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MG ALBA, who work in partnership with the BBC to provide BBC ALBA are delighted with today’s news (Thursday 14 April) that one of the channel’s programmes has won an awards at this year’s Celtic Media Festival.

The Festival, which is taking place this week from Wednesday 13 – Friday 15 April in Stornoway, has grown in stature and importance and is now a multi-media international event celebrating the diversity and quality of work produced by the Celtic nations of today.

Seven of BBC ALBA’s programmes were shortlisted for awards across 19 different categories, with ‘Na h-Òganaich’ scooping the top award in the best factual entertainment category, beating off fierce competition from finalists from RTÉ and BBC Wales.

Produced by Alasdair MacLean of BBC Gàidhlig, the one hour long BBC ALBA documentary ‘Na h-Òganaich’ follows the immensely successful band Na h-Òganaich, who formed in the early 1970’s, as they return to the studio to record their first CD after a 35 year break.

As the programme follows the recording process, we get to know band members Margaret, Donnie and Noel, and their new producer, former Simple Minds producer Mick MacNeil. We see a gulf growing between those of them who want to follow the band's 1970's idiom, and those who want to produce something more rooted in today's music. Relations deteriorate, and a climactic showdown ensues.

The band dominated the Gaelic music scene during the 70’s and influenced the next generation of Gaelic bands, including Runrig and Capercaille. Throughout the programme we hear from Calum MacDonald from Runrig, Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw from Capercaille and Alex Norton, who long before he started his beat on Taggart, toured North America as a stand-in Na h-Òganaich member.

Donnie MacLeod, band member of Na h-Òganaich, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this Celtic Media Festival award win and wish to provide our appreciation of the work done by Mick MacNeil and Alasdair MacLean, along with his production team, in producing this highly entertaining documentary.”

Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA said: “It is particularly pleasing that Na h-Òganaich has been recognised in winning best documentary in the factual entertainment category as documentaries and music are both key strands of our programme offering on BBC ALBA.

“The level of creative content produced by all Celtic nations involved in this year’s Celtic Media Festival is testament to the high calibre of talent available, which we should all be hugely proud of and congratulations go to Alasdair MacLean and his team at BBC Gàidhlig on this fantastic achievement.”

Na h-Òganaich will be broadcast again on BBC ALBA on Saturday 7th May at 9pm.