Réaltaí na Gaeltachta – five famous faces head to the Donegal Gaeltacht for a crash course in Gaeilge in new RTÉ Series
Five well-known faces head to Irish College for a crash course in Gaeilge for new series Réaltaí na Gaeltachta
Des Cahill, Amanda Brunker, Fred Cooke, Lauren Whelan, and Oisín Mullin step into the world of bean an tí’s, obair bhaile and the céilí mór!
RTÉ’s new series Réaltaí na Gaeltachta sends five familiar faces to Irish college at Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht to take on the challenge of re-learning the Irish language. Sports Broadcaster Des Cahill, writer Amanda Brunker, comedian Fred Cooke, Mayo footballer-turned-AFL-player Oisín Mullin and Tiktok star Lauren Whelan each spend one week living with a Bean an Tí – as real students with classes, céilís and obair bhaile!
At the end of the week, the ultimate test awaits: have they all got what it takes to become Réaltaí na Gaeltachta?
Dusting off their copybooks and packing their bags, the five students make their way to one of Ireland’s most famous Irish colleges – Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste, where they spend one week under the care of the múinteoirí and mná tí, living the full student experience – all as Gaeilge.
Under the watchful eye of Bean an Tí Caitlín Nóra Frainc, Des, Fred, and Oisín share a room in the boys’ house. Meanwhile in the girls’ house, Amanda and Lauren are right at home with Bean an tí Maighread Mhic Grianna and her granddaughter Aisling.
Under the tutelage of Múinteoir Niall Ó Sluain and helped by a host of local faces, the five students immerse themselves in the summer college experience – complete with classes, céilís and plenty of craic agus ceol. Each day the students follow a traditional Irish college timetable – classes in the morning with Múinteoirí Niall and Méabh, followed by busy afternoons of activities as Gaeilge which include singing, dancing and even kayaking. At the end of the week, each student will build up to a ‘scrúdú béil’ to see just how much their grasp of the Irish language has grown. With a prize-giving at the talent show at the end of the week – who will come out on top as true Réaltaí na Gaeltachta?
Ably helped by the likes of Múinteoir Ceoil Hugh Mac Giolla Chearra and local artist Morag, the students focus on the concert – can Fred try his hand at his musical set as Gaeilge? Can Amanda write and perform a poem? Will Des wrap his head round his party piece in time – and will Lauren ever be able to teach Oisín how to dance?
Set against the stunning coastal backdrop of West Donegal, it’s not long before the students find themselves on a road to discovery, to a place where the language reveals itself to them in a light they’ve never seen before.
For everyone who’s ever been to Irish college – and for anyone who’s ever wondered what it would be like – Réaltaí na Gaeltachta provides a feel-good dose of nostalgia that celebrates what it feels like to get to know and love our glorious native language, all over again.
Tune in to the new series of Réaltaí na Gaeltachta on Tuesday 28th February, 7.00pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.