Gráinne McElwain is a sports and entertainment broadcaster with over a decade’s experience working with Sky Sports, TG4, RTÉ, BBC and Eir Sport.
A native of Monaghan, Gráinne is a fluent Irish speaker and was a 2020 Ambassador for the Seachtain na Gaeilge campaign with Energia. She is the current anchor for Sky Sports GAA coverage and has presented Peil na mBan Beo, Ladies GAA football on TG4. She has presented other popular sports programmes on the channel including The Underdogs, GAA Beo, Sacar Beo, Basketball, Badminton, Athletics and Rugbaí Beo. She also co-presented a live entertainment programme looking ahead to the TG4 All Ireland Ladies Finals Seó Beo Pheil na mBan le Lidl as part of the build-up to the 2018 finals.
Since 2016, she has worked as a reporter on RTÉ’s flagship GAA highlights show The Sunday Game and has also worked as a sideline reporter for RTÉ’s live GAA and Athletics coverage aswell as Eir Sport and Sky Sports GAA and soccer coverage. She recently worked as a guest presenter on The Marty Squad for RTÉ Radio 1 and was a contributor to the sports panel on the award winning Today with Seán O’Rourke show and as a contributor on Drivetime, also on RTÉ radio . Gráinne is also a contributor on Off the Ball on Newstalk radio aswell as Blas on BBC.
Outside of sports, Gráinne is steeped in traditional Irish music having participated in Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and Scór competitions from an early age reaching and winning All-Ireland medals. She presented Gradaim Ceoil TG4 in 2018, the Oscars of Irish traditional music live from Belfast and has also presented a studio based entertainment series “Imeall Geal” for the BBC.
Gráinne lives in the Conamara Gaeltacht with her husband and three children.
She has worked with the GAA, LGFA, Federation of Irish Sport, IRFU, Bord Gáis Energy, National University of Ireland Galway, Medtronic, Conradh na Gaeilge, Paralympics Ireland, County Business Awards nights and Red Carpet events including Ladies GAA All-Stars.
Is mise Gráinne McElwain agus is léiritheoir teilifíse, láithreoir agus iriseoir mé le deich mbliana anuas. Is as Béal Átha an Fhóid in aice leis an Bhoth i dtuaisceart Mhuineacháin mé ó dhúchas ach táim lonnaithe anois I nGaeltacht Chonamara i gCo.na Gaillimhe. Ag fás aníos, bhí an-dúil ag mo chlann i gcúrsaí CLG agus ghlac mé páirt i gcomórtais Scór san amhránaíocht agus ceol uirlise do mo chlub An Bhoth, ag baint Craobh na hÉireann i gCeol Uirlise. Is céimí sna Daonnachtaí in Ollscoil Ulaidh i gCúl Raithin mé agus bhain mé amach Ard Teastas Múinteoireachta in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Áth Cliath. Chaith mé tréimhse ag teagasc i Muineachán agus Áth Cliath.
Ach ‘Is glas iad na cnoic i bhfad uainn’ agus d’fhág mé an mhúinteoireacht i 2003 agus dhírigh mé ar na meáin chumarsáide. Cuirim Peil na mBan Beo i láthair ar TG4 agus oibrím mar shaor-léiritheoir ar chláracha eile spóirt a chraoltar ar an stáisiún. Cé go bhfuil dúil mhilteanach agam i gcursaí CLG, tá cláracha spóirt eile ar nós sacar agus rugbaí curtha i láthair agam chomh maith le cispheil don stáisiún teilifíse Setanta Sports. Is aoibhinn liom cláracha siamsaíochta agus saolchláir agus chuir mé trí shraith de Imeall Geal i láthair ar BBC NI. Chuir mé agallamh ar dhaoine agus ceoltóirí a bhfuil cáil orthu agus phléigh muid scéalta daonna. Léirigh mé cláracha spóirt agus saolchláir do RTÉ agus TG4 fosta.
Tá Bean a’Tí déanta agam ag go leor ócáidí éagsúla, ina measc ócáidí spóirt i bPáirc an Chrócaigh ar thaobh na páirce nuair a bhí cluichí móra ar siúl.
2017 Producer GAA Nua (RTÉ)
4 part sports series that looks at the changes that science and technology play in preparing GAA teams.
2016 Assistant Producer- Extra Time (TV3)
This was a live light- hearted entertainment & sports series that aired during the European soccer championships. Responsible for booking guests and audience, producing content for VT inserts from filming to the edit suite.
2016 Assistant Producer- Sky Sports
VT producer for Sky Sports live GAA coverage in Ireland.
2016 Guest Producer- Know The Score (RTÉ)
Responsible for booking and looking after celebrity guests for the seven part quiz series.
2016 Producer- Imeall (TG4)
A cultural and arts series that looks at art both in Ireland and abroad and features the best of music, poetry, literature and drama.
2015 Producer – GAA Beo (TG4)
Responsible for management, production and output of weekly Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football & Hurling Championship / GAA Allianz League / AIB Club Championship.
2014 Assistant Producer – Sky Sports
VT producer for Sky Sports live GAA coverage in Ireland.
2013 Current Journalist – Seachtain (Irish Independent Newspaper)
Sports journalist with Irish language weekly supplement for the Irish Independent.
2012 Producer – Paddy Don Patricio (TG4)
Documentary about a footballer called Paddy O’Connell, an Irishman from Dublin who was captain of Manchester United and also managed FC Barcelona. Funded by ILBF and BAI and broadcast in September 2012 on TG4.
2011 Producer – Rásaí Lios Tuathail BEO (2006 – 2011) TG4
Producer of TG4’s live 5 day coverage of the annual September meet of the Listowel Horse Racing Festival.
2010 Producer – Stone Cold Sober (RTÉ 2)
A four part observational documentary series on RTÉ 2 that followed six lads’ journey over a six month period as they gave up alcohol to see what else there was to do.
2009 GAF TV – Project Manager (Galway Arts Festival)
Project Manager of GAF TV in conjunction with the Galway Arts Festival.
This was an online website with edited packages that previewed and reviewed acts that were on the official programme of the festival.
2008 Assistant Producer / ENG Reporter – Seó Spóirt (TG4)
Responsible for producing, coordination and packaging of inserts for the weekly live studio programme. I interviewed managers and players in various sports including GAA, Soccer and Rugby and compiling the inserts.
2007 Assistant Producer – Ros na Rún (TG4)
Drama Series on TG4 with responsibilities which included helping the Production Manager and Series Producer with the management of crew and cast on a day-to-day basis.
2006 Series Producer – GAA Beo (TG4)
Responsible for management, production and output of the GAA Department in Nemeton TV Productions that were and still are contracted to produce all of TG4’s live GAA coverage.
2005 Researcher – Health Squad (RTÉ 1)
Researcher on ten part Lifestyle Series broadcast on RTÉ 1.
2004 Researcher & Production Manager – Laochra Gael (TG4)
Researcher and Production Manager on the twice IFTA nominated series profiling GAA Sporting Heroes on TG4.
2003 Researcher – Rugbaí Beo (TG4)
Live coverage of the rugby on TG4
2018 Presenter – Seó Beo Pheil na mBan le Lidl (TG4)
Co-host with Daithí Ó Sé of a live entertainment programme from the Mansion House that looked forward to the All-Ireland Ladies GAA Football Finals while also looking back on the year that was. A two hour programme featuring music, chat and a number of special guests.
2018 Presenter – Gradam Ceoil TG4
Co-Presented TG4’s annual traditional music awards ceremony which was broadcast live from Belfast.
2018 The Marty Squad
Guest presenter on the popular GAA Show on RTÉ Radio One
2017 & 2018 Sub Editor / Reporter Sunday Game (RTÉ)
Editing matches, interviewing managers, scripting and voicing match reports on RTÉ’s flagship GAA highlights programme.
2016 Presenter- Blas BBC Radio Ulster
Presented an Irish Language radio sports series for the PPI radio station of the year. This was a live five part series that involved researching and interviewing guests on a weekly basis.
2015-Present – MC at the Opening Ceremony of the World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships, MC at All-Ireland Hurling and football semi-finals in Croke Park aswell as business and sporting award ceremonies.
2015 Presenter – Peil na mBan Beo (TG4)
Currently the presenter of TG4’s live coverage of the Ladies GAA Football Championship during the summer months, that culminates in the All-Ireland Finals in September in Croke Park. I have been presenting this series since 2009.
2013 & 2010 Presenter – International Rules Series (TG4)
Sideline reporter interviewing managers, players and pundits during Ireland’s clash with Australia at different venues around Ireland including Croke Park.
2012 Imeall Geal (BBC 2 NI)
Presented Series 1, 2 & 3 of the popular BBC 2 NI studio based series. This was a 10 part audience based studio programme and featured the best of music and chat from the Seán Hollywood Arts Centre in Newry, Co. Down. Presented Series 1 in 2008 and Series 2 in 2010.
2008 Schools Basketball Finals (Setanta Sports)
Presenter of the outside broadcast of the National Schools Basketball Finals from the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.
2008 ENG Reporter – Seó Spóirt (TG4)
On screen reporter interviewing managers and players in various sports including GAA, Soccer and Rugby and compiling inserts for the weekly live studio programme.
2003-2006 GAA Beo and Sacar Beo (TG4)
Presenter of live TV coverage of GAA and soccer matches from time to time on TG4.
“I worked with Gráinne when she began her career. Her diligence, professionalism and warm personality was the perfect combination for career progression. She has never lost those key attributes but instead she invested herself in her work to ensure she did ultimate justice to herself, her employer and the sport she was covering”
Declan McBennett
Group Head of Sport, RTÉ
“I first worked with Gráinne last year and she is a joy to work with. She’s a consummate professional, always thorough and brings warmth and personality to her performance on screen. More than that, she gets the best out of those around her, putting her guests and viewers at ease”
Jo Osborne
Senior Producer, Sky Sports
“Tá aithne agus cáil náisiúnta ar Ghráinne mar gheall ar a stíl aoibhinn, compordach mar phearsa teilifíse. Is iomaí dúshlán a chuirtear roimh láithreoir ar imeachtaí beo agus léirigh Gráinne i gcónaí gur craoltóir den scoth í lena fuinneamh, dícheall agus pearsantacht álainn”
“Watching Gráinne on screen, working with Gráinne or being in Gráinne’s company is a very comfortable and equally enjoyable experience. Her credibility with Gaelic Games athletes and with the traditional music community creates a bond with the audience and this means that she always delivers as a broadcaster”
Alan Esslemont
Ard Stiúrthóir / Director General, TG4
“ Gráinne hosted an ‘In Conversation’ event on campus at NUI Galway that had a small audience and was streamed live online to an international audience. Gráinne was extremely professional in her approach and gave a real Irish welcome. She set a perfect tone for our event which included senior leaders from the University and business. She gave us great confidence and handled the event with expertise. We would highly recommend Gráinne and we look forward to working with her again in the future”
Julie Stafford
Director of Development, Community & Alumni Relations
NUIG
A huge loss for @dublinladiesg @NoelleHealy both on and off the field. A terrific player and what a journey!! Wishing you the very best in retirement!! A move back to @MourneabbeyLFC on the cards?? 😉 #enjoynextadventure #serioussupport #properfan twitter.com/dublinladiesg/…
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