Historic Gaeltacht Community Under Threat from Property Developers - Charges of Cultural Vandalism

An issue common to both the Irish and Welsh tongues, which has gotten attention recently, is the erosion of traditionally stable linguistic zones as the result of property development.

An example is the historic Gaelic speaking community of Rath Cairn in County Meath. Press reports characterized the local reaction as “shocked and bewildered” by a property development which will gut this fragile island of Gaelic speakers. The residents of the isolated Gaeltacht community are up in arms over the planning permission granted by the Dublin based An Bord Pleanála (a quasi-judicial body that decides on planning permission appeals against local authorities under Planning and Development Act 2006).

Language interest groups have charged that the new development would ‘destroy’ Irish as a community language in the area. Residents say the move will have devastating impact on the Irish language and the decision was described as “cultural vandalism” by Deputy Peadar Toibin who represents Lower Meath in the Dáil Éireann and is Chairman of the Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The local Comharchumann says that the development would “destroy” the efforts made by the people of the area “from the beginning” to keep Irish as a community language.

Conradh na Gaeilge said the decision made by An Bord Pleanála was “disappointing”. The Secretary-General of Conradh na Gaeilge, Julian de Spain, said TG4 News, was a “further indication” that Údarás na Gaeltachta should have planning powers in the Gaeltacht.

The controversial decision by the board went against its own inspector's recommendation to refuse permission on the grounds that “the density and incongruous form of the proposed development, together with the in-migration of non-Irish speakers” would not be in keeping with Rath Cairn and would adversely affect the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Gaeltacht in County Meath.

The Gaeltach is defined by the website of the Udaras na Gaeltachta (Gaeltacht Auhority) as encompassing parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry along the western seaboard along with enclaves in counties Cork, Meath and Waterford.  There are also six populated off-shore Irish speaking Islands. Additionally, 16,00 Irish Speakers reside within the expanding suburbs of Galway City.

The State’s Irish-speaking regions have been allowed dwindle so much they have been reduced to “Indian reservations” ignored by the State and by successive governments, according to a new TG4 documentary on the Gaeltacht. This latest outrage in Meath inflicted by property developers lack of regard for the language is just another example of the Irish government’s indifference to the survival of the Gaeltacht.

The above was based on articles posted on the websites linked here: https://intallaght.ie/irish-language-concerns-in-rathcairn-and-approval-given-for-hotel-development-and-housing-scheme/,https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2020/06/23/planning-permission-granted-for-30-house-development-in-rath-cairn/