Radio 1 did not edit Irish out of Euro-Country, BBC says

BBC Radio 1 did not edit out the Irish language section of CMAT’s new single Euro-Country during its debut on the station, the corporation has said.

The first 45 seconds of the song feature lyrics in Irish, but these did not feature in the song’s first broadcast on 22 July.

BBC Radio 1 said it played a copy of the song which was provided by the record label, AWAL.

Posting on Instagram on Tuesday, the Irish singer, whose full name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, said it was “not her decision” to have the Irish language section edited out.

In the post on her Instagram story, she continued: “However, they [the BBC] have just gotten in contact and said that they are going to play the Irish language intro – the full version of Euro-Country…to make up for it.

“I don’t know who edited it out – that was crazy of them.”

The song begins with CMAT singing in Irish: “Cad is gá dom a dhéanamh mura bhfuil mé ag bualadh leat?” – “What am I to do if I’m not meeting you?”

Tá ceann folamh agam, yah, agus pearsantacht nua – “I have an empty head, yah, and a new personality.”

The 29-year-old singer also highlighted in her post that another line was edited out, which says: “I was 12 when the dads started killing themselves all around me”.

She said that was “more understandable”.

The BBC said it had already played the full version which includes the Irish language intro on Rickie Melvin and Charlie, and it would be played again on Going Home, and Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders.

The single and album title track Euro-Country is CMAT’s third studio album and set for release on 29 August.