You may or may not remember that when TnaG was founded almost three years ago, there was a debate as to whether the station's name should be pronounced simply as TnaG or as Tay na Gay.

The simpler (and anglified) pronunciation won the day and, like an unwanted guest, the "new" station now finds itself struggling with a name: is it TG Ceathair or TG Four or, even, Tay Gay Four. Take your pick.

The quibbles over the station's name offer as much insight into the station's soul as hours of viewing ever will. It is all things to all men; it is meaningful; it is meaningless; it is English; it is Irish; it is the soul of Ireland; it is Americana trash.

Certainly, it has been a strange sensation for any Irish speaker who has been following the station since its foundation. First, the denting of expectations which weren't (and some would argue couldn't) be met. Then a slow spiral into mediocrity with an occasional (too occasional) burst of something worthwhile and now this: TnaG - the Irish-language station - is dead and TG4 - a bilingual station - is born.

The chances are that if you tune in, you are as likely to see a programme in English as Irish. The station makes a virtue of this vice, arguing that the English-language material is needed to improve the audience figures and, hopefully, make sure that people stay tuned and follow the Irish-language programmes. It is currently revelling in the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearings which are providing Ireland's politicians, political correspondents and pensioners with daytime viewing.

Unfortunately, the PAC hearings are, for the greater part, boring beyond belief. Even more unfortunate is the fact that the station has had to bump its programmes for children in Irish to make way for the politicians and bankers.

We are providing a valued public service, says TG4.

Yes, say Irish speakers, at our expense.

Other aspects of the station's output are problematic, to say the least. It is difficult to reconcile Aliens with the Aran Islands. Just what has the weekly Hollywood B-movie got to do with Irish culture - let alone European culture? If the station is, at it never tires of telling us, suil eile, "another eye", on the contemporary world then why must it inflict repeats of Doctor Who, Bracken and, for heaven's sake, The Lucy Show on an unsuspecting public.

Neither fish nor fowl, TG4 leaves a funny taste in the mouth.