Actor Pól Ó Gríofa, who voices the character Bandit in RTÉ’s Irish-language version of the hit children’s television show Bluey, has said he had never heard of the Australian cartoon until his audition.
The popular series follows Bluey, a “blue heeler” dog, with her mum, dad and little sister Bingo.
From Monday, 26 episodes from series one will be available to stream as Gaeilge on RTÉ KIDSjr and RTÉ Player, with more episodes to follow.
Since its debut in Australia in 2018, Bluey has become one of the most-watched animated TV series globally.
Ó Gríofa said he only found out just how popular the show was while recording and he could see why. “There were times when we were in stitches ourselves,” he said.
The series has been voiced by actors Gráinne Bleasdale as Bluey, Laoise Ní Nualláin as little sister Bingo, Meadhbh Ní Eidhin as Mam, Chilli and Ó Gríofa as the dad, Bandit.
The Connemara actor described the series as “very witty”, adding, “but then again, that’s the Australians for you”.
“It’s very exciting to be part of something … that has an impact. It’s great for the Irish language, because [children] learn more when you have these top cartoons that are very famous across the world,” he said.
Pól Ó Gríofa who voices Bandit in Bluey
“For RTÉ to do this, I think it’s very good for the Irish language” as it gives it “a boost, especially when there’s kids involved, learning at an early age like that.”
The Bafta- and multi-Emmy award-winning phenomenon airs in more than 140 countries and is the number one most streamed show in the US for both 2024 and 2025.
It was the number one kids show on RTÉ Player last year and continues to be in 2026. In the UK, it is the top kids’ show on both CBeebies and Disney.
A poster for Bluey As Gaeilge. Photograph: RTÉ
Ros na Rún actor Ó Gríofa said cartoons such as Bluey in Irish would have been great for his children to have watched when they were young.
He gave the example of a scene from the cartoon where they find an injured parrot and take it to the vet who later tells them the bird has died.
The makers “don’t sugarcoat anything … it’s more realistic in that way; you can relate to it more,” Ó Gríofa said.
[ Surprise! Bluey has become the Taylor Swift of children’s televisionOpens in new window ]
Suzanne Kelly, RTÉ’s head of children’s and young people’s content said: “We are so thrilled to be welcoming Bluey as Gaeilge to RTÉ KIDSjr. Bluey has established itself as a firm family favourite across our service, and now we get to introduce Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad to a whole new audience.”