An Comhrá Mór takes the conversation to the Gaeltacht to agree actions to secure additional resources for the Gaeltacht, Irish language
Conradh na Gaeilge is facilitating a series of action forums for the Gaeltacht regions of Donegal, Galway, and Kerry tomorrow night, Tuesday, 12 Septmeber 2017 at 8.00pm, on foot of recommendations from the first national meeting of An Comhrá Mór.
The question of investment in the Gaeltacht is on the agenda for discussion as well as actions that the community could take to secure such investment. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the current work being done in the Gaeltacht, including issues like language planning, the policy on Gaeltacht education, etc.
Páidí Ó Sé, Manager of the Kerry Co-Op Comharchumann Chorca Dhuibhne will have the floor at the meeting in Heights Hotel in Killarney, Co. Kerry; Cathy Ní Ghoill, Manager of the Aran Islands Co-Op Comharchumann Forbartha Árann, will speak at the meeting in Seanscoil Sailearna in Indreabhán, Co. Galway; and Dónal Ó Cnáimhsí of the Doirí Beaga Co-Op Comharchumann Ghaoth Dobhair will talk at the meeting in An Chrannóg in Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal.
Dr Niall Comer, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, is set to open the series of meetings with an overview, due to be broadcast online at each of the three locations, and he says:
“There is strength in unity, and by agreeing key actions and articulating a united message to promote the language, these Gaeltacht action forums of An Comhrá Mór offer members of the community a chance to come together and have their voices heard. Through An Comhrá Mór and this year’s #SEAS17 campaign days, we hope to impress upon people the importance of speaking to their local politicians in the push to put investment in the Irish language and in the Gaeltacht at the top of the authorities’ agenda, before any budgetary decisions are made.”
Conradh na Gaeilge is organising the Gaeltacht action forums in partnership with Comhlachas na gComharchumann Gaeltachta as part of a larger national campaign on behalf of the language, An Comhrá Mór, which launched in Dublin on June 2017. The second national meeting of An Comhrá Mór will come together in the Academy Plaza Hotel in the capital on 23 September 2017, and all are welcome to register for the day at www.cnag.ie/comhramor.
Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha, Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“This is an opportunity for the Irish-speaking community to secure investment for the language and the Gaeltacht by phoning their local politicians, calling into their drop-in clinics, and sending personal emails or tweets. Huge credit goes to those who have already spoken to their local representatives about this, but we need to keep the pressure up, especially as the budget in the south draws near. We are stronger as a community when we work together on these core issues - ní neart go cur le chéile.”
Conradh na Gaeilge is calling on authorities north and south to fund the Irish-Language & Gaelatcht Investment Plan, as agreed by 87 Irish-language and Gaeltacht groups, as a matter of priority. This investment will be a key issue at this year’s #SEAS17 information day for politicians, organised by Conradh na Gaeilge in Buswells Hotel in Dublin on 4 October 2017.
The investment plan would create over 1,150 new jobs as well as providing essential resources towards the language planning process, and affording the public many opportunities countrywide to use Irish. Further information on the Irish-Language & Gaelatcht Investment Plan is available at www.cnag.ie/pleang.
