Cúla 4

**Cúla4** is an Irish language programming block and upcoming TV channel and a stand-alone television channel for Irish speaking children in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is operated by TG4.

## Development

The strand was first established in 1996 as **Cúlabúla**; with the rebrand of TnaG to TG4 in 1999 **Cúlabúla** was renamed "Cúla4". As of 1 September 2009 **Cúla4** is available as a separate channel to Virgin Media Ireland customers on channel 602. A new schedule coincided with the launch on UPC.

The majority of programming is a mixture of homegrown and international programmes which are either dubbed or subtitled in Irish. Cúla4 works with international broadcasters to produce Irish versions of hit TV series which are seen on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and PBS. It also works with homegrown animation companies to produce localized series. Cúla4 offers something unique in an already saturated kids television market in Ireland with the existence of RTÉjr/TRTÉ, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel. Cúla4's programming is either in Irish or in Irish and English, unlike its competition where the majority of their programmes are entirely in English.

## Cúla 4 strands

* **CÚLA4 NA nÓG**: aired between 07:00 - 14:00 is a programming block targeting pre-school children ages 2 to 5, it airs series such as Elmo's World, Tar ag Spraoi Sesame, Dora the Explorer (in Irish, teaching Spanish), Eizan and Okuni's Big Adventure, Ni Hao Kai Lan, Franny's Feet, Dive, Olly, Dive, and The Mr. Men Show. All programmes were in the Irish language.
* **CÚLA4**: airs between 14:00-16:50 is a programming block targeting 6 to 11 year olds. Programmes include Ben 10, Johnny Test, SpongeBob SquarePants, Scaredy Squirrel, Bat Baby: The Adventures of Bat Baby and Robin, Back at the Barnyard, Galaxy Squad, Eliot Kid, The Mighty B!, Trulli Tales, Skunk Fu, Bog Stop, Fanboy & Chum Chum, Pablo the Little Penguin: The Series, and Clarence.
* **PONC**: aired between 16:50-19:00 targeting 12 to 18 year olds. It hosts a number of live action drama series such as Aifric (which is also shown in Scotland on BBC Alba), and international shows such as *H2O*, Life with Derek, 8 Simple Rules, Pimp My Ride, My Super Sweet 16, The Hills, The City, Gossip Girl, South Park, One Tree Hill, Dance Academy, Switched at Birth, Wipeout and What I Like About You. It also shows a number of extreme sports shows such as Planet X and Groms Tour. This programming blockwas hosted by Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill and Colmán Mac Séalaigh. It was discontinued sometime in the early 2010's.

## Other Cúla4 na nÓg programmes

* 10@10
* Abby & Scoil Eitilte na Síoga (Abby's Flying Fairy School)
* Ag Spraoi le Claude (Fun with Claude)
* An MilkShake! Taispeáin (The MilkShake! Show)
* An Seó Mini (The Mini Show)
* Arán Draíochta (Cloud Bread)
* Béar Mór agus Gíog (Big Bear and Squeak)
* De Bhaldraithe ÉinneTaenna (Sapphire Einsteins)
* Dora (Dora the Explorer) (in Irish, teaching Spanish)
* Eachtraí Bert & Ernie (Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures)
* Einsteins Bheaga (Little Einsteins)
* Elmo Anseo (Elmo's World)
* Eizan and Okuni's Big Adventure
* Global ag Taisteal (Global Grover)
* Guppies mboilgeog (Bubble Guppies)
* Grubz Suas (Grubz Up!) [Also On RTÉjr]
* Igam Ogam
* Inui
* Johnny & An Sprite (Johnny & The Sprites)
* Kioka
* Laochra HigglyTown (HigglyTown Heroes)
* Loopdidoo
* Mouk
* Movers Samhlaíochta (Imagination Movers)
* Ni Hao, Kai-Lan (in Irish, teaching Chinese)
* Olivia
* Óstán Furchester (The Furchester Hotel)
* Pablo An Sionnach Beag (Pablo The Little Red Fox)
* Raa Raa an Leon Glórach
* Remy & Boo
* Rith Diego Rith (Go Diego Go) (in Irish, teaching Spanish)
* Saol faoi Shráid
* Scoil Bheag Helen (Helen's Little School)
* Tá Tá (Yo Yo)
* Toto i dTrioblóid (Toto Trouble)
* Tractor Tom
* Trulli Tales
* Traein na nDineasár (Dinosaur Train)
* Wonder Pets
* Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

## Other Cúla 4 programmes

* The Amazing Splashinis
* Angelo Rules
* Atomic Betty
* Avatar: The Last Airbender
* Codename: Kids Next Door
* Doodlebops Rockin' Road Show
* Edgar and Ellen
* Eloise
* Fanta Babies: The Series
* Firehouse Tales
* Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
* Garfield
* Galaxy Squad
* I Am Frankie
* I.N.K. Invisible Network of Kids
* Jay Jay the Jet Plane
* The Legend of the Volcano Sisters
* Lizzie McGuire
* Ó níl! Is ionradh eachtrannach é!
* Pablo the Little Penguin: The Series
* Pet Alien
* Puppy in my Pocket
* Scaredy Squirrel
* The Batman
* Scéalta Tom & Jerry
* Winx Club
* Watership Down (now airs on RTEjr)

Cúla4 has also dubbed some children's films into Irish including Harry Potter, Feli & Raffina, Jungledyret Hugo, Free Willy, Scooby Doo, Lemres & Mrs. Accord, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Three Stars, Trulli Tales, Thumbelina and A Troll in Central Park.

## See also

* The Den
* Nickelodeon
* Cyw - Welsh language children's channel

1. ↑ Archived copy. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved on 2009-08-29.