BBC denies cutting Irish language lyrics from CMAT's new song during first play on radio

Ellen O'Donoghue

BBC Radio One has denied CMAT's claim that they removed the Irish language from her latest single Euro-Country, on its first ever radio play.

In a statement, the station said they "did not edit out the Irish language from this single," and that they "broadcast the radio edit" of the song "that was supplied by the record label."

CMAT previously criticised the BBC for removing the Irish language segment on the radio.

The Dunboyne, Co Meath singer-songwriter dropped her latest track and music video on Tuesday, with the first ever play of the song at 6pm on BBC Radio One.

However, the opening of the song, which features just over 40 seconds of Irish, was not included in the play.

In a video posted to her Instagram stories, CMAT, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, said she was not aware of the move before the first play.

"I just want to say really quickly that it was not my decision to have the Irish language edited out of the first ever play of Euro-Country on radio," she said.

"I don't know if it was a mistake or what happened, but that was not my decision; however, they have just gotten in contact and said that they are going to play the Irish language intro full version of Euro-Country tomorrow to make up for it.

"I don't know who edited that out; that was crazy of them... Yeah, not my decision, but they're fixing it!"

BBC Radio One confirmed that they would play the full song to BreakingNews.ie in a statement.

"BBC Radio One will play the full version that includes the Irish language intro today on ‘Rickie Melvin and Charlie’, ‘Going Home’, and ‘Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders’," the station said.

Euro-County, which is also the title of her upcoming album, describes the impact of the financial crash on people in Ireland.

The song also includes a dig at former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern over his time in government, with lyrics including "All the big boys, all the Berties, all the envelopes, yeah they hurt me. I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me."

The music video features her dancing in the fountain at the Omni Shopping Centre in Santry in north Dublin.

Euro-Country, the album, is set for release at the end of August, and the singer is due to play Dublin's 3Arena in December.