Bunaíodh RTÉ 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. Tháinig an stáisiún ar an aer don chéad uair ag 3 i.n., Domhnach Cásca, 2 Aibreán 1972.

Raidió na Gaeltachta began broadcasting from its main studio at Casla in Conamara on Easter Sunday, 2 April 1972.

The station studio building in Casla was blessed by Father Padraig Ó Coincheannáin and the Reverend Canon Cosslett Ó Cuinn. The Head of Raidió na Gaeltachta, Padraig Ó Raghallaigh, introduced a recorded message from President Eamon De Valera.

Raidió na Gaeltachta's first outside broadcast was a Mass celebrated at Saint MacDara’s Church in An Cheathrú Rua. Mass was celebrate by the Archbishop of Tuam, Doctor Joseph Cunnane, with music and singing by choirs from Connemara, Cúl Aodh, and the Dominican Choir from Tallaght.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 2 April 1972. The reporter is Breandán Ó hEithir.