Foras na Gaeilge is welcoming applications for the Projects Fund. The aim of the fund, which was established in 2020, is to support areas of work and projects that do not fall under the usual areas of Foras na Gaeilge schemes.

Grants of between €1,000/£900 and €12,000/£10,800 will be made available to organisations throughout the island, and applications which promote the Irish language in innovative ways, as well as concepts and projects which will be of benefit to the Irish language community are especially welcome. As well as that, companies and sole traders will have the opportunity to apply to the fund in 2021. Although this was not previously possible, the value and merit of the expressions of interest received in 2020 were recognised, and the criteria of the fund were reviewed.

Grants approved in 2020 include, an Irish language film with the Project Arts Centre, a project celebrating Tomás Ó Máille with NUI Galway, a tourism project in Keady in Armagh, funding for Caifé na gCrom in Belfast and funding for entertaining and educational animations for young people.

Foras na Gaeilge Deputy Chief Executive, Edel Ní Chorráin, said, “There was great demand for the Projects Fund when it was announced for the first time in 2020 and we were delighted to support contemporary and innovative projects when organisations were struggling with Covid-19 restrictions. It was clear from the variety of the projects and applications last year that there are very creative ideas among the community in relation to how the use of Irish can be promoted and that this fund catered for a wide range of interests. I am certain that there will be great demand for it again this year”.