Irish language 'on the way back' in Achill Gaeltacht

The vision of the newly launched Plean Teanga Acla is to make the use of the Irish language an everyday feature in the parish of Achill and used by both young and old.

Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Patrick O’Donovan TD, travelled to the Achill Gaeltacht this morning to officially launch Plean Teanga Acla which is a seven year Irish language plan to promote the use of Achill Irish in the parish.

The launch took place in Óstán Oileán Acla and was also attended by Minister of State, Dara Calleary and Tomás Ó Síocháin , CEO of Údaras na Gaeltachta and a wide section of the local community.

As part of the 2012 Gaeltacht Act, Gaeltacht communities are obliged to prepare and implement a language plan. Plean Teanga Acla was drawn up after engaging actively with the community and it reflects the community's opinions, suggestions, recommendations and views on the Irish language.

Achill has its own unique local Irish dialect, 'Gaeilg' Acla' and much of the vision of the plan is to nurture, promote and keep the dialect alive for future generations to use.

As part of the plan, Colm MacEachmharcaigh was appointed as Achill's first Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga (Language Development Officer) in May 2022 and has been developing the language by organising activities and classes and supports for people trying to learn and build up the Irish speaking community.

He acknowledged that the language has been in decline in the parish but believes that attitudes are changing and there is momentum building to reverse that decline.

“There was a long period when there was a reduction in the language when emigration played a big part. It was seen for a long time as an old fashioned thing and if you were going to America or England you needed English and that took a long time to shake off. I feel like the tide has turned and it is on the way back and people are recognising what it means to us and how valuable it is to us to have our own dialect and history and tradition that goes with that,” he said.

The launch was attended by pupils from the six national schools in the Achill parish as well as the pupils from the local secondary school, Coláiste Pobail Acla. Colm stressed that to grow the language the young people have to play an active part.

“Schools are the foundation stone of the whole thing and there is brilliant work going on in the schools. Having them here today and hearing them chatting away in Irish and getting stuck into music and being happy to perform gives up a bit of hope and a lift.

“The long term plan is to have Irish as part of our daily lives. There are a number of people doing it and to make it as close to 100 percent as we can. There are challenges because English pushes in from everywhere. It can be difficult to get everyone to make the effort together so no doubt there are challenges but you have to face them one by one and try to overcome them and keep the positivity going,” he said.

Minister O'Donavan said he was delighted to be invited to launch Plean Teanga Acla and commended the local Coiste Pleanála Teanga Gaeilg’Acla for their hard work in drawing up the plan. He said that as with all other plans currently being implemented, opportunities will be provided for the plan to be central in the additional efforts required to ensure that the Irish language continues to thrive for future generations.

The launch of Seachtain na Gaeilge in Mayo which runs from Friday, March 1 to Sunday, March 17 also took place in Óstán Oileán Acla. Colmán Ó Raghallaigh of Conradh na Gaeilge said he was delighted to be in Achill for the launch and that there will be a number of events planned for the next fortnight to encourage people to use the Irish language.

Achill-based harpist Laoise Kelly who helped launch Seachtain na Gaeilge admitted that growing up she hated Irish going to school but she grew to love it through music and is now delighted to speak it when she can in Achill.

More information about Seachtain na Gaeilge is available on the website, www.snag.ie.