‘Political help needed to promote Irish’

CONRADH na Gaeilge has reiterated the importance of contacting political figures in order to put investment in Irish and the Gaeltachtaí to the top of the agenda ahead of the Budget later this year.

Gaeltacht education policies, language planning were also among the matters discussed last night in the Killarney Heights Hotel at CnaG’s action forum, which featured contributions from the likes of Uachtarán Niall Comer and Bainisteoir Chomharchumann Chorca Dhuibhne Páidí Ó Sé.

The discussion was one of three nationwide last night, with meetings also in Donegal and Galway. They arose from the authority’s recently-launched ‘An Comhrá Mór’ and collaborations with a body of Gaeltacht co-operatives. “These discussions are a step in turning the public’s voice into messages and actions that would boost the Irish language,” Dr Niall Comer said.

“Through a number of initiatives like this one, we’re hoping to get the public to row in behind us by speaking to their local political representatives and putting investment in Irish and the Gaeltachts to the forefront of the agenda ahead of the budget.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by Bainisteoir Abhcóideachta Conradh na Gaeilge Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha, who has called on Irish speakers and Gaeltacht people to seek investment in the language through lobbying politicians.

Conradh na Gaeilge has called on authorities on both sides of the border to support its investment plan for Irish speakers and Gaeltacht people as a matter of urgency, claiming it would create over 1,150 new jobs and a raft of opportunities to use Irish nationwide, as well as supporting language planning processes already underway in Gaeltachtaí.