Ep 1
A group of famous faces have one week to learn, or re-learn the Irish language. Against the backdrop of beautiful Donegal, sports broadcaster Des Cahill, writer Amanda Brunker, comedian Fred Cooke and TikTok superstar Lauren Whelan, take up residence with the Mná Tí of Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste, for a week of living and learning – all as Gaeilge. In episode one, the Réaltaí get to grips with rules and routine – they’ll be sharing bedrooms, attending classes, and at the end of the week – there’ll be a test, AND a concert – but which star will shine the brightest?!
Thar seachtain amháin, tagann cúigear aitheanta le chéile i nGaeltacht Dhún na nGall chun an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim arís. Ag tús na seachtaine, bogann craoltóir spóirt Des Cahill, scríbhneoir Amanda Brunker, fuirseoir Fred Cooke agus réalt mór na meán soisialta Lauren Whelan, isteach leis na mná tí ó Choláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste – le haghaidh tréimhse cónaithe agus foghlamtha – trí Ghaeilge ar fad. Sa chéad clár – éiríonn na réaltaí cleachtaithe leis an saol nua – ranganna agus rialacha. Roineann siad seomraí codlata, téann siad ar scoil – agus ag deireadh na seachtaine – beidh scrúdú ann – ach an mbeidh siad uilig ina Réaltaí na Gaeltachta?
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Do you wish you had more than just the cúpla focal? Are you a survivor of the Peig era: out of love with Irish, but wishing you’d paid more attention in your ranganna Gaeilge? Or just looking to take your first steps in the first national language? Then RTÉ’s new series Réaltaí na Gaeltachta might be for you!
Last summer, RTÉ sent five familiar faces to Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste – one of Ireland’s most famous Gaeltacht colleges to reconnect with their native language.
They spent one week living with a Bean an Tí – and 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?
In Réaltaí na Gaeltachta five well known faces travel to the gorgeous Donegal Gaeltacht to take on the challenge of re-learning the Irish language.
Dusting off their copybooks and packing their bags, our five students make their way to one of Ireland’s most famous coláistí – Coláiste Bhríde, Rann na Feirste, where they will spend one week under the care of the múinteoirí and mná tí, living the full student experience – all as Gaeilge.
Sharing rooms in the boys’ house under the watchful eye of Bean an Tí Caitlín Nóra Frainc, are Sports Broadcaster Des Cahill, Comedian Fred Cooke, and Mayo footballer-turned-AFL-player Oisín Mullin. Meanwhile, in the girls’ house, Tiktok superstar Lauren Whelan and writer Amanda Brunker are right at home with Bean an tí Maighread 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 the climactic ceolchoirm! Each day the students follow a a traditional coláiste Gaeilge timetable – classes in the morning with Múinteoirí Niall and Méabh, and busy afternoons of activities as Gaeilge – 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 Gaeilge has grown. A prize-giving at the finale concert at the end of the week awaits. Who will come out on top and reveal themselves as the true Réaltaí na Gaeltachta?
Between grammar lessons and role plays, our students get to grips with Coláiste Gaeilge life as they get used to sharing a room, set mealtimes and following house rules. Will some of them be able to overcome their fear of the language and open themselves up to speaking it with the locals? Will others tap into a newfound command that comes about as a result of practice, practice, practice? But it can’t be all work and no play – when sports mad Des and Oisín get the chance to ditch the classroom in favour of a round of golf in Cruit, Fred and Lauren hightail it to the Croithlí Distillery where some liquid relief awaits! As a group, the students head to Gola Island and get to take in all the stunning landscape has to offer.
Ably helped by the likes of Múinteoir Ceoil Hugh and local artist Morag, the students focus on the concert – can Fred try his hand at his 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, or a Coláiste Samhraidh – 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.