Foras na Gaeilge is pleased to announce that spending worth €1,094,301 was approved at a Foras na Gaeilge board meeting on 6 December.Grants were approved to promote Irish language literature and publishing through the Literature Projects Scheme 2020 (€99,721) and the Publishing Scheme (€655,819) which will support the plans of 12 Irish language publishing companies in 2020 including Cló Iar-Chonnacht, Éabhlóid and Futa Fata. 

In the area of education grants worth €211,572 in total were approved for the Gaeltacht Scholarships Scheme 2020-2022. The grants will be awarded to two lead organisations: Conradh na Gaeilge (€113,841 for pupils under 18 in the north) and Gael Linn (€85,731 for pupils under 18 in the north and €12,000 for adults).

€120,000 was approved for the lead organisation Gael Linn to run the Gaelbhratach project in schools again in 2020. This is a scheme funded by Foras na Gaeilge and run by Gael Linn with support from Conradh na Gaeilge and Glór na nGael and encourages the use of Irish in English-medium secondary schools and primary schools throughout the island.

£6,470 worth of grants were approved for the Colmcille Scheme which fosters relations and strengthens the connection between the Scottish and Irish Gaelic language communities. Teanga an Cheoil Cheiltigh, which will be at Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich from the 12 until the 15 March 2020, is among the projects for which a grant was approved.

Welcoming the decisions of the board, Foras na Gaeilge chief executive, Seán Ó Coinn, said, “We have provided funding for some of the most important projects for the continuous development of the Irish language, and the results of the funding will go directly to the Irish language community, through our partners, the lead organisations and the publishing companies, to Irish language learners, to our writers, and of course, from them to the reading public.”    

Friday’s meeting was the last meeting for five board members whose terms on the Foras na Gaeilge board will end. Foras na Gaeilge chairperson, Pól Ó Gallchóir, thanked Seán Micheál Ó Domhnaill, who has given more than eight years to the board, and Gráinne McElwain, Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh, Seán Ó Coistealbha and Seán Ó hArgáin, whose terms as board members will be coming to an end on the 12 December.

Since the executive in the north is not functioning at present the North South Ministerial Council cannot meet and interim decisions in relation to the north south bodies cannot be made. Speaking after the meeting, Foras na Gaeilge chairperson said, “the work of the Foras na Gaeilge board will continue, although there will be a smaller board, until the two governments find a resolution to this question. We hope this will happen soon in 2020”.

Ends

Gaeltacht Scholarships Scheme 2020-2022

The Gaeltacht Scholarships Scheme 2020-2022 is distributed under three categories:

Conradh na Gaeilge and Gael Linn, can be contacted directly for queries on the scholarships approved to the categories above.