THE launch of BBC Alba, the new Gaelic television channel, which goes live at 9pm on Friday, should be of particular interest to ex-pupils of two Inverness schools, Central Primary School and Millburn Academy.
The Gaelic channel’s weather forecaster is 24-year-old Kirsteen MacDonald, a former pupil of both schools.
Born and brought up in Inverness, and with family still living in the Highland capital, she learned Gaelic as a pupil of Central Primary School’s pioneering Gaelic-medium unit.
Kirsteen said: “My parents weren’t Gaelic speakers, but my grandfather, from Morar, was.
“My mum wanted me to get the chance to have Gaelic as a second language.
“As well as Central Primary, I went to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Gaelic college on Skye, and did an honours degree in Gaelic.
“That also helped me enormously.”
Since joining the BBC she has worked on the children’s TV programme, De a-nis? (What Now?) and for BBC Reidio nan Gaidheal; reporting for the Glasgow area and doing news bulletins.
She will be the weather forecaster for the new channel which launches on September 19 and says she is looking forward to providing an accurate and reliable service for the viewers.
The launch will be celebrated with a major outside broadcast, a live music special from Skye featuring Mary Ann Kennedy, Julie Fowlis, Skippinish and others.
BBC Alba will be available to satellite viewers on Sky channel 168 and Freesat channel 110.