On Sunday the 13th of December the new series of ‘Cluichí na Bliana’ starts on TG4 at 14:00.  Every year TG4 broadcast a look back at the best games of the year in both hurling and football.

For the 2015 series there are a total of 14 matches and all of these have been condensed into 1 hour programmes and will be shown through the festive period to help everyone get their sporting fix over Christmas!

The series starts with the Allianz Hurling League Final from May when Waterford, from Division 1b, powered their way to only their third ever League title with a 1-24 to 0-17 victory over Cork at Semple Stadium. There are 6 hurling games in the series with the showcase game of the All-Ireland Final between Kilkenny and Galway on the 30th of December at 16:15.  Some other matches from the small ball game includes the Minor Semi-Final between Kilkenny and Galway that went to extra-time and still finished level, as well as 2 games from the always excellent U21 Championship.

In football, the All-Ireland Football Final between Dublin and Kerry at a rain soaked Croke Park will be shown on New Years Eve at 16:25.  We also have the epic encounter between the bitter rivals of Kerry and Cork in Killarney in the drawn Munster Football Final on Tuesday the 29th, where The Kingdom needed a Fionn Fitzgerald point in the dying seconds to snatch a draw and also Westmeath’s first ever Championship victory over there near neighbours Meath in the Leinster Semi-Final.  The men in Maroon trailed by 2-12 to 1-7 at half time before a massive fightback saw them prevail by 3-19 to 2-18.

For Peil na mBan we have the All-Ireland Final featuring Cork v Dublin broadcast on 24th of January at 14:55 and we also are showing the Quarter-Final game between Armagh and Donegal that produced some cracking goals before Armagh sneaked it on a scoreline of 2-13 to 2-11.

So once you’ve sat through Mary Poppins, Home Alone and It’s A Wonderful Life then at least you know there will be some decent sporting fare available too!

TV schedule is available on www.tg4.ie

We were delighted to read the recent article for Balls.ie by Sinéad Farrell, which cited the 5 top TG4  GAA documentaries.  Of the five documentaries selected each was part of the renowned Laochra Gael series, now in its 14th season and is produced here at Nemeton TV for TG4.

The favourites from the Balls.ie list included Armagh’s Oísín McConville; Dan Shanahan from the Déise, Galway’s , Ja Fallon, DJ Carey from Kilkenny and from the Kingdom, Mike Sheehy.  The article pointed out the way in which each Laochra Gael programme captures some of the defining moments throughout GAA history, exploring personal recollections and reflections by both past and present players and keen observers of the sport.

Reliving these moments has given the audience the opportunity to see into the hearts and minds of these obviously gifted, dedicated and inspiring people and is perhaps one of the many reasons for the series being so successful.

Since the series began back in 2001 there have been over 130 programmes produced, with over 600 interviews on approximately 2,000 hours of film and fans will not have long to wait as the next series is due to return to screens on TG4 in the Spring of 2016. Series 14 will see another 10 programmes featuring some of the finest players  we have ever seen in the  GAA, ranging from the 1960’s to virtually the present day including JJ Delaney, Ken McGrath and Declan O’Sullivan to find out who else will be making an appearance follow us on twitter @Laochra_Gael

For more information on the new series please contact Aisling Ní Fhlaithearta.