Promotion of Irish language in Mayo 'is paying dividends'
Work to strengthen the Irish language in Erris is paying dividends, according to Dr Laoise Ní Dhúda of Gaeilge Iorrais.
Providing an overview to members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, Dr Ní Dhúda said a targetted Irish language plan started in 2018, involving the implementation of defined goals with regular evaluation across 11 action areas including the education sector, childcare, young people, adult learners, businesses, public services, and social/recreation opportunities.
She said new roles have been created in association with different groups to include a new Irish language youth officer, an Irish language development officer in Achill, and a Connacht coordinator to develop Irish language arts.
The Irish language plan is now being organised in a very coordinated way across communities in 26 designated Gaeltacht language planning areas nationwide, three of which are in Mayo, covering Belmullet, Achill and Tourmakeady, as well as three Gaeltacht service towns, namely Castlebar, Ballinrobe and Belmullet.
Dr Ní Dhúda was joined for the presentation by Mayo County Council’s Irish language officer Fionnuala Nic Phaidín, Emer Ní Ghallachóir of Gaeilge Iorrais and Colm MacEachmharcaigh, Oifigeach Pleanala Teanga Acla.
“Overall, we wish to maintain the current level of Irish use in the Gaeltacht here and build on it over time," she said. "Secondly, we want to work towards maintaining and strengthening our Gaeltacht area; and thirdly, we want to ensure the preservation of a language through maintenance of the community in it, so it is also about sustaining viable communities.
“Findings to date are that we are having a real and meaningful impact on the day-to-day lives of people in the area. We are successfully creating new speakers and networks of Irish language use, with huge work done and much more to do."
She appealed to councillors for their continued support "to ensure Gaeltacht areas continue to exist and to grow and prosper".
Welcoming the presentation, the Cathaoirleach of the municipal district Cllr Sean Carey said: “This is so important to the area, it is also great for the Bean an Ti’s locally and a great source of income in the community. Eachleim/Carrowtigue is the Gaeltacht stronghold here and we must keep it that way. So many schools now are gone all-Irish and it is great to see it."
Cllr John O’Malley welcomed the presentation saying he loved hearing of the work being done to promote the native language in Mayo.
“I would love to have had more Irish and during visits to America I really missed that but always found even having the few words came in handy”, he said, adding: “I think it’s great this work is happening. It’s our native language."
Cllr Brendan Mulroy said it was great to see young people speaking the language.
"When you see the kids playing hurling and football now, they are speaking as Gaeilge to each other and it is fantastic. It is great to see the youth’s enthusiasm for the Irish language."
