Pressure Mounts To Protect the Gaeltacht - Proposal to Establish an Assembly for Gaels (Dáil na nGael)

Assembly for Gaels (Dáil na nGael): This assembly will provide a democratic mechanism for political solidarity, empowerment and leadership to endorse practical initiatives for the Community Trust.

Dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin is from Galway and is currently Gaelic Research Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland and director of Soillse, the National Research Network for the Maintenance and Revitalisation of Gaelic Language and Culture. Brian Ó Curnáin is Assistant Professor at the Scool of Celtic Studies in Dublin. These two champions of the Gaelic Tongue  have teamed up to call for a new approach for the protection of the Gaelic linguistic zone in Ireland and for the teaching of  the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.  In an opinion piece in the irish Times, the two academics present a four part plan to achieve "... a more productive engagement with current challenges can encourage positive citizenship and optimism for Irish." 

Dr Ó Giollagáin is based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands and is the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture.

Below are the four action items proposed by Dr. Brian Ó Curnáin and Dr. Conchúr Ó Giollagáin.  The full text of the article can be found in the Irish Times via the link below: 

Our proposal rests on four main pillars:

1 Irish linguistic zones (Tearmann na nGael): Similar to ecological protection, these will provide a habitat for the geographic protection of the remaining Gaeltacht speaker base, if and as endorsed by the community organisations.

2 Community Trust for Gaels (Iontaobhas na nGael): This co-operative structure will manage the various resources of group members and will administer the beneficial schemes for its members. These will include employment and housing schemes, dividends and social reward systems, tax incentives, educational and cultural supports. We suggest a mixed model of public, private and philanthropic sources for funding to encourage greater financial independence.

3 Assembly for Gaels (Dáil na nGael): This assembly will provide a democratic mechanism for political solidarity, empowerment and leadership to endorse practical initiatives for the Community Trust.

4 Academy for Gaels (Acadamh na nGael): To undertake research and disseminate knowledge for the benefit of the community and to offer strategic support for organisational structures.

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/comment-the-gaeltacht-must-be-broken-a...