Mullingar children and Dun na Sí star in Siar Linn on TG4
What was it like to live in the ‘olden times’? What were the clothes like? What games did they play? What did they have to eat? And, did they have more fun than kids have now? TG4 viewers can find out in the new history series, Siar Linn.
After a successful first series last year on TG4’s dedicated new children’s channel, CÚLA4, this Irish language show for 8–12-year-olds, has launched its second season, and Westmeath is the star of the show in the first episode, which airs this Tuesday, January 14 on CÚLA4 at 7.17pm.
In each episode of Siar Linn (‘Back with Us’) children see what it was like to be a child in a different time, from the legendary Fianna warrior period to the harmonious Woodstock festival of the 1960s.
The aim of the series is to gently explore history and folklore in an interactive way, while entertaining and educating young viewers.
Each week, a group of ‘Abhatáranna Eachtra’ (Adventurer Avatars) – four children – take on a new era.
With the help of the magic of television, they travel to another period and face a number of tasks and challenges.
In the studio, the ‘Scuad Staire’ History Squad – Harry, Joshua, Pippa and Luisne, play the Siar Linn game – and have to win as many gold badges as possible with the help of their Adventurer friends who are busy trying to win badges in the past.
The show is fronted by children’s TV presenter, Ray Cuddihy, who many will remember as Múinteoir Ray on Home School Hub.
Episode one includes Mullingar children, sisters Muirin Ní Dhuinn, Aoife Ní Dhuinn and Joseph Cléirigh, and they are joined by Luke Hanrahan from Maynooth.
They give us a glimpse into the lives of the Fianna, training like warriors through a variety of tasks, against the era-inspired backdrop of Dun na Sí Heritage Park in Moate.
It won’t always be easy, but it will always be fun to watch.
Siar Linn Series 2 launches on TG4 children’s channel, CÚLA4 on Tuesday, January 14, at 7.17pm, and is repeated on Wednesday 15th at 12pm, and Thursday 6th at 5pm. The series runs for 12 episodes and features children from around Ireland, including Westmeath, Kildare, Dublin, Laois, Clare, and Wicklow.