The river Suir is the subject of a new four-part documentary series due to be broadcast on TG4 next month.
Cois Siúire has been produced by Cormorant Films and will be presented by Dr Colm Mac Gearailt, with original music composed by Liam Ó Maonlaí.
The four-part, 50-minute Irish-language series tells the story of the River Suir in unprecedented depth — “placing one of Ireland’s greatest waterways, and the communities along its banks, centre stage in prime-time television”, TG says.
Musical Current – Presenter Dr Colm Mac Gearailt with musician Liam Ó Maonlaí during filming of TG4’s four-part documentary Cois Siúire exploring the heritage, landscapes and communities of the River Suir
The series draws inspiration from the journey of writer Annraoi Ó Liatháin, whose travelogue Cois Siúire documented his passage along the river almost fifty years ago.
Now, historian and arts practitioner Dr Colm Mac Gearailt retraces that journey in his canoe, using Ó Liatháin’s reflections as both guide and companion.
Ireland’s third-longest river flows 183 kilometres from its source at the Devil’s Bit in County Tipperary, passing through Loughmore, Templemore, Thurles, Cahir, Ardfinnan, Newcastle, Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford city on its way to the Celtic Sea.
Yet despite its scale and significance, the Suir has rarely been explored in such comprehensive detail on screen.
Colm encounters historians, artists, farmers, anglers and community custodians whose lives are shaped by the Suir, where ancient abbeys, industrial remnants, mills and river crossings stand alongside vibrant modern communities.
Orchard Talk – Dr Colm Mac Gearailt with Derek Nolan of Bulmers discussing the Suir Valley’s cider and orchard heritage during filming of TG4’s Cois Siúire documentary
“Through these stories, the river emerges not simply as a natural feature, but as a constant force in Ireland’s geographic, economic, spiritual and cultural development,”TG4 says.
Liam Ó Maonlaí, of the Hot House Flowers has composed the original score for the series, with his signature musical flare bringing emotional depth and resonance to the river’s journey.
Community Voices – Dr Colm Mac Gearailt with Carol Ní Stásaigh during filming of TG4’s Cois Siúire series highlighting the people, culture and traditions of communities along the River Suir
A continuation of the acclaimed river journeys that began in Cois Móire, Cois Siúire is both intimate and expansive: a cinematic meditation on place, language and identity, and a celebration of the communities that live along one of Munster’s great waterways,TG4 says.
“ This is a series that allows viewers to experience everything the Suir has to offer — its landscapes, stories, and people — from the comfort and safety of their own armchair, without getting your toes wet,”it says.
Cois Siúire, will be broadcast on Wednesday, April 1st 2026 at 9.30 pm on TG4.
