Strengthening Gaeltacht Communities: Údarás na Gaeltachta Invests in New Vacant Homes Role

Údarás na Gaeltachta is pleased to announce that it is funding a new Vacant Homes Coordinator post for the Gaeltacht in partnership with Mayo County Council. This new role will address one of the biggest challenges facing Gaeltacht communities: the lack of affordable housing.

Colm MacEachmharcaigh has been appointed as the first Vacant Homes Coordinator for the Gaeltacht. He will be employed by Mayo County Council and will work in partnership with County Councils across the Gaeltacht to identify opportunities in each Gaeltacht area.

According to statistics from the 2022 Census, there are approximately 6,160 vacant homes in Gaeltacht areas, accounting for  11% of the total housing stock, which is higher than the national average of 8%. The figures also show that there are 9,609 holiday homes in those same areas.

In Mayo alone, there are 817 vacant homes (13%) and 1,304 holiday homes (21%) in the Gaeltacht areas. The greatest challenge is in Donegal, where there are 2,140 vacant homes (12%) and 4,484 holiday homes (27%), representing 7.7% of all houses in the county.

Speaking about the appointment, Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, said:

“Existing employment opportunities in Gaeltacht areas cannot be filled due to the lack of housing. It is also an obstacle for those from the Gaeltacht, those with family ties to the Gaeltacht, and for Irish speakers who wish to live in a place where Irish is the community language. We very much look forward to working with Colm and the County Councils to identify new opportunities.”

Marion Ní Chadhain, Sustainability and Strategic Programmes Manager at Údarás na Gaeltachta, said:

“We are delighted to support this important post. The housing issue is central to the sustainable growth of the Gaeltacht. By bringing vacant homes back into use, we can strengthen communities, increase the number of Irish speakers, and secure the future of the Gaeltacht. We look forward to collaborating with Colm and the County Councils to identify new opportunities and make a positive impact.”

Key Responsibilities of the Coordinator

Among Colm MacEachmharcaigh’s main duties are:

Demonstrating an understanding of the cultural and linguistic context, with Irish as a priority.

Identifying vacant residential properties and spreading awareness of the benefits of bringing vacant homes back into use.

Building and maintaining contact and relationships with property owners.

Identifying and assessing opportunities in each Gaeltacht area, collaborating with local authorities and community organisations.

Participating in the national network of Vacant Homes Officers.

Monitoring the impact on community sustainability, the local economy, and the preservation of the Irish language.

2026 Work Plan

Colm has set out a comprehensive work programme for 2026, including:

Campaigns with community development organisations.

Local case studies.

Assessment of vacant home opportunities in Gaeltacht areas.

Networking with other Vacant Homes Officers.

Setting targets relating to the number of vacant homes and grants.

Promoting the comprehensive Glór an Gaeltacht survey and contributing to national policy.

Colm will be working in conjunction with County Councils across the Gaeltacht, including Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Waterford, and Meath.

Vacant home owners and community members can contact Colm MacEachmharcaigh at cmaceachmharcaigh@MayoCoCo.ie. Support schemes, including the Croí Cónaithe scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, are available to assist with the renovation of vacant homes. The aim is to fill vacant homes, identify opportunities, and grow numbers in the Gaeltacht.