- Seán Bán Breathnach
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name = Seán Bán Breathnach (SBB)
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birth_place = Galway
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nationality = Irish flagicon|Ireland
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employer = RTE
occupation = Radio presenter
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footnotes =Seán Bán Breathnach (known in the Republic of Ireland as "SBB") is a television and radio broadcaster and personality in Ireland. He broadcasts in the medium of the
Irish Language , but is well known to English speakers in the country. He lives in Coill Rua,Indreabhan inCounty Galway .Seán is married to Bríd Nic Criath from An Rinn in Waterford.They have four kids Bríd óg,Katie and twins Lean and Cárthach.Both twins act in the hugely popular TG4 drama seriesAifric www.aifric.tv .Cárthach plays the part of Jímín ó Griofa the school rogue and is prt of the three amigos.Léan plays the part of Aifrics friend Jennifer.Seán has presented several television and radio programmes and documentaries, for the state broadcaster
RTÉ and the Irish Language broadcastersTG4 (formerly TNaG or Teilifis na Gaeilge) andRTÉ national-regional broadcasterRaidió na Gaeltachta . He is perhaps currently best known for his radio sports coverage.He presented the first Irish language pop music programme on Raidió Éireann in 1969 when he was 19 years old and his first television show, "Imeall" - a bilingual folk music show - soon followed.
He hosted the show "SBB ina Shuí" with Gráinne Gleoite between 1976 - 1982. This was the highest rated Irish language television programme of all times, coming first in TAM ratings in 1979.Fact|date=October 2007
Other work in television includes the community based programme "Eadrainn Féin" (1984 - 1986) and "Scaoil Amach an Bobailín" with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (1990 - 1993) which attracted a viewership of over 600,000 in 1992.Fact|date=October 2007
Since the arrival of
TG4 , SBB has been involved in many programmes, including the very popular "Cleamhnas" ("Blind Date" with a difference, where parents choose partners for their children!) and a soccer programme, mapping the history of the influence of Celts on the modern game. Interviewed by SBB in this series wereAlex Ferguson ,Roy Keane ,Denis Irwin ,Steve Heighway ,Jim Beglin ,Tom Finney ,Norman Whiteside ,Paddy Crerand and many others.In 1978 he was appointed to
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta staff. He works mainly with the Sports Department and presents the station’s flagship sports programme, "Spórt an tSathairn", every Saturday between 2pm - 5pm. This programme features reports, interviews, previews, horse racing results in Ireland and England as well as the fastestFA Premiership results in Ireland, and enjoys a loyal listenership. In 1991, Breathnach won aJacob's Award for his sports commentaries on Raidió na Gaeltachta.Seán Bán Breathnach is often considered responsible for the popularisation of the borrowed Gaelicised word '
craic ' in the Irish language.Fact|date=October 2007 His catchphrase 'Beidh ceol, caint agus craic againn' ('We'll have music, chat and crack'), actually precedes the use of the spelling 'Craic', and certainly precedes the (almost ubiquitous now) use of the word 'craic' as on Irish language hand-painted signs displayed outside Irish pubs. The word was subsequently reborrowed for the English language.SBB’s many talents have resulted in his involvement in all kinds of radio and television programmes, ranging from music and entertainment to interviews, young people’s programmes, documentaries and sports.Seán is a very keen sports man and is hugely involve in his local GAA club Cumann Micheal Breathnach.His work also involves the Galway county with his role as Oifigeach Gaeilge for the Galway County Football and Hurling Board,His aim is to promote our culture and Language in the circles of the GAA
Since February 2007 SBB presents a new hour-long music documentary "Siar agus Aniar", on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Saturday nights at midnight as part of the station's ANOCHT fm slot. The programme features music greats of the past thirty years or so, Irish and otherwise, including
The Beatles ,Simon & Garfunkel ,Creedence Clearwater Revival ,The Stone Roses ,Motown and much more.In the summer of 2007 he took part in
RTÉ One 's "Charity You're A Star" to raise money and awareness for the Carers Association of Ireland.
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