The Winning Side

An Taobh Tuathail, the popular Raidió na Gaeltachta cult evening show that translates as 'The Other Side' or 'The B-Side' is officially two years old. The show is the brainchild of broadcaster, promoter and DJ Cian Ó Cíobháin, who rotates with Rónán Mac Aodh Bhuí and Cathal Ó Cuaig in presenting the show over the course of a demanding seven nights a week schedule.

“It’s been two years of non-stop radio because it’s literally been on every night with the exception of four or five nights for the last two years,” Cian points out. “The critical acclaim has been far beyond what I expected. In fact, I don't think I really look ahead that far. Two years ago when it first started off I was just looking at the first couple of weeks and couple of months. It's developed very nicely and I'm still learning new things every day. I've been very happy with the way it’s gone down at home and abroad, be they be people from the Gaeltacht, people from cities, people learning the language or even foreign people who have just picked it up on the internet. They wonder whether we speak in a very strong Irish accent or in a different accent altogether.”

Ó Cíobháin believes that the show has succeeded in appealing to a listenership outside Gaeltacht area that isn't confined to a set demographic.

“The weird thing is that a guy stopped me on the street the other day and said ‘I hate dance music. I abhor that whole 4/4 beat but I love your show.’ There seems to be an idea that because you're doing it through Irish older people trust you more. Maybe they think you're a good boy! Without even realising it they are listening to some of the most exciting new sounds. You can get away with being a lot more adventurous and you can make loads of throwaway comments on air that only a select few will pick up on, vague allusions to an artist’s history or stuff like that."

The presence of three presenters is indicative of a strong RnG commitment to An Taobh Tuathail.

“It used to be just me and Ronan but we got Cathal Ó Cuaig involved,” explains Cian. “He used to just fill in whenever we were missing but he's going to take it over now for the whole summer and do it four nights a week and I'll do three. I had to cut down a day because of working with Rianta (TG4 dance show) and 110th Street (Cian's club night in Galway). Cathal is a fascinating figure because he's from Galway but he lived in Dublin for a long while and worked as a progressive trance DJ with all that Goa stuff which I wouldn't be a very big fan of and it wouldn't fit into the show. But strangely enough he moved into the whole new-funk and new-soul thing even though he still has a big passion for techno and progressive house. He is originally from Connemara. We've got all the Gaeltachts covered – Connemara, Donegal and Kerry. I think what we sadly miss is a female presenter. I've been looking around and I still can't locate one.”

Another reason for the popular alternative appeal of An Taobh Tuathail is its unique lack of corny adverts, inane jingles and pestering banter.

“The lovely thing about RnaG is that there is no advertising,” enthuses Cian. “When I did the 2FM sessions I just thought how lucky I am with the whole RnaG thing and having that commercial-free zone. Lyric FM seem to have that thing as well, as commercials seem to be quite rare on their shows. So you get to create your pieces and keep the dream alive without the reality breaking in. The last hour of Donal Dineen's show is the same in that it doesn't have any commercials and that’s a godsend.”

Do you think teaching methods could contribute more to Irish-language music and literature written through Gaelic?

“Well, It has been a couple of years since I was in school, but I still don't think they're adventurous enough with some of the prose and it still comes across as in terms of the texts they pick. They drop Peig Sayers and get a text which is basically a ’60s or ’70s version of what Peig Sayers was banging on about back then. It wasn't a major departure or anything. Then on a lot of the college courses there is a lot of stuff I wouldn't rate as literature – it’s more like Mills and Boons. But having said that, people just aren't ready to tackle an Irish language version of Ulysses, they'll be more interested in a Roddy Doyle style of writing so maybe in the long run it’s a good thing to keep it simple. This might sound like a shameless plug but my favourite writer is my Uncle Padraig who has been writing since the late eighties. He has about five or six novels and short stories under his belt. He'd come from a similar lineage to people like Joyce and Beckett and people who'd look towards Europe. He's bringing all the European aesthetic to Irish life.

“Then there’s poetry. Irish poetry is amongst the strongest in the world with people like Nuala Ní Dhomhail, Michael Davitt and Cathal O Searcaigh. These are people who aren't blinkered by Irish life alone and they come at it from different angles.”

Cian also sees a discernible change in how TG4 is perceived, in marked contrast to the once prevalent contention that its launch was a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“There was a feeling about TG4 when it came out first that was that it was almost cool to say 'Fuck TG4 – why are they wasting our money?' But now people are finding themselves more drawn to it. We've noticed with Rianta that it has become more or less on par with No Disco. We're coming from the same left of field areas, but we focus on electronica. Lots of people are watching and we're receiving really good feedback off that. With RnaG too, it’s now been round long enough to have people accept it rather than have any preconceptions. I know TG4 want to give Rianta a real boost because it’s doing so well so there is going to be club nights staged soon with full colour ads in various magazines and there also a top secret plan which is major media development that should hopefully happen in the next couple of months. That’s all undercover at the moment, but it’s going places and I am very proud to be associated with it.”

AN TAOBH TUATHAIL is broadcasted on Raidió na Gaeltachta 92-94FM seven nights a week, Monday–Saturday, 10pm until midnight. Sunday 9.30pm until midnight. Unofficial Radio Show Site: http://www.geocities.com/antaobhtuaibhail/index.html