BBC Week 12 Programme Information Week Commencing 16/3/2019

BBC Week 12 Week Commencing 16/3/2019

Programme Information Television & Radio

BBC Northern Ireland Press Office

Email: PressOfficeBBCNI@bbc.co.uk bbc.co.uk/mediacentre bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Pictures are available at: www.bbcpictures.co.uk

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS TELEVISION & RADIO / BBC NI WEEK 12

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SUNDAY 17 MARCH

BBC Northern Ireland School Choir Of The Year BBC Radio Ulster

Ceiliúradh na Féile Pádraig  NEW BBC Two Northern Ireland

MONDAY 18 MARCH

St Patrick's Day Schools' Cup Finals BBC Two Northern Ireland BBC Sport App and bbc.co.uk/sportni

Fir Fáinne  NEW BBC Two Northern Ireland

THURSDAY 21 MARCH

Blas: 5x5  NEW BBC Radio Ulster

Places of interest – Newtownabbey; Belfast; Killinchy; Holywood; Carrickfergus and Bangor (BBC Northern Ireland School Choir Of The Year); Armagh, Newry (Ceiliúradh na Féile Pádraig); Belfast (Fir Fáinne). EDITORIAL 2019 ______

SUNDAY 17 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 12 ______

BBC Northern Ireland School Choir Of The Year Continues on Sunday 17 March BBC Radio Ulster, 2pm Catch the programme again via BBC Sounds

The search is on to find Northern Ireland’s top junior and senior school choirs.

Following on from the success of previous years, more than 60 choirs from across Northern Ireland will be singing to impress as they battle it out for a place in the final of the BBC Northern Ireland School Choir Of The Year.

Presented by John Toal and Kerry McLean, and recorded at seven venues across Northern Ireland, the series culminates in a live final from the Ulster Hall, Belfast, on Sunday 7 April, which will also be recorded for the first time for BBC NI television.

The sixth programme, on Sunday 17 March on BBC Radio Ulster at 2pm, hosted by Kerry McLean from Bangor Academy, features 11 choirs all vying for a place in the grand final.

Competing in the Junior category are: Carrickfergus Model Primary; Ballyholme Primary School, Bangor; Harding Memorial Primary, Belfast; St Bernard’s Primary, Newtownabbey, Our Lady’s Girls Primary School, Belfast, and Killinchy Primary School.

In the Senior category, the following schools will be competing for a place in the final: Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast; Priory College, Holywood; Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus; Hunterhouse College, Belfast, and Bangor Grammar School.

They will be performing for judges Richard Yarr, Senior Classical Music Producer with BBC Northern Ireland; Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music with The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Rebekah Coffey, Soprano and Ulster Youth Choir coach.

BBC Northern Ireland School Choir Of The Year is produced in association with the Ulster Youth Choir, and supported by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland (ACNI).

Emma Dunseith, Executive Editor Arts, Music and Learning, BBC Northern Ireland, says: “BBC Northern Ireland is proud to be at the forefront of showcasing and developing new, young musical talent. And we are delighted to have even more schools participate this year in the BBC Northern Ireland School Choir Of The Year which should make for a thrilling final.”

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, says: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support BBC Northern Ireland School Choir of the Year through National Lottery funding. This popular event, in association with the Ulster Youth Choir, has nurtured a love of singing and inspired hundreds of school children throughout Northern Ireland since its establishment, helping to bring great art to all. We look forward to discovering new talent over the coming months.”

The winning choirs will feature across a range of programming and events during this year.

If you missed the programme, catch it again via the BBC Sounds app. And for additional content check out Twitter #SCOTY and more pictures go to: bbc.co.uk/scoty

______Ceiliúradh na Féile Pádraig Sunday 17 March, 9pm BBC Two Northern Ireland Catch the programme again via BBC Sounds

On St Patrick’s Day, join Daniel O’Donnell as he hosts a special concert recorded at the Market Place Theatre, Armagh.

Ceiliúradh na Féile Pádraig (BBC Two Northern Ireland, Sunday 17 March, 9pm) will bring viewers a stellar cast of singers, dancers, musicians and musical traditions.

Daniel will be joined by Clancy, Holden and Dunphy, Seán Keane, The Armagh Pipers Club, Ríoghnach Connolly, Colin Foley, Fusion Trio, Extreme Rythmn, Lemoncello Celticanto, the Dundalk Institute of Technology Choir and Irish dancers from The Rooney, O’Malley, Maguire School, for an hour of music and chat.

The Donegal man will also join his guests for special performances of Mo Dhún na nGall, Grace and Fare Thee Well.

Produced by Big Mountain Productions, Ceiliúradh na Féile Pádraig is a BBC Northern Ireland co- commission with TG4, supported by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.

“We had a wonderful time in Armagh recording the concert,” said Daniel. “And I loved the chance to join some of my guests for special performances.

“I’ve met Seán Keane, Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy and Finbarr Clancy before, so it was really nice to meet up with them again.

“And it was a real treat to get to know the other acts and see such an array of new talent.”

He adds: “I really enjoyed meeting and watching the Irish dancers, but no, I didn’t join them for a number,” he laughs.

“My wife Majella and I will actually be abroad on St Patrick’s Day, but I’m looking forward to watching the concert on the iPlayer when we get home.”

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MONDAY 18 MARCH TELEVISION & RADIO HIGHLIGHTS / BBC WEEK 12 ______

St Patrick’s Day Schools’ Cup Finals Live on BBC Sport NI Monday 18 March from 1pm BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC Sport App and bbc.co.uk/sportni

The St Patrick’s Day GAA and rugby Schools’ Cup Finals – played this year on Monday, March 18 – will be live on BBC Sport NI.

Both finals will be live on BBC Two Northern Ireland, streamed live worldwide on the BBC Sport NI website bbc.co.uk/sportni and on the BBC Sport App.

The action starts at 1pm with the MacRory Cup Final from the Athletic Grounds, Armagh where St Michael’s Enniskillen take on Omagh CBS.

Mark Sidebottom introduces the action with analysis from Oisin McConville and Ryan McHugh. Thomas Niblock is on commentary alongside Martin Clarke with Thomas Kane reporting from pitchside.

There will also be highlights from the MacLarnon Final at half time.

Following the GAA, the action switches codes to rugby for the Schools’ Cup Final from the Kingspan Stadium, Belfast.

The showpiece decider kicks-off at 3pm between Campbell College and Methodist College Belfast. Gavin Andrews presents the programme and is joined in studio by Ian Humphreys – a two-time finalist with Ballymena Academy – and former Scotland international, Budge Poutney. Jim Neilly is in the commentary box alongside Tony McWhirter with Darren Cave reporting from pitchside.

KM2

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Fir Fáinne (Man of the Ring) Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 March, 10pm BBC Two Northern Ireland bbc.co.uk/gaeilge

Two-time Olympic bronze winner Paddy Barnes has his heart set on a different sort of medal – the Fáinne Airgid, a silver ring-shaped pin given to those with a good level of spoken Irish.

While the north Belfast native has been in Glasgow preparing to climb back into the boxing ring, he’s also been gearing up for 12 rounds back home, when he takes his Silver Fáinne exam.

Fir Fáinne (Monday 18 and Tu