
RT Raidi na Gaeltachta will celebrate fifty years on air on 2 April, and to mark this very special occasion the RT Concert Orchestra will travel to Conamara to perform in a gala concert in the heart of the Gaeltacht, broadcast live on radio, with some of the country's top traditional musicians including Altan, Iarla Lion ird, Steve Cooney, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, C r Ch il Aodha and many more.
Courage, identity and pride of place are the primary themes for the commemorative concert, titled RT Raidi na Gaeltachta 50, reflecting the station's origins within the civil rights movement, its history as a regional and national radio service, and its vital role in sustaining and promoting the Irish language and culture over the last fifty years, with artists from all across the Gaeltachta taking part.
RT Raidi na Gaeltachta came on air for the first time on 2 April 1972 Easter Sunday. The result of a long campaign by the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement, who asserted the right of the Gaeltacht and greater Irish-language community to a daily radio service in their own language, the station has acted as a vital bridge between the Gaeltacht communities. Since then, RnaG has played a vital role as a platform for the Irish-language and all aspects of the culture, including traditional music, sean-n s singing, Gaelic games, literature, oral arts, and contemporary Irish-language songwriting, as well as providing a daily regional, national and international news service in Irish.
Dee Forbes, Director-General, RT , says: Born out of the language movement of the late sixties and early seventies, RT Raidi na Gaeltachta sought to give voice and preserve voice, to develop it and champion it. RnaG has done just that, and more, across five remarkable decades.
Today, RnaG continues to bring together our Gaeltachta , while providing an essential regional, national and international news service to all Irish-language speakers nationwide and around the globe. As a champion of our traditional arts, our sports, and our language, the contribution of RnaG to the protection, preservation and promotion of the Irish-language is immense. To all who have worked in RnaG, to all who dedicate their professional lives to RnaG today, to all who contribute, and to all who listen - happy anniversary.
Gear id Mac Donncha, Ceannaire, RT Raidi na Gaeltachta, says: At its heart, this concert will demonstrate the vibrancy, courage, pride, confidence, and rich heritage of the Gaeltacht and Irish-language community. It will be a celebration of that community, those who campaigned with the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement, those who founded the radio service in the early 1970s and past and current staff, our loyal listeners, everyone involved in Gaeltacht life and the Irish language community, and the young people growing up today who will keep the flame alive into the future.
This concert will be a very special event, broadcast live from the heart of the Gaeltacht, with local, national and international artists, young musicians, dancers and singers having the unique opportunity of playing on stage with the RT Concert Orchestra. It is a privilege for RT Raidi na Gaeltachta to have gathered such esteemed musicians together in the Gaeltacht to mark the station's 50th anniversary.
Artists performing on stage with the RT Concert Orchestra in the RT Raidi na Gaeltachta 50 concert will include Altan, C r Ch il Aodha, Iarla Lion ird & Steve Cooney, Johnny g Connolly, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, The High Seas, Cormac Beaglaoich, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, D nal O'Connor, Gerry O'Beirne and Se n Monaghan.
RT Raidi na Gaeltachta has had a central role in the revival of sean-n s singing, and the concert will include performances from Ciar n Gealbh in, M ire N Choilm, Miche l Confhaola, Caitl n N Chual in, P id Mh rthain Mac Gearailt, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhr de, t in & M ire N Churraoin and Scottish singer Griogair Labhruidh who will represent the connection with the other Celtic nations.
There will also be performances from Connemara country singers Beartla Domhnaill, M irt n Beag Gr ofa and Anna Marie Nic Dhonncha. The next generation will be represented by youth musical groups Ceolt ir ga Chois Fharraige from Conamara, Co. Galway, and An Crann g from Gaoth Dobhair in Donegal, and there will be sean-n s dancing from R is n N Mhain n, the Hernon family and the Devanneys.
The concert will be presented by Neansa N Choisdealbha, Michelle Nic Grianna and Sl ine N Chathall in. David Brophy will conduct the orchestra, and musical arrangement will be by Cormac McCarthy.
The concert will be produced by Aniar TV, and has been funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. Highlights from the concert will be featured in a TV programme to be broadcast on RT One on 23 April.
RT Raidi na Gaeltachta 50 will be broadcast live on RT Raidi na Gaeltachta at 7 pm on Saturday 2 April, and a visual stream will also be available at rte.ie/gaeilge.
More from RTE
01/07/2025
The Traitors are coming: Get your first taste of the global hit as Season 1 of T...
01/07/2025
RT has announced that Teresa Smith has been appointed Commissioning Editor with responsibility for Factual Entertainment following a public competition. This s...
01/07/2025
This July, RT is delighted to support Galway International Arts Festival, Earagail Arts Festival in Donegal, Belfast TradFest and 23 other arts and cultural ev...
30/06/2025
All 8 episodes of Season 1 of 1923 will be available on RT Player from Tuesday ...
26/06/2025
Keeper Pictures, the Dublin-based scripted production company whose credits include The Gone and Striking Out, has optioned the exclusive TV adaptation rights t...
26/06/2025
This July, RT presents The Phone Box Babies, a documentary revealing new insigh...
25/06/2025
RT has confirmed its Monday night television series, Upfront with Katie Hannon has come to an end and will not be returning in September following three season...
24/06/2025
Women's Euros, Women's Rugby World Cup, European Hockey Championships, GAA Championships, World Athletics Championships, Irish Open, Horse Racing and mu...
24/06/2025
RT has today announced details of its summer line-up of home-grown documentarie...
19/06/2025
RT and ITV have today announced that filming is underway in Dublin on the third and final series of Element Pictures' award-winning 8 30' comedy drama ...
18/06/2025
To date the Toy Show Appeal has raised over 26 million since its inception in 2...
16/06/2025
Run with Ray is back! RT Radio 1's The Ray D'Arcy Show hits the road th...
13/06/2025
In fulfilment of a recommendation by the Government's Expert Advisory Commit...
11/06/2025
RT Commercial has today announced Mercedes-Benz Ireland as the car partner of The Traitors Ireland, coming to RT One and RT Player in the Autumn.
Mercedes-B...
10/06/2025
Family described their shock and distress at seeing footage of their father bein...
06/06/2025
Monday 9 June, 8pm on RT One and RT Player
Hip hop duo Tebi Rex, K la's R n n Snodaigh, John Spillane and Eve Belle among mentors
Promo: An Ghig Mh ...
05/06/2025
Stuart Carolan and Chris Addison team up on darkly comedic drama starring Ella Lily Hyland, Aidan Gillen, Phillipa Dunne and Packy Lee
From top left to right: ...
04/06/2025
Experts condemn leading private nursing home care provided referring to instance...
04/06/2025
Experts condemn leading private nursing home care provided referring to instance...
03/06/2025
This June, RT is delighted to support 20 arts and cultural events all over Ireland spanning art, theatre, film, writing and literature, multiple genres of musi...
03/06/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of David Crean as Head of Drama, following an external competition.
After an earlier career as a director and a prod...
02/06/2025
RT Commercial has announced laya healthcare, as the new sponsor of 2FM Breakfas...
31/05/2025
RT Investigates: Inside Ireland's Nursing Homes | RT YouTube
RT will broadcast an RT Investigates documentary with undercover footage relating to sta...
30/05/2025
Stolen Sister | RT Radio Player YouTube
Sisters of Elizabeth Plunkett, who was murdered by Ireland's first serial killers, speak for this first time i...
29/05/2025
Dragon Hearts- RT documentary follows cancer survivors united through the power...
29/05/2025
2FM is hitting the road this summer, broadcasting live from Ireland's biggest music festivals, starting with Forbidden Fruit this June Bank Holiday weekend....
29/05/2025
Aistear an Amhr in RT series reveals fascinating stories behind Ireland's ...
28/05/2025
This summer, RT , in collaboration with Ireland's vibrant independent produc...
28/05/2025
Debbie Brophy has been crowned the winner of Super Garden 2025. The garden design challenge, now in its 16th series, has once again showcased the extraordinary ...
27/05/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Hugh Ormond to the new role, Head of Podcasting, following an internal competition.
In this pivotal role to the ...
27/05/2025
RT will meet with the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport on Wednesday 28th May, 2025.
The Committee identified a nu...
23/05/2025
In an email to RT staff this evening, RT Director General stated as follows:
Dear colleagues,
RT 's VEP 2025 is now closed. I can confirm that we receiv...
23/05/2025
Featuring guest writers Edel Coffey, Mike McCormack, Sin ad Moriarty, Dave Rudde...
22/05/2025
In line with the published New Direction strategy, RT has launched a commissioning process that will see all Christian Worship content on RT 's video platf...
22/05/2025
Prime Time speaks to Charleen Murphy, an influencer whose online harassment turned into a real-world attack
Tonight, Prime Time hosts a special programme focus...
22/05/2025
RT 's Today show, in conjunction with Ireland's oldest publishing house Mercier Press, have announced Ireland's newest published author. Rebecca M...
21/05/2025
RT is pleased to announce the appointment of Eleanor O'Shaughnessy as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer (CRCO), following a public competition. Eleanor bri...
19/05/2025
RT is today publishing a statistical summary from the Register of External Activities for the fourth quarter of 2024.
The RT Register of External Activities ...
18/05/2025
Ballyduff Drama Group from Co. Waterford Scoops Top Award in 2025 RT All-Irelan...
16/05/2025
Live RT Radio 1 shows with Louise Duffy, Countrywide and Mooney Goes Wild
RT ...
15/05/2025
The Football Association of Ireland and RT have today announced a new two-year ...
12/05/2025
What is success? How is it achieved? And what does it really cost? These are the...
09/05/2025
Further to the comments from RT Director-General, Kevin Bakhurst on Wednesday 7th May included below in which he asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel...
09/05/2025
Here is your host, Patrick Kielty!
In the season finale of The Late Late Show, ...
09/05/2025
My Eurovision Party 2025 - join in on the fun with RT Kids!
Eurovision launche...
08/05/2025
The Liveline is now open , said Joe Duffy earlier today, as he previewed this af...
08/05/2025
RT , in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland and Cineflix Rights has reveale...
07/05/2025
RT News is pleased to announce the appointment of RT journalist, Fergal O'Brien, as its new Business Correspondent.
In his new role, Fergal will be repor...
06/05/2025
Live from Studio 1 at 7pm, Tuesday May 6
Iconic trad-fusion group K LA will be ...
06/05/2025
First episode airs this Friday at 8pm on RT One and RT Player with Doireann N Ghlac in presenting
Guests include Barry Murphy, Brooke Scullion, Bryan Dobso...