Údarás na Gaeltachta: from a spark to a flame
Gaeltacht areas throughout Ireland are well-known for a variety of reasons – the beautiful Connemara scenery, the wealth of the Donegal music tradition, the beauty and richness of the Irish language and culture in all seven Gaeltacht counties. The changing nature of work, the recognition of the importance of a healthy work/life balance, the emphasis on access to a young, skilled workforce for any successful business have brought into focus the potential of the Gaeltacht as a place to do business – and Údarás na Gaeltachta is tapping into that potential.
The Gaeltacht was historically seen as synonymous with traditional crafts or with low-skill manufacturing. However, today Údarás na Gaeltachta is far more likely to be supporting sophisticated, hightech manufacturing at companies such as Eirecomposites, who have 27 employees in south Connemara manufacturing materials for the aerospace, renewable energy, and marine industries, and Randox, a health diagnostics company providing world-class employment in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
Attracted to Gaeltacht areas by the high standard of business facilities offered by Údarás na Gaeltachta, attractive financial incentives, proximity to third-level educational institutions and their graduates, along with the assistance of experienced Údarás na Gaeltachta executives, innovative and technology focused companies in sectors such as medical devices, biopharmaceuticals and audio-visual have changed the face of employment in the Gaeltacht areas.
DRIVE TO INNOVATE
There is another facet to Gaeltacht employment that is gaining importance and momentum. That is the drive to innovate, and the development of new methods and technologies to drive core competencies and business strategy. This is an area in which Údarás na Gaeltachta is providing support to Gaeltacht entrepreneurs and businesses. These businesses are providing products and services in the food and drink sector — Achill Island Sea Salt and Skellig Chocolates — as well as technology firms such as the circuitboard manufacturer MintTek and Cniotáil Inis Meáin, the high-fashion knitwear company based on the Aran Islands.
The potential of the Gaeltacht to attract, retain and nurture the entrepreneurs who bring projects such as these to fruition has been expanded by the development of the gteic network, developed by Údarás na Gaeltachta. These 26 innovation and digital hubs are dotted along the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork, in addition to Waterford and Meath, as well as on six Gaeltacht islands. This growing digital ecosystem supports remote workers, entrepreneurs and companies, large and small, to develop and grow their businesses.
The economic and social importance of the gteics is clear, particularly in more remote areas. In the Gaeltacht region of Béal a Mhuirthead in north Mayo, the French marketing and research firm Ipsos has created 27 new jobs, driven by the relocation of a senior manager to her native home, where she saw a chance for her company to benefit from untapped talent in the area. The coworking space within the gteic hub facilitated this opportunity for Ipsos to grow its staff and business in the West.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Digitisation and innovation enable people to live and work locally while operating in the global market, while changing work practices provide experienced executives the opportunity to locate in their native homeplace. Údarás na Gaeltachta will be quick to capitalise on new opportunities arising from marine resources and wind energy, in pursuit of our goal of facilitating economic growth and to empower and strengthen sustainable, Irish-speaking communities in the Gaeltacht.
The challenges are those common to all — climate change, energy supply, an uncertain international trading environment. But challenges are nothing new to the Gaeltacht and its community. With the correct supports and people, these challenges will be overcome.