Gaoth Dobhair and Rann na Feirste actors feature on kids' Irish language series

A brand-new Irish language children's educational series set in west Donegal will be showcased on Foghlaim TG4 later this month.

Clean Slate TV is thrilled to announce the launch of Mat na Maitice - the very first Irish language live-action mathematics series aimed at children aged five to nine years. 

The cast of actors all hail from the Gaoth Dobhair and Rann na Feirste. The main actors are  John McKenna as Mat; Siún is played by  Eva Ní Dhónaill; Cormac is  Ruairí Gillespie Jones; Michelle Nic Pháidín is Mamaí; Dadaí is played by  Brian Ó Dónaill and Tom by Aodán Ó Cearbhaill.

The series will premiere on Foghlaim TG4 this September and was backed by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.  

Mat na Maitice is designed to make everyday mathematical concepts accessible and engaging for young audiences. The series will focus on fundamental topics such as counting, sequences, shapes, patterns, measurements, and equities. 

By presenting these concepts through relatable characters and real-life scenarios, the twelve-episode series aims to help children overcome common challenges and develop a love for mathematics.

Each episode begins with a short title sequence introducing Mat, a 10-year-old boy who struggles with maths. Each programme finds Mat initially baffled by a maths conundrum, but with the help of his younger sister, Siún, who happens to be a maths genius, he discovers the answer. 

The learning objectives of the programme are then introduced before the audience embarks on a learning journey with Mat and Siún. The audience will see Mat spending time with friends, family, and other characters who help him solve mathematical problems in fun, everyday scenarios.

Viewers will solve the problem alongside Mat, with the timing of the short dramas allowing children to work out the answer and feel accomplished. At the end of each video, Mat will be praised by his parents for his efforts, while his sister seethes, and he will thank the viewers for their help.

To enhance the learning experience, vibrant and fun graphics such as thought bubbles, clocks, cartoon question marks, and floating numbers are used intermittently. These graphics will help children understand Mat’s internal thoughts and assist them in solving the maths conundrums, adding a fun aesthetic learning element to each film. At the end of each episode, Mat addresses the viewers, thanking them for their help in solving the problem.

Each episode concludes with a graphic sequence presenting a similar conundrum for the viewers to solve on their own. The graphics vary depending on the subject matter and serve to reinforce the learning objective, with Mat voicing the question and offering encouragement, such as “Well done” or “Thanks for your help.”

The series consists of 12 five-minute dramatized live-action videos featuring two young leading actors and their on-screen parents. Clean Slate TV cast a family of actors and friends who help Mat as he tries to solve everyday maths problems.

Mat na Maitice which was funded by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund promises to be an engaging and educational series that will make mathematics fun and accessible for young children. Clean Slate TV is excited to bring this innovative series to Foghlaim TG4 and looks forward to inspiring a new generation of maths enthusiasts in the weeks ahead thanks to Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund and TG4.  

Preasráiteas Mat na Maitice 

Sraith Nua Matamaitice Gaeilge do Pháistí á fógairt ag Clean Slate TV

Tá lúchair ar Clean Slate TV a fhógairt go bhfuil an tsraith úrnua “Mat na Maitice” le craoladh, an chéad sraith matamaitice beo-ghníomhaíochta Gaeilge dírithe ar pháistí idir 5-9 mbliana d’aois. Craolfar an tsraith den chéad uair ar Foghlaim TG4 i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo le tacaíocht ó Chiste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann.  

Tá “Mat na Maitice” deartha chun go mbeidh teacht níos fusa ag lucht féachana óg ar choincheapa laethúla matamaitice agus le go mbeidh sé tarraingteach dóibh chomh maith. Díreofar sa tsraith ar thopaicí bunúsacha amhail próisis sa mhatamaitic, tuiscint ar uimhir, tomhais, cruth agus spás.  Tá sé mar aidhm ag an tsraith de dhá chlár déag cuidiú le páistí dúshláin choitianta a shárú agus grá a fhorbairt don mhatamaitic. Déanfar é seo trí charachtair a thuigfidh siad a chur i láthair agus trí scéalta ón bhfíorshaol a insint.

Cuirtear tús le gach clár le seicheamh gearrtheideal ina gcuirtear Mat in aithne, buachaill deich mbliana d’aois a bhíonn ag streachailt leis an matamaitic. I ngach clár, bíonn gné éigin den mhatamatic nach dtuigeann Mat. Tarlaíonn sé go bhfuil sárbhua na matamaitice ag a deirfiúr óg, Siún, agus cuidíonn sí leis teacht ar an réiteach sa deireadh. 

Cuirtear cuspóirí foghlama an chláir isteach ansin sula dtéann an lucht féachana ar aistear foghlama le Mat agus Siún. Feicfidh an lucht féachana Mat ag caitheamh ama lena chairde, lena theaghlach, agus le carachtair eile a chuidíonn leis fadhbanna matamaitice a réiteach i gcásanna spraíúla laethúla.

Déanfaidh an lucht féachana an fhadhb a réiteach in éineacht le Mat, agus beidh go leor ama sna drámaí gearra seo ag páistí an freagra a réiteach agus sásamh orthu dá réir. Ag deireadh gach cláir, faigheann Mat moladh óna thuismitheoirí as a chuid iarrachtaí, agus gabhann sé buíochas leis an lucht féachana as an gcuidiú a thug siad dó na dúshláin a oibriú amach.  

Leis an eispéireas foghlama a fheabhsú, baintear úsáid as grafaicí bríomhara spraíúla ar nós boilgeoga smaointe, cloig, comharthaí ceiste cartún, agus uimhreacha ar snámh. Cuideoidh na grafaicí seo le páistí smaointe inmheánacha Mat a thuigbheáil agus cuideoidh siad leo na fadhbanna matamaitice a réiteach, ag cur gné spraíúil aeistéitiúil le gach scannán. Ag deireadh gach eagráin, labhraíonn Mat leis an lucht féachana, ag gabháil a bhuíochais leo as a gcuidiú leis an fhadhb a réiteach.

Críochnaíonn gach clár le seicheamh grafach a chuireann fadhb den chineál chéanna i láthair don lucht féachana le réiteach leo féin. Athraíonn na grafaicí ag brath ar an ábhar agus déanann siad an cuspóir foghlama a threisiú, agus Mat ag cur na ceiste in iúl agus ag moladh a chairde sa bhaile, mar shampla “Maith thú” nó “Go raibh maith agat as do chuidiú.”

Is sraith 12 fhíseán beo-ghníomhaíochta drámaíochta é Mat na Maitice agus maireann gach clár cúig bhomaite, ina bhfuil beirt aisteoirí óga agus a dtuismitheoirí ar an scáileán. Cheap Clean Slate TV teaghlach aisteoirí agus cairde a chuidíonn le Mat agus é ag iarraidh fadhbanna laethúla matamaitice a réiteach.

Is sraith spéisiúil oideachasúil é “Mat na Maitice” a dhéanfaidh an mhatamaitic spraíúil  do pháistí óga agus a ligfidh dóibh í a thuiscint níos fearr. Tá Clean Slate TV ar bís an tsraith nuálach seo a thabhairt chuig Foghlaim TG4 agus tá muid ag súil le glúin nua díograiseoirí matamaitice a spreagadh sna seachtainí amach romhainn a bhuí le Ciste Craoltóireachta Gaeilge Scáileán Thuaisceart Éireann agus TG4.