TG4’s Geantraí kicks off with vibrant Irish trad music from Leitrim

Geantraí, the beloved Irish traditional music series from TG4, returns for its 19th season with a fresh approach, kicking off in Leitrim.

The 13-episode series opens with an episode featuring the famed Cryan's Pub in Carrick-on-Shannon, known for its vibrant traditional music scene, especially its remarkable flute players. 

The show features musicians from Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo in this feast of music.

The episode will air on TG4 on Sunday, January 19 at 10:30pm.

Cryan’s Teach Cheoil is known nationwide for its hospitality and warm welcome of musicians.  

It has a reputation as a pub where anyone could appear through the door for a session. The programme features Mick Mulvey, Shane Meehan and the Fear on Tí Liam Cryan, the regular stalwarts that play there every week.  

They are joined in the programme by fiddler Mossie Martin, Rachael McGovern and Michael Holmes from Dervish fame.  

The Roscommon contingent are made up of flute player Aidan Shannon who is also the music producer on the programme. He is joined by his sisters Breda and Celine along with his wife Jacinta Ní Chonghaile, Enda McGreevy and Fiachra Guihan from Leitrim.  

The programme also features Leitrim flute player Sean Gilrane speaking about his hero John McKenna, who recorded many famous pieces in New York in the 1920s and 30s. 

Sean is joined by flute players Emily Keane and Aidan Shannon, accompanied by Joe Kennedy on the Bodhran.  

All Ireland Scór champion Sarah Keane from Elphin is also in the house to sing a beautiful rendition of Bríd Óg Ní Mhaille. 

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The new series is hosted by acclaimed singer Pauline Scanlon, who takes viewers on a nationwide journey from Donegal to Cork, showcasing the wealth of musical talent that thrives in the country’s most intimate and hidden venues.

“Geantraí has always been about the living tradition of Irish music. This series continues to celebrate that, bringing the music and its creators into the spotlight,” said Scanlon. 

“We’ve focused on capturing not just the music, but the environments where these sessions happen; the places where the heart of Irish culture beats strongest.”

For 16 years, Geantraí served as a platform for countless Irish musicians, and its return again in 2025 promises to highlight the continued vibrancy of traditional music in communities across Ireland.

“Geantraí has always been about community and connection, particularly between the musicians and their listeners,” said Paschal Cassidy, Director of Hedgerow Films, who is taking the helm of the series after a long history with the programme. 

“Through modern film and audio technology, we’re capturing that magic in a way that will resonate with both traditionalists and new audiences alike.”

Paschal hails from Elphin and has been recording episodes across the country over recent months, aiming to shine a light on both well-known venues and lesser-explored regions of Irish traditional music.

The new series will air on TG4 every Sunday night starting on January 19 at 10.30pm.

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