Language Plan for Clifden Gaeltacht Service Town Officially Launched

29 July, 2024

min read

Pier at the port of Clifden at high tide, boats anchored with mirror reflection in the water, sunny spring day with a blue sky and abundant white clouds in Clifden, Ireland

The Language Plan for Clifden Gaeltacht Service Town in Connemara, County Galway, was officially launched today, July 29, 2024.

Forum Connemara is recognized as the lead organization for language planning and will implement Clifden’s language plan in cooperation with the Údarás (Authority). The preparation of the plan began in October 2021 under the guidance of the Údarás, and the language plan includes 36 measures to promote the Irish language in the Clifden area.

The Gaeltacht service town plays a significant role in providing public services, recreational facilities, social and commercial amenities for the community in the language planning areas it serves. As a result, Gaeltacht Service Towns have a significant and positive influence on the status of Irish as a community and family language in Gaeltacht areas, supporting the Údarás’s mission.

Welcoming the publication of the plan, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne, said:

“I would like to congratulate Forum Connemara – the lead organisation for the An Clochán Gaeltacht Service Town – and all those involved in putting together the language plan for An Clochán. The language plan will give the community of the area an opportunity to be central in the efforts to strengthen the use of the Irish language in the town and its surrounding Gaeltacht areas.”

Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Director of Regional, Community & Language Planning Development, Rónan Mac Con Iomaire, also welcomed this development:

“The launch of this language plan is a significant step forward for Clifden and the Gaeltacht community in Connemara. It adds to our efforts to nurture Irish as a living language at the heart of our communities. We at Údarás na Gaeltachta look forward to working closely with Forum Connemara and the local community to successfully implement this plan.”

Up to €96,000 will be made available annually for a period of 7 years to Forum Connemara to employ a Language Planning Officer and implement the language plan. The Údarás will oversee the use of this funding and the implementation of the plan.