Tosaíonn Raidió na Gaeltachta le seirbhís iomlán raidió a chur ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta agus do lucht labhartha na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre.
The concept of a radio service for the Gaeltacht was first mentioned in Dáil Éireann in 1926. Seventeen years later a government committee reported that setting up such a service would face major difficulties.
Two years ago a pirate Irish language radio station Saor Raidió Chonamara had a successful week-long broadcast from the Connemara Gaeltacht.
At 12.30pm a short ceremony was held to bless the new studios in Casla, County Galway, by Father Padraig Ó Coincheannáin Parish Priest of An Cheathrú Rua, and the Reverend Canon Cosslett Ó Cuinn, President of Oireachtas na Gaeilge.
Raidió na Gaeltachta began broadcasting at 3pm. Ceannaire Padraig Ó Raghallaigh introduces a message from President Éamon de Valera who officially opens the station,
Tá áthas an domhain orm go bhfuil radió doibh fein ag muintir na Gaeltachta faoi dheireadh.
The first live broadcast is from Saint MacDara's Church in An Cheathrú Rua, where a special Mass is celebrated by Archbishop of Tuam Doctor Joseph Cunnane and six priests from the various Gaeltachts. Choirs from Connemara, Cúl Aodh, and the Dominican Choir from Tallaght provided the music.
In his homily the archbishop comments that,
Radio na Gaeltachta should reflect all aspects of life in the Gaeltachtaí, and not just one sectional view.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 April 1972. The reporter is Breandán Ó hEithir.
