TG4 presents Cara sa Cheol (A Friend in Music), a new six-part music documentary series celebrating creative collaboration between Irish-language artists and musicians from Ireland’s New Irish and immigrant communities.
Set in a rapidly evolving Ireland, Cara sa Cheol pairs artists from different cultural backgrounds to create bold new musical collaborations. Each episode follows a creative exchange as two artists step into one another’s communities – sharing stories, influences, and lived experience rooted in Irish, African, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European traditions. From first meeting to final performance, each collaboration becomes a rich exploration of identity, belonging, and connection.
The series follows Nigerian-Irish soul singer Toshín Bankole, traditional and folk singer Cáit Ní Riain, multi-instrumentalist Seamas Hyland, Iranian composer Shahab Coohe, singer Catríona Ní Ghribín, Palestinian oud player Sarraj Alsersawi, classical and traditional violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain, Ukrainian-born composer Olesya Zdorovetska, and Irish Zimbabwean rapper GodKnows alongside multi-instrumentalist Caoimhín.
Blending Irish traditional music with rap, soul, and global musical forms, Cara sa Cheol reveals a contemporary Ireland shaped by migration, diversity, and shared creativity. The title cara sa cheol, meaning “a friend in music”, captures the essence of the series: the powerful bonds forged through collaboration, transcending language and cultural difference to connect communities.
Each episode culminates in a live concert performed before a local audience in meaningful community spaces. These performances capture the emotional and creative depth of the collaborations, showcasing music as a living, shared language.
EPISODE GUIDE
Collaboration 1: GodKnows & Caoimhín
Airing 26 April
Zimbabwean-Irish rapper GodKnows, founding member of Rusangano Family, collaborates with Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Caoimhín Mac Uaid. Their partnership fuses incisive lyrical storytelling with genre-defying production.
Collaboration 2: Olesya Zdorovetska & Aoife Ní Bhriain
Airing 3 May
Classical and traditional violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain joins Ukrainian-born singer and composer Olesya Zdorovetska in a collaboration blending virtuosic violin with expressive vocal storytelling rooted in Irish and Eastern European traditions.
Collaboration 3: Cáit Ní Riain & Toshín Bankole
Airing 10 May
Traditional singer and folklorist Cáit Ní Riain pairs with Nigerian-Irish soul artist Toshín Bankole, combining Irish sean-nós traditions with contemporary soul and R&B influences.
Collaboration 4: Shahab Coohe & Séamas Hyland
Airing 17 May
Iranian-born composer and performer Shahab Coohe collaborates with West Waterford multi-instrumentalist and set dancer Séamas Hyland, creating a vibrant dialogue between Persian classical music and Irish traditional forms.
Collaboration 5: Catríona Ní Ghribín & Sarraj Alsersawi
Airing 24 May
Donegal singer and accordionist Catríona Ní Ghribín joins Gaza-born oud player Sarraj Alsersawi for a moving collaboration that blends voice, accordion, and oud in performances that honour tradition while embracing new creative energy.
Collaboration 6: Ciara Ní É & Dara Abdurahman
Airing 31 May
Award-winning poet and playwright Ciara Ní É collaborates with Irish bassist of Ethiopian heritage Dara Abdurahman, merging spoken word and live music into performances that are both thought‑provoking and sonically rich.
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