Seachtain na Gaeilge must be used as an opportunity to focus on how we can keep the Irish language alive, and how we can support the communities that speak it, according to the Social Democrats’ Galway West by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich.
Míde said:
“We have much to be proud of when it comes to the Irish language, but we can’t be blind to the crisis facing our Gaeltachtaí.
“The last two censuses have seen a reduction in daily speakers in the Gaeltacht. There isn’t a single county in Ireland with more than 10 per cent of students attending secondary school through Irish.
“Spiralling house prices are locking the Irish speaking community out of our Gaeltacht areas. Here in Conamara, people are unable to settle down and build a life for themselves in the Gaeltacht.
“While we’ve seen welcome investment in language planning, without addressing the housing crisis in the Gaeltacht, or ensuring public services and infrastructure are being delivered in these regions, we’ll continue to only tinker around the edges of the issue.
“If we want the language to thrive, we need to see the Department of Housing finally issue guidance on planning in the Gaeltacht, which was initially promised in 2021, and put forward a real plan to address problems with housing in the region.
“The Department of Education must also commit to better supporting Irish medium education.
“In addition, we want to see health services delivered in the community, and we need issues around sewerage and infrastructure resolved.
“Muintir na Gaeltachta can act as guardians of the language, but only if Irish-speaking communities are supported and able to thrive. There is no Irish language without the Gaeltacht. And there will be no Gaeltacht unless we see action and investment on housing, health, and infrastructure.”
March 9, 2026
Note: Seachtain na Gaeilge, which is the world’s largest Irish language festival, is now running until March 17. Irish language version of press release below.
Caithfear Seachtain na Gaeilge a úsáid mar deis díriú ar cén chaoi is féidir an teanga a choinneáil beo, agus cén chaoi an féidir linn tacú le pobal na Gaeilge, dar le iarrthóir na Daonlathaigh Shóisialta sa bhfothoghchán i nGaillimh Thiar, Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich.
Dúirt Míde:
“Ba chóir a bheith bródúil as an Ghaeilge, ach ní fheidir leis an mbród sin muid a dhalladh ar an ngéarchéim atá roimh ár nGaeltachtaí.
“Le dhá daonáireamh anuas, tá laghdú tagtha le cainteoirí laethúla sa nGaeltacht. Níl aon chontae in Éirinn ina bhfuil níos mó ná 10% de dhaltaí iarbhunscoile ag fáil oideachas lán Ghaeilge.
“Tá muintir na Gaeltachta glasáilte amach óna gceantair fhéin ag an méadú atá tagtha le costaisí tithíochta. Anseo i gConamara, níl daoine inann socrú síos agus saol a déanamh dóibh fhéin.
“Cé go bhfuil fáilte roimh infheistíocht i bpleanáil teanga, níl muid chun an fhadhb a réiteach gan dul i ngleic leis an ngéarchéim tithíochta sa nGaeltacht, nó cinntiú go bhfuil seirbhísí poiblí agus infreastruchtúr á chuir ar fáil sna réigiúin seo
“Más mian linn go mbeadh an teanga ag fás, caithfidh an Roinn Tithíochta treoir a fhoilsiú ar ár pleanáil sa nGaeltacht ar dheireadh thiar thall, rud ar gealladh ar dtús i 2021, agus plean ceart a chuir i bhfeidhm chun dul i ngleic le na fadhbanna ó thaobh tithíocht sa nGaeltacht. Caithfidh an Roinn Oideachais níos mó tacaíocht a thabhairt don oideachas lán-Ghaeilge. Teastaíonn uainn go mbeidh seirbhísí sláinte á chur ar fáil sa bpobal, agus caithfear dul i ngleic le fadhbanna infreastruchtúr agus séarachais sa nGaeltacht.
“Ní féidir le muintir na Gaeltachta an teanga a choinneáil beo muna bhfuil an rialtas sásta tacú leo mar phobal. Ní bheidh aon Ghaeilge againn gan an Ghaeltacht. Agus ní bheidh aon Ghaeltacht muna bhfuil muid ag gníomhú i leith cúrsaí tithíochta, sláinte, agus infreastruchtúr.”
9ú Márta 2026
Nota: Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge, an féile Gaeilge is mó sa domhain, ar siúl anois go dtí an 17ú Márta