IrishTV will broadcast across the UK, Ireland, Europe and the US from the 1st May.

It will also be on Sky Channel 191, and Freesat and in the US on the Public Broadcasting Service.

Broadcasting 24 hours a day, IrishTV will feature 50 unique home-produced programmes a week, with original content each night from 6-12pm.

Founded by Mayo entrepreneurs Pierce O’Reilly and Mairead Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, the €15 million project will focus on bringing rural Ireland to a global audience and will also have an online service available across all devices on IrishTV.com.

IrishTV CEO Pierce O'Reilly explains how the channel is being funded:

IrishTV is an all-Ireland channel and each of the 32 counties will have their own half-hour County Matters show once a week, produced by IrishTV’s own nationwide production network.

“The theme of the County Matters shows is simple – Irish rural life is unique, with its own cultures, traditions and events. At the heart of these events are people, and wherever people gather, we’ll be there,” said CEO Pierce O’Reilly.

“Three people will be employed in each county in production, presentation and commercial positions on the County Matters shows, while an initial 34 staff will be based at IrishTV headquarters in Westport, with a further five in our northern office in Donaghmore, Tyrone

“Internationally, ten people will be employed across three UK offices in Manchester, Liverpool and London and an initial five in Irish TV’s US base in Cleveland Ohio.

IrishTV will also produce and feature local news, sports, children’s, culture, music, golf, food, agriculture and entertainment programming.