RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Altan, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Ciarán Ó Gealbháin and more to carry out on second April. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has announced that it'll host a gala concert following mo to celebrate fifty years since the Sta was founded. The commemorative concert titled ‘RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta fifty’ will get space at Telegael Studios in An Spidéal, Co. Galway, and will feature a line-up of traditional and country artists performing alongside the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. The concert will be broadcast live on air on second April at 7pm, along with a livestream on the station’s website.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta first aired on second April one thousand nine hundred seventy-two – the result of a campaign by the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement. The event will be based around the themes of courage, identity and pride of place, reflecting the station’s origins within the civil rights movement, its history as a regional and national radio service, and its role in sustaining and promoting the Irish speech and culture. Performing at the event, along with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, are Iarla Ó Lionáird and Steve Cooney, Johnny Óg Connolly, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, The High Seas, Altan, Cór Chúil Aodha, Cormac Ó Beaglaoich, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Dónal O’Connor, Gerry O’Beirne and Seán Monaghan. The concert will also feature a programme of sean-nós singing, including performances Ciarán Ó Gealbháin, Máire Ní Choilm, Micheál Ó Confhaola, Caitlín Ní Chualáin, Páidí Mhárthain Mac Gearailt, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, Étáin and Máire Ní Churraoin and Scottish singer Griogair Labhruidh.

There will also be sean-nós dancing Róisín Ní Mhainín, the Hernon family and the Devanney family. Conamara country singers Beartla Ó Domhnaill, Máirtín Beag Ó Gríofa and Anna Marie Nic Dhonncha will also carry out at the concert, as well as youth music groups Ceoltóirí Óga Chois Fharraige Conamara and An Crann Óg Donegal. The programme will be presented by Neansaí Ní Choisdealbha, Michelle Nic Grianna and Sláine Ní Chathalláin. David Brophy will conduct the orchestra, and musical arrangements will be by Cormac McCarthy. Commenting on the event, Gearóid Mac Donncha of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta said: At its heart, this concert will demonstrate the vibrancy, courage, pride, confidence, and wealthy heritage of the Gaeltacht and Irish-speech community. It'll be a celebration of that community, those who campaigned with the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement, those who founded the radio service in the early one thousand nine hundred seventy and past and current staff, our faithful listeners, everyone involved in Gaeltacht life and the Irish language community, and the youthful people growing up today who'll hold the flame lively into the future.

Dee Forbes, Director-General of RTÉ, added: Born out of the speech movement of the late sixties and early seventies, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta sought to give voice and preserve voice, to expand it and winner it. RnaG has done just that, and more, across five remarkable decades. Today, RnaG continues to bring together our Gaeltachtaí, while providing an fundamental regional, national and international news service to all Irish-language speakers nationwide and around the globe. As a winner 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. As well as the live radio broadcast on second April, highlights the concert will feature in a TV programme to be broadcast on RTÉ One on twenty-third April.