Plean Teanga aims to make Irish a part of daily life

A DRAFT ‘Plean Teanga’, which aims to increase the use of Irish in Dingle, was enthusiastically received when it was unveiled at a public meeting in the town last week, but it will take a lot of effort and co-operation to put it into effect in the years ahead.

Under the government’s 20-year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, areas that want to retain or qualify for gaeltacht – or Irish-speaking status – are required to draw up plans for promoting and developing the language.

In Dingle – a gaeltacht town now seeking to qualify for Baile Seirbhise Gaeltachta (Gaeltacht Service Town) status – there are concerns about a decline in the use of Irish, even though may people would say more Irish is spoken in Dingle now than 20 or 30 years ago. These concerns have been heightened by the 2016 Census returns, in which only 271 people out of a population of 2,050 said they spoke Irish every day. This was a two per cent drop compared to the 2011 Census, however it is pointed out that the figures may have been distorted by the inclusion of visitors in the Census returns. An increasing number of non-Irish speakers taking up residence in Dingle is also a factor.

Against this background, the draft Plean Teanga sets out a list of actions that aim to make Irish more visible, inclusive and accessible in Dingle. The plan, which is coordinated by An Lab and was drawn up following a year of much local consultation, was unveiled last Thursday at a public meeting chaired by Micheál Ó Coileáin in Benner’s Hotel where it was received with enthusiasm and discussed in detail by the 50 or so people who attended. Comments and suggestions put forward at the meeting will now be evaluated for possible inclusion in, or amendment of, the plan before it is submitted to Roinn na Gaeltachta.

Government acceptance of the plan is critical to future State funding of Irish language initiatives in Dingle. Initiatives included in the extensive draft plan range from increased Irish language assistance for primary school children, to Irish courses for locals and visitors, Irish language film and book clubs, encouraging greater use of Irish in local businesses and at festivals such as Féile na Bealtaine and Other Voices, and setting up an annual Irish language festival in Dingle.

Dúirt Áine Moynihan, Stiúrthóir An Lab, atá i mbun an phlean lena comhleacaí, Simon Ó Faoláin, go bhfuil sí thar a bheith sásta le toradh na hoíche.

“Léirigh na daoine a bhí i láthair suim, fuinneamh agus fonn i leith na Gaeilge agus tháinig go leor aiseolas uathu le cur leis na bearta atá forbartha cheana féin,” dúirt sí.

Dúirt sí go bhfuil géarchéim ann don dteanga go háitiúil agus ar fuaid na tíre ach go bhfuil sí dóchasach go bhfuil an taoide ag casadh anois i nDaingean Uí Chúis.

Also this week, Lios Póil celebrated the launch of its language plan in Scoil Naomh Eoin Baiste.

As well as serving as a launch, the occasion also acknowledged many of those who’ve contributed to the language’s strength in a parish that has always given its best in preserving Irish on the edge of the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht.

Regardless of what event you go to in Lios Póil, there’s plenty Irish to be heard, particularly in an official capacity, and Roibeard Ó Cathasaigh is hopeful that this plan can increase the number of daily speakers by five per cent. “We presented our ‘manifesto’ to many of those who have helped the language down through the years,” Roibeard said. “We, Coiste Pobail Lios Póil, have been working on this plan with three years. There are two halves to it: one is about our aims. The other is coloured with nathanna cainte, animals, and the likes.

“We’ve been working with the various groups on this, and you have to be optimistic. There’s no magic wand; it’s a slow process. You have to inform the people and convince them that it’s a process we need to embrace.