Munster and Irish rugby legend, Donncha O’Callaghan celebrated his new series on RTÉjr ‘What’s Your Game?’ by joining the stars of another new series Twigín to launch an exciting new season of programming on RTÉjr, the award-winning TV, Radio and Online service designed specifically for youngsters aged under 7 and their older friends and family.
The new season kicks off with a special two weeks of programming called Awesome Autumn which will encourage everyone to get out when they can, with lots to look at and listen to as the evenings get darker. A mix of brand new programming will run alongside old favourites in a schedule that offers up to 34 hours of programmes for youngsters throughout Ireland every day.
Speaking about the new season on RTÉjr Channel Controller, Sheila de Courcy said: “We have put together an engaging and eclectic mix of programming for youngsters which we are very excited about. From sport and entertainment to science and animation, we have ensured that there’s something in there to interest everyone whether they live on a farm in the countryside or an apartment in the city.
“As well as continuing our daily celebration of songs and stories, our new season of programming invites youngsters to explore wildlife, discover the delights of water, understand the fascinating world of insects through photography and explore their imaginations on their TV screens, online and on radio in a commercial free zone.”
RTÉjr will also introduce an exciting new daily magazine show for pre-schoolers, Twigín, which starts in November. Set in the magical Twigín tree house with Séamus the dog, Blaithín the flower fairy and their friends Muireann, Emma and Clara. Join the Twigín gang for singing, acting, dancing and playing games as well as going on wild adventures.
RTÉjr is an entirely commercial-free service which is available on 4 platforms – TV, where it’s RTÉs third channel; Digital Radio; Online and Mobile.
New programming this season on RTÉjr includes:
What’s Your Game? (8 Episodes)
Rugby legend Donncha O’Callaghan acknowledges that he is a big guy with a big problem – the only sport he knows anything about is rugby and he wants to do something about that! Donncha is invited to sports clubs up and down the country where enthusiastic children are just delighted to teach him the ins and outs of their sports. Tennis, riding, playground games, gymnastics, climbing, hurling, sailing and orienteering – the children of Ireland share their sports, their knowledge and their enthusiasm with Donncha. (Starts: Monday 3rd November.)
Our Farm (15 episodes)
The series explores the activities of daily life on the Doyle farm through the eyes and activities of the four Doyle children. Liam (9), Dearbhla (8), Ailbhe (5) and Feilim (3) live with their mum Debbie and dad Fergal on a mixed farm on the slopes of Nephin Mountain near Lahardane in County Mayo. Filmed over almost twelve months each episode in the series will see the children take on one of the chores around the farm across the four seasons. For the audience it will be a delightful insight into rural lifestyle. (Starts Monday 20th October 2014)
WooHOO Splash! (15 Episodes)
WooHOO Splash! is a new series for young children which explores the delights of water. Through play, activity and music. It aims to engage children’s natural inquisitiveness and in doing so actively encourage a wish to explore water safely themselves. The character of Mr. Splash is played by the musician Gerry Paul. Born in Ireland Gerry was brought up in New Zealand and travels between the two countries. Gerry is also a talented author of books for children. (Starts 20th October 2014)
Zara World (10 episodes)
What’s it like growing up in the middle of a big city? Find out through the eyes and experiences of seven year old Zara Gleeson. Zara lives in Dublin city centre with her family: big sister Ali and younger brother Zack. We follow them as they go about the business of being children and Zara World brings their experiences and life to the RTÉjr audience through this delightful series. (Starts 20th October 2014)
Shutterbugs (10 episodes)
Shutterbugs is a new ten part series for RTÉjr combining wildlife, wild places, photography and adventure! Each episode sees a team of two children head into the countryside to learn about Irish wildlife as they try to find and photography one particular animal. Wildlife expert and photography enthusiast John Lusby will guide the teams along the way. (Starts 27th October 2014)
Twigín
RTÉjr has an exciting new daily magazine show starting this autumn for pre-schoolers. Set in the magical Twigín tree house with Séamus the dog, Blaithín the flower fairy and their friends Muireann, Emma and Clara. Join the Twigín gang for singing, acting, dancing and playing games as well as going on wild adventures.
Twigín will also have it’s very own app available to download for free on ios and android where you can help Séamus continue his Twigin adventures on our RTEjr Twigin game where he races though the forest collecting magical eggs.
Plus Autumn sees the return of the old favourites including animated series The Wildernuts, Boj and Buddies, Jakers, Tilly and Friends, Peppa Pig, Tomas and Friends, In the Night Garden, Peter Rabbit plus home produced series such as Bug Hunters, The Beo Show, Virtuoso, The Why Guy, Forest Force, Tell Me a Story, Spraoi, The Curious World of Professor Fun and Dr.Dull and many more.
RTÉjr Radio – Listen
** NEW SERIES INCLUDE:
Let’s Investigate (Episodes 12 x 15’00)
November, Saturdays at 11.30am
Let’s Investigate is an entertaining and interactive science series for children. Each episode will channel children’s natural curiosity for Science, and nurture responsible patterns of behaviour towards the environment.
Rainy Day Adventures with Emma O’ Driscoll (Episodes 3 x 15’00)
November 2014
As the rain falls down outside, Emma O’ Driscoll takes us on a treasure hunt indoors today.Follow the clues along a trail in your home and sing your way to the treasure. You might even meet some pirates and dinosaurs along the way.
School Run (Episodes : 10 x 15’00)
December 2014
‘School Run’ is a bilingual, fun, educational radio series for 6-9 year olds. Presented by three school students they exchange their varied lessons in each episode from the World around to Irish, History and storytelling. The hilarious Master of Freaky Facts is on board throughout to test their knowledge, provide lots of freaky fun facts and inject humour throughout.
The Magic Smartphone
This radio drama is about 8 year old Jason is given a present of a smartphone by a mystery donor. Happy days, until Jason tries to use it…. All of the apps he downloads do real things and turns the smartphone into incredible devices – it can beam him and his friend to faraway places, explode buildings, work like a jet-pack or a laser gun – and needless to say it lands him and his mate into all kinds of trouble every time they try to use it. While he struggles to control the device and figure out who gave it to him, it becomes clear that someone else, a stranger, is trying to get his hands on the phone too. But who? And why? More trouble! Jason is played by Naoise Hayes, from Bantry.
RTÉjr Online – Play
The world of RTÉjr continues across platforms. The RTÉjr website is a hub through which youngsters can explore the range of RTÉjr content – rte.ie/rtejr.
Youngsters can enjoy a range of programme games and activities including our new Peter Rabbit game – Lily’s Memory Match-Up. Plus there are familiar favourites Can’t Catch Boj, Chuggington’s Chug Patrol Challenge and Tree Fu Tom’s Zap –all of which can be played on mobile devices.
Budding photographers, artists, cooks and adventurers can find interesting facts, exclusive clips, art instructions and downloads, recipes and activities. These include Shutterbug animal facts and exclusive clips, Wildernuts activity sheets, Grubz Up recipes, Out the Back tips and The Curious World of Professor Fun and Dr. Dull art instructions!
Youngsters can also tune into RTÉjr Radio and listen back to their favourite RTÉjr Radio shows.
Parents who want to get involved can upload birthday requests, art work and clips on the website or can follow RTÉjr on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates on new content, competitions and ways to get involved. You can also catch up on your favourite RTÉjr contents on the RTÉ Player.
RTÉjr Free Apps
The popularity of the free RTÉjr App, which is updated with fresh content each week, continues. Currently available on iOS, an Android version of the app is planned for 2015. Through the app, youngsters can listen to RTÉjr Radio live and check out exclusive episodes of all their favourite Irish RTÉjr TV shows including Bug Hunters 2, The Beo Show Virtuoso and The Curious World of Professor Fun and Dr Dull.
Our new fun educational magazine TV show Twigín will also have its very own app available to download for free on iOS and Android where you can help Séamus as he races through the woods to get to the next level!
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Images have been sent to the picture desks by Andres Povenda
About Awesome Autumn on RTÉjr (20th October – 3rd November 2014)
At RTÉjr, we know how awesome Autumn is and we want to share it with you. We have put together a season of celebration in our programmes, taking a look at the wonder of it all from our viewer’s point of view – through a child’s eyes.
Meet the four Doyle children who live on the family farm on the slopes of Nephin Mountain in county Mayo, Autumn is a special time there as the new series ‘Our Farm’ will show. By contrast the observational documentary series ‘Zara World’ will give a unique insight into what it’s like to live in the centre of a capital city with seven year old Zara Gleeson. These are real stories told by real children for other children.
‘Shutterbugs’ combines wildlife, wild spaces, photography and adventure challenging the RTÉjr audience to get outside and get snapping.
There will be stories of giants and tiny creatures alike. Rugby legend Donncha O’ Callaghan will be stepping off the rugby pitch to turn his hand to new sports as the young gymnasts in Carrigaline show him how to do the splits and he takes the reins for some horse riding in Tipperary. And if like many you’ve had an invasion of tiny visitors in your home this Autumn, don’t miss ‘BugHunters 2’ where Michel Dugon and friends will unearth the secrets of our creepy crawly friends.
Nothing is more topical than water at the moment and our RTÉ Juniors certainly know it’s value as you can see in WooHoo Splash! Where Mr. Splash teaches children under five about the delights of water in all it’s forms from the sea to swimming pools and across our national lakes and bogs.
There’s also a brand new daily show for preschoolers Twigín set in a magical tree house. Séamus the dog and Bláithín the flower fairy are joined by Emma O’ Driscoll, Muireann Ní Chiobháin and newcomer Clara Murray. The Twigin gang has something for everyone; singing , acting , dancing , games crafts and science experiments. Also check out the Twigin App where you can help Séamus continue his adventures racing through the forest.
Expect to learn a lot about everything from Words to Birds and everything in between as you join RTÉjr for a child’s eye view of the world.
RTÉjr is delivered across four platforms TV, Radio, online and mobile (ios) allowing children to watch, listen and play with commercial-free channels on television and digital radio from 7am-7pm daily. Plus over 40 hours of children’s’ television content is available on the RTE player every day.
About RTÉjr
- RTÉjr is RTÉs award-winning service designed specifically for youngsters aged under 7 and their older friends and family.
- RTÉjr is available on 4 platforms – TV, where it’s RTÉs third channel; Digital Radio; Online and Mobile. RTÉjr offers up to 34 hours of programmes for youngsters every day.
- RTÉjr is an entirely commercial-free service and offers a mixed schedule of original and acquired programming.
- RTÉjr aims to explore and reflect the world in which youngsters in Ireland are growing up and to bring them entertaining, educational and relevant content wherever they are.
- RTÉjr tells a wide range of stories about what it’s like to be a child through the eyes of the child.
- ‘Education by Stealth’ one of our mottos – every programme introduces an idea, a character or an issue to youngsters in ways which are age appropriate and which they will engage with.
- RTÉjr content can be used to develop watching, listening and motor skills, develop new language skills, learn about the environment, nature, community and diversity within our island, explore places and lifestyles different to one’s own. There are opportunities for youngsters to interact with RTÉjr through our website and mobile APP, and for their parents, guardians and teachers to engage with RTÉjr through the RTÉjr facebook page.
For more information contact:
Sinead.Harrington@rte.ie, RTÉ Television Press Officer, T: 012082667 M: 0876669311
-Ends-
Date: 15/10/2014