Ireland

Irish government urged to support Gaeltacht families

This year's Irish language summer courses in the Donegal Gaeltacht have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year's Irish language summer courses in the Donegal Gaeltacht have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year's Irish language summer courses in the Donegal Gaeltacht have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

THE Irish government has been urged to support Gaeltacht families in Co Donegal and other parts of Ireland following the official suspension of Irish language summer courses.

Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltachta and the Islands, Seán Kyne postponed all courses this year as a response to the coronavirus crisis.

Hugely popular with northern teenagers, the annual schools involve young people living with Irish speaking families in the Donegal Gaeltacht to perfect their language skills.

Irish colleges in areas such as Rannafast, Loughanure, Gweedore and Glencolmcille have almost become a rite of passage for thousands of young Irish language students.

Postponing this year’s courses, Mr Kyne said the health of all concerned must be the main priority.

While the move was expected, language-promotion organisation, Conradh na Gaeilge said provision must be made for the hundreds of Gaeltacht families who will suffer financially as a result. The summer colleges are the main source of annual income for many homes in west Donegal.

Conradh president, Niall Comer said while the decision was disappointing, it was right to prioritise the health of students, staff and local families.

Dr Comer said: “This is undoubtedly a huge blow for all those involved in the running of the summer colleges and for all those who depend on the income from the colleges throughout the year.

“For years, whilst local Gaeltacht communities campaigned for support, summer colleges remained the steadfast heartbeat of hundreds of towns and villages across the west of Ireland. Now is the time for the government to recognise that central role and to support those who will suffer most from this news, local families and local colleges.”

Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha, Conradh’s deputy secretary, said the move would have a far-reaching effect on the entre Gaeltacht region.

Conradh hopes to meet Minister of State, Mr Kyne later today, Wednesday to discuss the development.