madam_X

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

I'd say daithi o Shea has done more to damage the Irish language than promote it.

No one will ever look at him & think "wow he's great, I want to be just like him when I grow up". And he's also very lucky to get employed by rte because he wouldn't survive in the real world at all.

I think he's quite good-looking, but all attractiveness is rendered null and void by his "Look at me I'm maaaaaaad" uber bogger schtick.

Max Power

dienbienphu wrote: »

I was trying to illustrate my point that there is a large demand for tv presenters in TG4 and that they draw from these professions to fill them

So you're telling me some TG4 producer just walked into a butchers and saw Daithí O'Sé and gave him a job presenting the weather. :rolleyes:

Madam_X

dienbienphu wrote: »

so we send all our kids to school to learn irish and the only irish speaking jobs go to natives? Sharon no bheolain is probably the only exception

TG4 is in the region though - it's probably more a convenience thing. Is that Siuin one who does the nuacht from the gaeltacht too?

LowOdour

For the last few years, my mates here in the gaeltacht have had to deal with been unemployed. But for those who have not emigrated, i can now tell them there is a job as an RTE presenter waiting for then in Baile Atha Cliath. Thanks OP

dienbienphu

FionnMcCool87 wrote: »

So you're telling me some TG4 producer just walked into a butchers and saw Daithí O'Sé and gave him a job presenting the weather. :rolleyes:

something along those lines. just look at Stephen boucher hayes on rte, like who is he? I never heard of him before that food investigation show so I presume its 'I'll ring up Stephen and get him to do the job' kind of thing that goes on in the background...

Pottler

Can we take a moment, please, to spend some time abusing Hector?.

I feel it is that time. The missus announced that she thought he was very good in his new show "Focking around the country talking shyte and getting paid" or whatever it's called. He has the coupla fuckall as well. I was disgusted by her comments and may seek a divorce, or somthing.

Madam_X

dienbienphu wrote: »

something along those lines. just look at Stephen boucher hayes on rte, like who is he? I never heard of him before that food investigation show so I presume its 'I'll ring up Stephen and get him to do the job' kind of thing that goes on in the background...

No it isn't. Everyone has to start somewhere and as an unknown. Philip Boucher Hayes has been around years btw.

dienbienphu

Madam_X wrote: »

TG4 is in the region though - it's probably more a convenience thing. Is that Siuin one who does the nuacht from the gaeltacht too?

I wouldn't be surprised. But in fairness, the gaeltacht produces a fair few hotties.

girl in the striped socks

Madam_X wrote: »

I think he's quite good-looking, but all attractiveness is rendered null and void by his "Look at me I'm maaaaaaad" uber bogger schtick.

Specsavers have a half price eye test available.

Pottler

dienbienphu wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised. But in fairness, the gaeltacht produces a fair few hotties.

In fairness, the Seoige sisters could be talking Swahili and I'd still be rapt. They might as well be talking swahili though, for all I have a clue as to what they are blathering about.

ManMade

Is there anywhere I can view the viewership stats of tg4 programmes? I've always wondered what they'd be like seeing as so few people actually speak it daily anymore.

dienbienphu

Pottler wrote: »

In fairness, the Seoige sisters could be talking Swahili and I'd still be rapt. They might as well be talking swahili though, for all I have a clue as to what they are blathering about.

I agree, haven't a notion what the natives to be harpen on about. The first time I heard a native in a professional context was sitting the leaving tape test. I was in shock. I did't reslise Irish people spoke Irish in such ways.

Mickey H

thror wrote: »

As examples, blathnaid ni chofaigh started on echo island, seoige on TG 4. Along with o Sé who started as a weatherman on TG4. As a result they built up showreels and skills that they could transfer to the English speaking shows and media.

Which one of them?

Pottler

dienbienphu wrote: »

I agree, haven't a notion what the natives to be harpen on about. The first time I heard a native in a professional context was sitting the leaving tape test. I was in shock. I did't reslise Irish people spoke Irish in such ways.

Who did your Da have to shag to make you a native? I don't mean you Dien, I mean in general. An awful lot of Irish people seem to regard the gaelgoereeen as some sort of otherworldly clan that they could never be a part of. In fairness, you're Irish if you're Irish, no matter what language you speak. We can't all be afflicted with a love of gaelic. Re the above^, all four of them.

Madam_X

Is the grant cheque printed in Irish? And if not, would they refuse to accept it?

Micilin Muc

Pottler wrote: »

Was that auld hag Peig one of them? If so, I never absorbed a word of her sheight. It took a bit of doing, tbf.

Me neither!

Can you imagine studying Victor Hugo for Leaving Cert French or Don Quixote for Leaving Cert Spanish? That's what Peig was to Leaving Cert Irish, and it was one of the biggest mistakes made by the Department of Education. I read Peig as an adult and there's no way I could have appreciated it as an 18-year-old, even though I was a fluent speaker.

There's so much baggage with Irish, despite the fact that we should be immensely proud of being home to one of the great classical languages.

Fox_In_Socks

Madam_X wrote: »

Is the grant cheque printed in Irish? And if not, would they refuse to accept it?

Actually, what is your username as gaelige? No X's in Irish, damn you!

I'm Madra_Rua_ina_stocaí

ManMade

Madam_X wrote: »

Is the grant cheque printed in Irish? And if not, would they refuse to accept it?

*insert rambling about culture and being the 'national' language.

Pottler

ManMade wrote: »

*insert rambling about culture and being the 'national' language.

Insert it yourself. There've been cutbacks around here lately due to the recession. It's self-service these days.

dienbienphu

Pottler wrote: »

Who did your Da have to shag to make you a native? I don't mean you Dien, I mean in general. An awful lot of Irish people seem to regard the gaelgoereeen as some sort of otherworldly clan that they could never be a part of. In fairness, you're Irish if you're Irish, no matter what language you speak. We can't all be afflicted with a love of gaelic. Re the above^, all four of them.

But that goes to the core of it. There's an assumption in Ireland that they're pure Irish people when they're not. It's the ridiculous ideology that at's fault. Irish people are in denial of their British heritage or a least the ideology the state is governed by is.

If you look at our racial heritage we are as much British as we are irish a fact that seems to allude a lot of people

Chucken

dienbienphu wrote: »

we are as much British as we are irish a fact that seems to allude a lot of people

Get. Out
















and pick up the popcorn while you're there.

Pottler

I'm not too sure "allude" was the word you were reaching for there..

dienbienphu

The Irish language is a product of separatist ideology that developed towards the end of the 19th century. There were two things that distinguished the majority of us from the British, that was our language and our religion. Now that Irish people have neither language or religion, are they really Irish at all?

Micilin Muc

dienbienphu wrote: »

The Irish language is a product of separatist ideology that developed towards the end of the 19th century.

You've lost me there. The language goes back to at least the 5th century AD.

ezra_pound

dienbienphu wrote: »

The Irish language is a product of separatist ideology that developed towards the end of the 19th century. There were two things that distinguished the majority of us from the British, that was our language and our religion. Now that Irish people have neither language or religion, are they really Irish at all?

Irish language was nearly wiped out in nineteenth century, not created then so completely incorrect. We do still have our languageby the way.

dienbienphu

Micilin Muc wrote: »

You've lost me there. The language goes back to at least the 5th century AD.

Excuse me, what I meant was the Irish language revival. Like another poster said, it was almost wiped out

ezra_pound

Op. It sounds to me that you were determined not to learn Irish at school because you thought that it didn't being any practical benefits. Very begrudging of you not to allow those who can actually speak it to benefit from it especially when you had the opportunity to learn but didn't think that the benefit was worth the effort.

ezra_pound

dienbienphu wrote: »

something along those lines. just look at Stephen boucher hayes on rte, like who is he? I never heard of him before that food investigation show so I presume its 'I'll ring up Stephen and get him to do the job' kind of thing that goes on in the background...

He's been around rte for a very long time and comes across as a very hardworking and talented member of staff.

MagicSean

You are required to have a certain level of Irish to become a garda and an even higher one to be promoted. It's not a matter of preference. I think there is also an Irish requirement to be a solicitor or barrister as court proceedings can be held in Irish. There's a requirement to have a level of Irish to be a primary school teacher too I think.

ezra_pound

dienbienphu wrote: »

something along those lines. just look at Stephen boucher hayes on rte, like who is he? I never heard of him before that food investigation show so I presume its 'I'll ring up Stephen and get him to do the job' kind of thing that goes on in the background...

Early career

Boucher-Hayes joined RTÉ in 1993. He began his career by reporting on RTÉ Radio 1's Five Seven Live and RTÉ 2fm's The Gerry Ryan Show before producing The Gay Byrne Show. In 1997 he defected to Today FM precursor Radio Ireland for a midday presenting slot, but rejoined the 5-7 Live reporting team on RTÉ Radio 1 in 1998. He was reported in 2006 as being the new presenter of Five Seven Live.[1]

Reporting work

Boucher-Hayes has reported from destinations as diverse as Kosovo, Latin America, Israel, occupied Palestinian territories and Iran. He has been RTÉ's reporter for numerous historic events, including stints in South East Asia (post Asian tsunami), New York City (for September 11 attacks) and Northern Iraqi Kurdistan (during the American-led invasion which preceded the Iraq War in 2003). In 2006 he broke the Israeli blockade of Lebanon, becoming the first reporter to do so, and covered the duration of the July War from Beirut and Tyre. His coverage of the 14-year-old death of Brian Rossiter whilst in the custody of gardaí won him the Media Justice Award in 2005. In 2006's "Peak Oil" he was the man behind the series of features on Ireland's looming energy crisis.[2] He has also covered the release from jail of Irish politician Liam Lawlor.[3] Other issues addressed include the Galway water contamination crisis.[4]

...Thats just an except from the wiki page on his career.

By the way his name is Philip!

dd972

dienbienphu wrote: »

But that goes to the core of it. There's an assumption in Ireland that they're pure Irish people when they're not. It's the ridiculous ideology that at's fault. Irish people are in denial of their British heritage or a least the ideology the state is governed by is.

If you look at our racial heritage we are as much British as we are irish a fact that seems to allude a lot of people

Good point, it's as if some of them think they've some sort of Super-Irish identity, nobody was born speaking any language, take a new born child in Tokyo bring him to the Donegal Gaeltacht and he'll grow up knowing fluent Irish, take a new born child from Gweedore, have them adopted in Zagreb and they'll grow up speaking Croat.

Fox_In_Socks

ezra_pound wrote: »

Early career

Boucher-Hayes joined RTÉ in 1993. He began his career by reporting on RTÉ Radio 1's Five Seven Live and RTÉ 2fm's The Gerry Ryan Show before producing The Gay Byrne Show. In 1997 he defected to Today FM precursor Radio Ireland for a midday presenting slot, but rejoined the 5-7 Live reporting team on RTÉ Radio 1 in 1998. He was reported in 2006 as being the new presenter of Five Seven Live.[1]

Reporting work

Boucher-Hayes has reported from destinations as diverse as Kosovo, Latin America, Israel, occupied Palestinian territories and Iran. He has been RTÉ's reporter for numerous historic events, including stints in South East Asia (post Asian tsunami), New York City (for September 11 attacks) and Northern Iraqi Kurdistan (during the American-led invasion which preceded the Iraq War in 2003). In 2006 he broke the Israeli blockade of Lebanon, becoming the first reporter to do so, and covered the duration of the July War from Beirut and Tyre. His coverage of the 14-year-old death of Brian Rossiter whilst in the custody of gardaí won him the Media Justice Award in 2005. In 2006's "Peak Oil" he was the man behind the series of features on Ireland's looming energy crisis.[2] He has also covered the release from jail of Irish politician Liam Lawlor.[3] Other issues addressed include the Galway water contamination crisis.[4]

...Thats just an except from the wiki page on his career.

By the way his name is Philip!

Thanks Philip!

ezra_pound

Fox_In_Socks wrote: »

Thanks Philip!

Lol!