The Community Foundation for Ireland awards €40,000 to Conradh na Gaeilge to administer a small grants scheme for Seachtain na Gaeilge community events and campaigns
Conradh na Gaeilge is delighted to be able to increase the 2016 Seachtain na Gaeilge Support Fund with €40,000 in funding from The Community Foundation in Ireland announced today (Monday, 21 December 2015). Grants of between €500 and €2,500 will be available to organisations and groups running community events and campaigns for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016 thanks to this support fund.
The fund will open for applications on Monday, 11 January 2016, and groups will have until Friday, 29 January 2016, to apply for grants to organise Seachtain na Gaeilge events or campaigns as part of the international Irish-language festival from 1 – 17 March 2016. Conradh na Gaeilge will announce the results of the funding soon after that and the successful community groups will receive the grants by Friday, 19 February 2016.
Conchubhair Mac Lochlainn, Chairperson of Seachtain na Gaeilge says:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for community groups to organise bigger and better events and campaigns for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016, and we hope to share the rewards of this increased support fund across the entire island.”
Brenda Ní Ghairbhí, Manager of Seachtain na Gaeilge says:
“Conradh na Gaeilge is delighted to be in a position to provide grants for groups that work tirelessly on the ground to promote the Irish language within the community.
“We are extremely grateful to The Community Foundation for Ireland for this funding as it signals a huge step forward for Seachtain na Gaeilge. This support fund means that the community events and campaigns being organised for the Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016 festival will be more varied and of an even higher standard because of the valuable support it will provide to participating groups next year.”
The applications to the Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016 Support Fund will be assessed on the event / campaign plan(s); on the appropriate experience of the organiser; on how the event(s) / campaign(s) will promote the Irish language; on the event / campaign budget layout; and on the cultural and historical connections of the event(s) / campaign(s), including links with the 1916 commemorations.
More information on the support fund can be found on the Seachtain na Gaeilge website at www.snag.ie/fund and the application form will be available from the website from 11 January 2016, but groups can register their interest in applying for the fund now by emailing
Mac Lochlainn continues:
“In the meantime, we ask all groups interested in applying for the support fund to get planning for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2016 and think big! As the motto goes – bain triail aisti – surprise yourself.”
NOTE FOR THE EDITOR:
The Community Foundation for Ireland was established in 2000 with the intention of helping to grow a philanthropic ethos within Ireland and building a perpetual fund to support charitable causes and communities in Ireland and overseas. In 1998, a paper discussing the establishment of a community foundation was produced on behalf of Combat Poverty. This led the Government to issue a challenge to the private sector to establish a community foundation. Founded by businesses, NGOs and employer organisations, the Government issued a challenge grant of £1million which helped kick start The Foundation’s endowed fund. This endowed fund has grown to exceed €40million today through the support of donors to The Community Foundation for Ireland. By the end of 2015, cumulative grant-making from the Foundation to charities in Ireland reached €25million. More information: www.foundation.ie
