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Lifestyle – Raidió na Gaeltachta was set up half a century ago following a concerted campaign by civil rights activists in Conamara to address the State’s ongoing neglect of Gaeltacht regions. As the station turns 50, BERNIE NÍ FHLATHARTA examines its contribution to broadcasting and its importance to Gaeltacht residents and Irish speakers.

Murach gluaiseacht ó mhuintir na Gaeltachta fhéin, go háirithe I gceantar Chonamara, tá seans maith ann nach mbeadh Raidió na Gaeltachta bunaithe ar chor ar bith.

Bunóidh stáisiún bradach ar dtús báire agus as sin, chuir Rialtas an lae iallach ar RTÉ stáisiún Gaeilge a bhunú.

Raidió na Gaeltachta initially broadcast for only two hours daily, with just seven broadcasters covering the three Western Gaeltacht areas but it gradually expanded, not only to the country’s other smaller Irish-speaking regions but to cover the whole country.

Today, the station broadcasts 24/7 from its base in Casla and can be listened to from all over the world. Its extensive archives have been digitalised and highlights of its daily programming are available on its podcasting service.

At the weekend, the station’s celebrated its 50th year with a gala concert that was aired on the anniversary of the very day of its first broadcast, five decades ago. The concert, which featured leading traditional musicians from all over the country, including Altan, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Steve Cooney,  Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Cór Chúil Aodha, was produced and filmed by locally based company, Aniar TV. Highlights from the event will be broadcast on RTÉ One on April 23.

Many local top-class musicians, among them Johnny Óg Connolly, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Caitlín Ní Chualáin and Beartla Ó Domhnaill also featured, as did sean-nós dancer Róisín Ní Mhainín, and the Hernon and the Devanney families. It was a milestone moment.

Gluaiseacht Chéarta Sibhialta na Gaeltachta was formed in 1969 to campaign for better infrastructure, job creation and services in a bid to revitalise Irish speaking communities that were being ravaged by emigration.

The founders of the Gaeltacht civil rights group believed that the region needed to be revitalised to entice people to stay and possibly encourage emigrants to return.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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