RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta an Irish language radio service began broadcasting on 2 April 1972 from Casla, Connemara, County Galway.
Raidió na Gaeltachta went on air at 3.00pm with a special pre-recorded message from President Éamon de Valera who welcomed the Irish language radio station.
Raidió na Gaeltachta is for the people of the Gaeltacht, but it would be wrong to think that many of us outside the Gaeltacht aren't interested in it too.
Liam O Murchu, Head of Irish and Children's programmes, RTÉ Television, writing in the RTÉ Guide on 31 March 1972.
Priests officiate during a Mass said at the launch of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, in Seipéal Mhic Dara, Carraroe, County Galway, on 2 April 1972.
Photographer Roy Bedell.Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West Bobby Molloy, outside Seipéal Mhic Dara in Carraroe, County Galway, during the launch of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on 2 April 1972.
Photographer Roy Bedell.Fr Tomás Ó Concheannain and four altar boys, about to enter the headquarters of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, to celebrate a mass at the opening of the station on 2 April 1972.
Photographer Roy Bedell.Fr Tomás Ó Concheannain at RnaG studios celebrating the opening of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on 2 April 1972.
Photographer Roy Bedell.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's premises in Casla, Connemara, County Galway in February 1972.Sound operator Mícheál Ó hEalaithe at a mixing desk in RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's Studio 1 in Casla, Connemara, County Galway, at the opening of the station on 2 April 1972.
Photographer Roy Bedell.Broadcasters Aingeal Ní Chonchubhair (left) and Máirtín (Meaití Jó Shéamuis) Ó Fátharta, at a control desk in an RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta studio in Casla, Connemara, County Galway, in February 1972.Broadcaster Pádraig Ó Concheanainn at a control desk in an RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta studio in Casla, Connemara, County Galway, in February 1972.Pádraig Ó Raghallaigh (left) with the Director General of RTÉ (1968-1975) Tom Hardiman, in a studio for the launch of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on 2 Apirl 1972. Pádraig Ó Raghallaigh was the first head of the station.
Photogrpaher Roy Bedell.A view of the control room and studio at RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's premises in Casla, Connemara, County Galway, on 11 May 1972.
Photographer Eve Holmes.A view of a studio at RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta's premises in Casla, Connemara, County Galway, on 11 May 1972.
Photographer Eve Holmes.Broadcaster Feardorcha Ó Colla interviews an t-Athair Dónal Mac Suibhne, the headmaster of Ardscoil Naomh Mhuire in Na Doirí Beaga, County Donegal, in March 1972. Note the Raidió na Gaeltachta car in the background.
Photographer Roy Bedell.
