Kildare pioneers Irish language plan 

Cill Dara le Gaeilge announced the launch of the second Irish language plan, ‘Irish language plan for County Kildare 2024-2030’. This plan aims to support and promote the use of the Irish language in Kildare, for those wanting to learn and speak it. This launch is a milestone for the county of Kildare as it is the only county to establish a language plan to date.

Speaking at the launch held in Kildare County Council headquarters in Naas on November 19, Councillor and Chair of Kildare County Council, Joe Nevin, said that the plan was encouragement for himself to use more Irish. Regina Uí Chollatáin, Chair of Foras na Gaeilge, shared a similar sentiment, praising the pioneering work of Cill Dara le Gaeilge.

Announcing the launch, Daithí de Faoite, Chair of Cill Dara le Gaeilge said: “County Kildare is certainly seeing exceptional progress in the re-growth of the Irish language. We are all proud of what has been achieved – 11 schools operating through the medium of Irish in the county, almost 800 students in Naas alone benefitting from Irish-language education, and over 3,100 pupils between Gaelscoileanna/Gaelcholáistí across the county.

 This pioneering work was recognised with the launch of the first all-county language plan in Ireland in County Kildare back in 2019, and more recently with Cill Dara le Gaeilge taking first place in the Irish Category in the competition for good reasons of The National Lottery.” 

Siobhan Grogan, Vice-Chair, Cill Dara le Gaeilge, and Chair of the language planning committee said: “One theme in particular that is at the heart of our own culture here in County Kildare is partnership. Cill Dara le Gaeilge works hand-in-hand with the Irish-language groups around the county as well as with any other group who is interested in organising an Irish-language event or promoting the status of the Irish language in any way. We will continue to look for new opportunities to build our network and to strengthen the relationships between all members of the community who are supportive of the Irish language. Our vision is that people in this county will be able to live every aspect of their lives through the medium of Irish here in County Kildare. We will work together to achieve these goals, building on the good work we have done in this regard. De réir a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin (Rome wasn’t built in a day).

“This was a historic event again in County Kildare, still the only county in Ireland to have a county language plan, and this is our second plan. We are very proud of the progress made during the time span of the last plan and that more community groups, one in every municipal district, are serving the needs of the community. This is a seven-year plan; it is ambitious but realistic, and we look forward to achieving these goals in partnership with the Irish-language community, Kildare County Council, the community groups, and the national organisations.”