Scotland’s landmark Gaelic TV channel went live last night after years of anticipation.
At 9pm the rousing strains of a new version of the classic Celtic rock band Runrig’s song, Alba, launched BBC Alba on to the airwaves.
The new Alba anthem was recorded by a host of Gaelic stars including Karen Matheson from Capercaillie, Tony Kearney from River City and traditional singers Arthur Cormack and Cathy-Ann MacPhee. Children attending the Glasgow Gaelic School will also feature in the video.
The launch of the channel was appropriately celebrated also with a major outside broadcast from Sabhal mor Ostaig, the highly-successful and forward-looking Gaelic college on Skye.
The live music special featured Mary Ann Kennedy, Julie Fowlis, Skippinish and others, and was followed by an original drama, Eilbheas, set in 1970s Lewis and starring Greg Hemphill as Elvis, and a gripping drama/documentary about Glasgow serial killer Peter Manuel.
BBC Alba – a partnership service between MG ALBA and BBC Scotland – promises to deliver high-quality, distinctive home-produced programes up to seven hours a day and featuring documentaries, sport, music and entertainment, and news.
Long-standing Gaelic brands including Eòrpa and Dè a-nis? and the Cbeebies Gaelic block will find a new home on BBC Alba while continuing to be broadcast on BBC Two Scotland.
While the new channel will only be available on cable and satellite, the launch was shown on “terrestial” BBC last night.
The regular faces of BBC Alba will be Fiona Mackenzie from Lewis, who will be the daily continuity presenter, weather forecaster Kirsteen MacDonald from Inverness, and sports reporter Evelyn Coull from Lewis.
Earlier in the day in Glasgow pupils from the Glasgow Gaelic School celebrated the launch with leading figures from BBC Alba and Minister for Culture Linda Fabiani.
The minister said: “This is a momentous day for the Gaelic community, as well as for Scottish broadcasting. BBC Alba will make a significant contribution to upholding our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and successful future for Gaelic.”
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan welcomed Scotland’s first dedicated Gaelic television channel and said: “This is a great day for Gaelic and for Scottish broadcasting.
“It will bring Gaelic to Scotland as a whole, boost the broadcasting sector in Scotland and act as a real confidence boost for the language at a critical point in the language's history.
“The channel promises programmes of real quality."