Gortahork native Máire Bhreathnach is back on our TV screens tonight after winning ‘Pearsa Teilifíse na Bliana’ 2021.

The Gradaim Chumarsáide an Oireachtais (Irish Language Media Awards) were announced at the end of October, crowning Máire as TV Personality of the Year.

Fresh from the awards success, Máire returns to host the 10th series of I Lár an Aonaigh tonight on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 10pm. Her co-host, Dáithí Ó Muirí, picked up the Radio Personality Of The Year title of 2021.

I Lár an Aonaigh was made for BBC Gaeilge by Below the Radar TV with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.

Over the years the I Lár an Aonaigh team has showcased some of the best home-grown musical talent, featured a myriad of topical stories and had conversations with a diverse mix of special guests.

Over seven weeks, presenters Máire Bhreathnach and Dáithí Ó Muirí  are joined by Lynette Fay, Seán Ó Baoill, also a Donegal native from Loch an Iúir, and Conall Ó Máirtín promising to warm up the long autumn evenings yet again each Monday night with plenty of intimate chat, stories and local musical artists.

To mark the tenth series and bring us into the New Year I Lár an Aonaigh will broadcast a music special on Monday 27th December where Máire and Dáithí will look back at some of the great Irish artists who featured throughout the years, from Picture This, to Honeyfeet, Saint Sister and Breaking Trad.

The seven new episodes will include a variety of special guests including well-known actor Diarmuid De Faoite, children’s writer Patricia Forde, broadcaster and podcaster Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, actor and puppeteer Darach Ó Tuairisg, sports presenter Máire Ní Bhraonáin and author Éilís Ní Dhuibhne.

There will also be music to suit everyone’s taste, from traditional music to blues and soul. I Lár An Aonaigh will hear from sister-act Sisterix, up and coming Armagh musician Ódhran Murphy, new music from Cork musician Jack O’Rourke, Derry based indie-pop artist Reevah, new-age folk musician Claire Sands and pop singer-songwriter Gemma Bradley. Additional tracks recorded by each of the artists will be available to watch online at www.bbc.co.uk/gaeilge or on the BBC Gaeilge Facebook page.

Series Producer Ceara Ní Choinn said: “We are delighted to be bringing back I Lár an Aonaigh once again and to celebrate the outstanding achievement of 10 seasons. This series once again features a wide range of stories, from looking back at the life of musical icon Seán Ó Riada to the history of Drag and exploring the increase of women participating in combat sports. We are also very excited to round the series off with a music special with some of the most memorable musicians down through the years, and there were so many to choose from!”