During a historic broadcast on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from Pearse’s Cottage in Rosmuc in Connemara on Easter Monday, President Michael D Higgins said that the revival of the Irish language was a central aim of the generation who rose up on Easter Monday 1916, and that it was a fitting tribute to those leaders that the programme be broadcast from there on Easter Monday.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programme Adhmhaidin was celebrating 30 years on air with a special programme commemorating the Rising and to mark the programme’s milestone. Guests included Fearghas Mac Lochlainn, a great grand nephew of Patrick Pearse, who spoke of his pride growing up as a relative of Pearse. He read the 1916 Proclamation during the programme, while the flag was raised by members of the Defence Forces and 'Amhrán na bhFiann' was sung by local choir Cór Rosmuc.
During the broadcast, Galway musician Deirbhile Ní Bhrolcháin spoke of her family's involvement in the Howth Gun Running. Her grandparents had stored weapons in their home in Howth, and Deirbhile brought along an old Mauser gun that came from the Asgard in 1914 to Pearse's Cottage for the show. Bláthnaid Ní Rathaille, a granddaughter of The O’Rahilly, spoke to the programme from Dublin.
The show also included an interview with Fraunc a'Mháille, 88, from Rosmuc whose father picked Pearse up from the train station the first time he arrived in Rosmuc in 1905, and Pearse stayed in the family home that time. He said Pearse was a very quiet person, who really enjoyed being among the local community.
Adhmhaidin, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s morning current affairs programme, came on the air on Easter Monday 1986. Members of the original programme team, including former Irish language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin and journalist Seán Ó Tuairisg, were both interviewed on the programme.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta has strong associations with Easter. The station came on air on Easter Sunday 1972 as a result of a campaign by the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Movement. As part of that campaign, pirate radio station Saor Raidió Chonamara was put on air to prove a point to the authorities in Dublin. The station was broadcast from Rosmuc, and came on air on Easter Sunday 1970.
