Edel Ní Chuireáin
Edel Ní Chuireáin was appointed Ceannaire of RTÉ
Raidió na Gaeltachta in 2006. A native of Gort a’ Choirce
in the Donegal Gaeltacht, she has been with the station since 1982 where
she began her journalistic career as a Clár Reachtaire in the Donegal
Regional Office in Doirí Beaga. Having spent 12 years working in
both the News and the Programme Departments, she was appointed Northern
Regional Manager in 1994. As Regional Manager she was responsible for
the staff of twelve and for the output from Ulster. In 2004 she was appointed
Leascheannaire of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and left her
home in Donegal and is based in RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s
main studios in Casla, Co. Galway. Having spent two years in that position
she was appointed Ceannaire and is the first woman to hold the most senior
position in the National Irish Language Radio Station.
Edel has brought vast experience of Irish Language Broadcasting to the
position and firmly believes that as a public service broadcaster, the
primary role of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta is to provide a
schedule which meets the needs of the Irish language community in An Ghaeltacht
and beyond. Since Edel’s appointment as Ceannaire she has lead several
development initiatives which have had an immediate impact on the schedule
and service delivery. Above all else, was a major investment in station
journalism with an extension in the broadcast hours of the early morning
news and current affairs programme Adhmhaidin. A refocus and re-organsisation
of editorial resources has greatly increased capacity to track, develop
and analyse breaking news and major stories throughout our core listenership
period between 7am and 7pm.
New entertainment programming in the form of RónánBeo@3
has brought a vibrancy to the schedule in mid-afternoon.
Edel believes the schedule must continue to be innovative and creative
and one of the major challenges facing the organisation is the shrinking
audience in the traditional core listenership areas and the priority to
maximise listenership in the non traditional areas without alienating
loyal Gaeltacht audience. The first stage of this development has already
taken place with the introduction of Glór Anoir, a daily evening
programme for listeners in Leinster.
RTÉ’s Public Service Broadcasting Charter mentions a regional
perspective with indigenous programming made outside the greater Dublin
area. According to Edel, this is the essence of RTÉ Raidió
na Gaeltachta, the most regionally diverse radio station in the country,
with the day to day output based on serving peripheral communities on
the western seaboard in a globalised world.
An Ceannaire views the station’s archive as a valuable asset which
enriches the Irish national heritage. It is the largest vernacular archive
in the world with a particulary rich holding of traditional music and
folklore.
The recently published CD – Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy - Ceol
agus Foinn, is an example of the wealth of traditional music and song
recorded at the famous Summer School in Miltown Malbay over the years
and preserved in the archive.
With changes to the language community in Ireland and the development
of new delivery platforms facing the Ceannaire, she is looking forward
to leading the radio station through these challenges and buiding on recent
developments.
Edel Ní Chuireáin is married to Pól Ó Rabhartaigh
and they have three children – Colm, Cathal and Fionnuala.
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