Almost €9m in grants approved by Foras na Gaeilge board

4 November 2021

 

The board of Foras na Gaeilge approved a significant number of grants at a board meeting on Friday, 29 October 2021.

 

These include the following grants:

 

  • Grants worth €4.3m (€1.379m on a yearly basis) were approved under the Irish Language Networks Scheme 2022-2024. The reviewed scheme will support Irish language communities to carry out sustainable and strategic planning in areas outside of the Gaeltacht. The funding period will last three years (from January 2022 to December 2024) for thirty six groups throughout the island.
  • Annual funding was approved for the six Irish language lead organisations including Conradh na Gaeilge (€832,457), Cumann na bhFiann (€745,136), Gael Linn (€650,183), Gaeloideachas (€708,562), Glór na nGael (€1,078,615) and Oireachtas na Gaeilge (€622,594).
  • €41,057 worth of grants has been approved for festivals which will be held between January and June 2022 through the Festivals Scheme 2021 (Round 1). The festivals held in the first half of 2022 throughout the island include the Cúirt International Festival of Literature, Féile na Bealtaine, Féile Róise Rua, Sean-nós na Fearsaide and Féile Nasc. The second round of the scheme will be announced for schemes that are planned for the second half of 2022.

 

As well as the grants approved, a one-off scheme was approved which will support Irish language centres throughout the island. The aim of An Scéim Cóiríochta Aon Uaire d’Ionaid Phobail Ghaeilge (The One-Off Accommodation Scheme for Irish Language Community Centres) is to provide one-off funding to Irish language community centres throughout the country, which will help to develop centres for the promotion, maintenance and perpetuation of the Irish language on a community basis.

 

As well as that, Foras na Gaeilge has taken another significant step in the development of lexicography, with five years of funding approved to commence upcoming major lexicography projects – a new Irish-Irish dictionary and a new Irish-English dictionary. It is hoped that both these dictionaries will be available online by 2026. 

 

Foras na Gaeilge Chief Executive, Seán Ó Coinn, said, ‘The schemes for which €9m were approved are a central part of the efforts throughout the island to develop Irish at the community level. This funding will ensure that various communities throughout the island can make their plans for 2022. The six lead organisations will similarly be able to ensure support for those communities in a wide range of areas, from community development to youth activities to support for business companies in their area. It is a privilege for us to be able to support this work, and we wish them every success.’

 

Ends