New TG4 Quiz Show SLÉ ANOIS GO CÚRAMACH

Makes Learning Irish Bold, Funny and Fearless

Tuesdays, 7.30–8.00pm | From Tuesday, March 24th | 10-part series on TG4

A brand-new TG4 quiz show is set to transform how young people – and the broader Irish audience – experience the Irish language. Slé Anois go Cúramach is a fast-paced, funny and fearless educational quiz series that proves two simple ideas: effort matters more than perfection, and you have much more Irish than you think you have!

Slé Anois go Cúramach will be broadcast on TG4 on Tuesdays from 7.30–8.00pm from March 24th for a 10-week run. The series combines high-energy entertainment with meaningful language learning, creating a show that appeals to teenagers, families and anyone curious about improving their Irish.

Slé Anois go Cúramach is an original format by Macalla Teoranta for TG4, designed primarily with English-speaking secondary school Junior Cycle students in mind.  The show creates a supportive, high-spirited space where using the Irish you have is celebrated rather than judged. The series replaces the pressure often associated with language learning with humour, quick thinking and courage, while still delivering real genuine educational value.

Each episode sees two schools go head-to-head in a series of five lively studio-based rounds that test listening skills, vocabulary, cultural knowledge and improvisation. The show is specifically created so viewers at home and in classrooms can easily play along, making it ideal for shared, intergenerational viewing as well as use as a classroom resource.

At the heart of the series is its core belief: everyone has Irish. Fluency is not required – bravery is. Broken Irish is welcomed, laughter is encouraged and taking part is always rewarded.

The show is hosted by Síomha Ní Ruairc, a well-known face in Irish-language broadcasting. Born in Galway and raised in Lucan, Dublin, Síomha grew up in a Gaeilgeoir household and went on to study Irish and music at Maynooth University. Síomha works with Conradh na Gaeilge, has appeared in many TG4 shows, and is one-third of the popular podcast ‘How To Gael’ alongside Louise Cantillon and Doireann Ní Ghlacáin. Warm, quick-witted and encouraging, she brings an infectious energy to the studio and a genuine passion for helping young people feel confident using Irish.

“It’s so important to me that the language be showcased in natural, everyday settings – and there’s no setting quite so natural as a quick-fire quiz show! Slé gives students an opportunity to engage with the language in a fun and enjoyable way – and it gives me the chance to be a little bit cheeky with it too!”

Each episode is made up of five rounds – “Céard San Fhocal?” is a high-speed word guessing game in the style of Heads Up. “An Bhabhta Emoji” challenges players to identify jobs, places and seanfhocail from emoji clues. “Éist go Géar” tests listening skills through short, humorous video clips. A rotating “An Bhabhta Randamach” introduces surprise fun games such as “Cé Thú Féin Anyways?”, “Seanfhocal nó Scamfhocal?” and the hilarious “Kneecap / Ní Cheapaim”. The final round, “Gaeilge Ghasta”, is a rapid-fire multiple-choice challenge where speed and instinct are key.

While the tone is energetic, colourful and youth-focused, the educational foundation is carefully considered. Slé Anois go Cúramach combines the fun of a quiz show with the educational learning of Irish in a completely unique way. Macalla Teoranta, the producers, work alongside experienced language consultants, a creative pedagogy consultant, and an academic team to ensure the show is ‘scaffolded’ educationally in line with the Junior Cycle Learning Framework. They also ensure a strong standard of Irish while maintaining a relaxed, supportive atmosphere for contestants. The content aligns with CTET levels A2–B1, making the series particularly relevant for Junior Cycle learners.

Twenty Schools from right across the country take part in Series One, including Sandymount Park ETSS (Dublin), Our Lady’s College (Drogheda), Ursuline Secondary School (Thurles), St Macartan’s College (Monaghan), Maynooth Post Primary School (Kildare), De La Salle College (Dundalk), Marist College (Athlone), Scoil Mhuire Buncrana (Donegal), St Aidan’s CBS (Dublin), St Mark’s Community School (Tallaght), Salesian College (Celbridge), St Louis High School (Dublin), Rockbrook Park School (Rathfarnham, Dublin), Ramsgrange Community School (Wexford), Gallen Community School (Offaly), Gonzaga College (Dublin), Chanel College (Coolock), The High School (Rathgar), St Brendan’s College (Killarney) and Holy Faith Clontarf.

With its bold visual style, quick-fire format and playful spirit, Slé Anois go Cúramach positions Irish as something modern, social and full of life. The series aims not only to entertain but to help reshape attitudes towards the language, particularly in English-speaking schools, by proving that learning Irish can be loud, joyful and shared.

Conall Ó Máirtín, Foghlaim TG4, says: “We in TG4 are delighted that Slé Anois go Cúramach is coming to air. This programme gives school students a wonderful opportunity to use the Irish they have without fear, while watching students their own age take on language challenges under the guidance of Síomha Ní Ruairc. The series is informed by the latest research on promoting Irish in English-medium schools, and we hope it will provide support for teachers and encouragement for students to use the Irish they have both in school and at home. We congratulate the Macalla team on what they have achieved with Slé Anois go Cúramach and we look forward to audiences thoroughly enjoying it.”

Cúán Mac Conghail, Executive Producer Macalla Teoranta “We are thrilled at Macalla to have created and produced this ground-breaking new quiz show for TG4. We set out to create an entertaining quiz series that helps change attitudes to learning Irish in schools and give students a new way to enjoy Irish. Building on personal, professional and collegiate knowledge, the show is designed to encourage those watching to learn Irish in a real-world cultural context. It will also appeal to a wider audience who just love a good quiz and want to engage with the language.”

Slé Anois go Cúramach airs Tuesdays at 7.30pm on TG4 from March 24th for 10 weeks and is repeated every Sunday at 11.45am.

Series 1; Schools taking part across Ireland include

Ep 1                     Marist College, Athlone, Co Westmeath Vs Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, Co. Donegal

Ep 2                     Rockbrook Park School, Dublin Vs Ramsgrange Community School, Wexford

Ep 3                     Sandymount Park ETSS, Dublin 4 Vs our Lady’s College, Drogheda

Ep 4                     Salesian College, Celbridge Vs St. Louis High School, Dublin

Ep 5                     Ursuline Secondary School, ThurlesVs St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan

Ep 6                     Gallen Community School, Offaly Vs Gonzaga College, Dublin

Ep 7                     St. Brendan’s College, Killarney Vs Holy Faith Clontarf, Dublin

Ep 8                     St Aidan’s CBS, Dublin Vs St. Mark’s Community School, Tallaght

Ep 9                     Maynooth Post Primary School Vs De La Salle College, Dundalk

Ep 10                   Chanel College, Dublin Vs The High School, Rathgar, Dublin.