Ennis to help pilot Irish language planning

Ennis is set to be one of three centres to take part in a pilot group to develop the Irish language. In an acknowledgement of the local efforts in promoting Irish, Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, will visit Clare this Thursday taking in the west and the county town and is expected to reveal more on the pilot project.
Speaking on the visit, Minister McGinley said Clare has an important role to play in advancing the aims of the 20-year strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
“As it already has a strong Irish speaking population, it is one of the areas with the potential to make substantial progress during the term of the strategy. The Irish language community in Ennis, along with their counterparts in Carlow and Clondalkin, will shortly participate in a focus group with officials from my department and Foras na Gaeilge. The aim of this focus group is to inform the development of language planning criteria for new statutory Irish Language Networks, provision for which will be made in the Gaeltacht Bill 2012.
“I hope that this focus group will facilitate an exchange of ideas between the state and voluntary sectors with a view to implementing the goals of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language on a country-wide basis,” he added.
Beginning in West Clare on Thursday, the minister will visit Choláiste Uí Chomhraí in Carrigaholt, which is celebrating its centenary this year, the Seol Sionna project in Querrin and finally Kilrush with a stop in Gaelscoil Uí Choimhín, Teach Cheoil on Grace Street and a meeting with Coiste Forbartha na Gaeltachta.
The minister will then travel to Ennis where he will attend meetings with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann at Cois na hAbhann on the Gort Road and An Clár as Gaeilge.
Minister McGinley added, “I am delighted to have this opportunity to visit County Clare and to see at first hand the work that is being carried by the various organisations to promote the Irish language throughout the county. I am especially pleased to have had the opportunity of visiting Coláiste Uí Chomhraí in Carrigaholt, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in July of this year. This county has a long tradition of excellence in relation to traditional Irish music, for example the Willie Clancy Festival and the Ennis Trad Festival and I commend Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for being so active here in promoting, not only a love of traditional Irish music, but of the Irish language as well.”