A one-day information event on language planning for co-operatives and community based organisations in the Munster Gaeltacht area will take place on Monday the 29th September in the Malton Hotel in Killarney.
Údarás na Gaeltachta are organising this event in an effort to address the language planning issues that arise in the various Gaeltacht communities. The Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht highlighted the vulnerable state of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht at present and the urgent need for intervention to curtail the continued erosion of the language.
The event will be attended by management and directors of the community based co-operatives and organisations. Gareth Ioan who is engaged in the promotion of Welsh in Wales will outline best practices being applied there. The afternoon session will focus on discussions on the Gaeltacht experience facilitated by Seosamh Mac Donnacha, one of the authors of the aforementioned Linguistic Study.
Údarás na Gaeltachta is presently in consultation with various community stakeholders in the Munster Gaeltacht area to highlight their influence on language behaviour.
Éamonn Ó Neachtain, Regional Manager of Údarás na Gaeltachta said “Gaeltacht Co-operatives have a vital role in the development and preservation of the Irish language as a community language in their respective areas Their role in the preparation and in the directing of language plans is of critical importance and they have the full support of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and of Údarás na Gaeltachta. This event will give the various community organisations an opportunity to discuss their experiences in promoting the language in their communities with expert advice from Wales and Ireland to assist us in this important work”.