The Gaeltacht Mafia

dienbienphu · 17-01-2013 11:38PM #1

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 · 17-01-2013 11:41PM

While allthegether.

ITS_A_BADGER · 17-01-2013 11:41PM

LOLWUT

dienbienphu · 17-01-2013 11:42PM

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

Max Power · 17-01-2013 11:43PM

What's wrong with being a butcher?

What do you do for a living?

Micilin Muc · 17-01-2013 11:43PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:43PM

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

Sergeant · 17-01-2013 11:43PM

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

dienbienphu · 17-01-2013 11:44PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:45PM

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_ · 17-01-2013 11:45PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:46PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:47PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:48PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:48PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:48PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:49PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:49PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:49PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:49PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:51PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:52PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:54PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:55PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:56PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:56PM

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 · 17-01-2013 11:58PM

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 · 18-01-2013 12:00AM

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 · 18-01-2013 12:05AM

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 · 18-01-2013 12:05AM

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 · 18-01-2013 12:07AM

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?

The Gaeltacht Mafia

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