Irish Language gets Funding Boost in the Gaeltacht, Irish Language Enterprise Expands in Mayo, Northern Ireland sees a Major new Gaelic Language Center and Donegal Council Accused of Short Changing Irish Language

Irish Gaelic is a language that is “threatened” according to most linguists.  Ethnologue, the web page which specializes in monitoring the status of the world’s languages, breaks down the Irish speakers into two groups. There are the native speakers whose first language is Irish (141,000) and those speakers who learn the language in school (1,620,000).

Irish Languague News:

Funding Boost For Gaelic Medium Education: In a move akin to spending a  minimal amount to keep a wing of a language museum functioning, the Irish Language got a minor boost when the government announced €450,000 in funding for Gaelic Medium education on the Arran Islands. Seán Kyne, the Government Chief Whip and the Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands made the announcement. Wednesday. “This measure is of particular importance and value in terms of the viability of the schools and accordingly, the viability of the islands.  Furthermore, as a result of this measure, students are given an opportunity which they wouldn’t otherwise receive to spend an entire year being educated through Irish on the Aran Islands. This measure is thus beneficial both to the Irish Language and to the Islands. https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/260041787/irish-government-announces-support-for-aran-islands-schools

Donegal Council Condemned for Denying Irish Translation Services: The Donegal Gaeltacht has a population of 23,346 (Census 2016) and represents 23.4 per cent of the total Gaeltacht population. So, it is hard to fathom that the Donegal Council claims hardship in failing to provide Gaelic translation, as is required by law in its councilmanic proceedings. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig met this week with the Chief Executive of Donegal County Council following a recent SPC meeting where Councillor MacGiolla Easbuig left after he was denied a translator and asked to submit his questions in English. In response, Donegal County Council says it has taken steps over the past number of years to increase the level of Irish Language services at a range of its meetings. The local authority says it will continue to review the provision of translation services and to change the current policy subject to the agreement of the overall Council in relation to the commitment of the necessary resources to support any extension of existing arrangements. Councillor MacGiolla Easbuig claims for the past five years no translator service has been in place at the Council. He believes there is a clear inequality in existence.     http://www.highlandradio.com/2019/03/28/discrimination-claims-over-irish-language-during-council-business/

Funding for Armagh Gaelic Center: The Continuing Irish language revitalization in Northern Ireland brings a new £2 million Irish language and cultural arts centre to Armagh. Opening in September the centre is generating significant attention. When completed, the largest ever community-led regeneration project in Armagh City known as Aonach Mhacha, will create 12 new jobs in the Irish language sector and a number of Irish language organisations will base their offices in the new centre. https://www.armaghi.com/news/armagh-news/new-2m-irish-language-and-cultural-centre-progressing-and-on-schedule-to-open-in-september/84607

Mayo Gaeltacht College Gets Financial Boost: Providing a unique Irish Medium sports-oriented curriculum in County Mayo, the Coláiste UISCE has received a grant of €225,000.  Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring and Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Coyle have welcomed the announcement by Minister Sean Kyne.  Minister Ring said: "This funding will enable Coláiste UISCE to implement its activities for the good of the Irish Language and to consolidate the language as the main spoken language especially among young people both in and outside of the Gaeltacht." Cllr Coyle added: "With this funding the college will be able to continue the great work they do for the advancement of the Irish language in North Mayo. Many of the courses will be directed towards teenagers from the Gaeltacht schools and the Gaelcholáiste (Irish Medium Secondary Schools outside the Gaeltacht). https://www.armaghi.com/news/armagh-news/new-2m-irish-language-and-cultural-centre-progressing-and-on-schedule-to-open-in-september/84607

Galway Gaeltacht Sees Jobs Gain in Irish Language Enterprises: Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and economic development of the Gaeltacht. The overall objective of Údarás na Gaeltachta is to ensure that Irish remains the main communal language by encouraging Irish Medium economic enperprise. The authority endeavours to achieve that objective by funding and fostering a wide range of enterprise development and job creation initiatives and by supporting strategic language, cultural and community based activities.  A total of 2,978 people are employed in Údarás na Gaeltachta supported companies across the Gaeltacht in Galway which is the highest figure since 2000. Údarás-supported companies created 237 new jobs in the Galway Gaeltacht last year with seven new businesses established. Minister for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Seán Kyne, said both the jobs and the range of companies, were “vital for the west of Ireland economy as well as the (health) of the Irish language”. https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/105541/galway-dars-client-companies-employ-highest-number-since-year-2000