Phlean Teanga Bhaile Locha Riach

Tús curtha le cur i bhfeidhm Phlean Teanga Bhaile Locha Riach

Tá Foras na Gaeilge tar éis infheistiú corradh is €4.1 milliún a éascú go dtí seo sa phróiseas pleanála teanga in ocht gceantar a fuair aitheantas oifigiúil le déanaí ar son na bhforbairtí ina bpobail Ghaeilge. Fuair na pobail seo ar fud na tíre an t-aitheantas seo agus tugadh tacaíocht agus maoiniú stáit dóibh chun pleananna teanga a dhréachtú agus a chur i bhfeidhm chun úsáid na Gaeilge ina gceantar a fheabhsú a thuilleadh.

Tá Baile Locha Riach mar cheann de na Gaelphobail atá roghnaithe don fheachtas feasachta náisiúnta atá faoi lán seoil anois. Tá Gaeilge Locha Riach agus baill den phobal áitiúil lárnach sa bhfeachtas. Tá físeán nua cruthaithe ar Ghaeilge agus an pobal sa cheantar chomh maith le fógra raidió ar Galway Bay FM agus neart eile.

Tá réimse d’imeachtaí agus seirbhísí á bhforbairt ag Gaeilge Locha Riach do chuile aoisghrúpa, chun cur leis na deiseanna atá ar fáil chun an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a úsáid. Leagtar amach spriocanna agus beartais praiticiúla i bPlean Teanga Bhaile Locha Riach a bhaineann le gach réimse. Don dream óg, tá muid ag iarraidh club óige Spleodar a neartú agus spás a chur ar fáil do dhaoine óga chun go mbeidh siad in ann an Ghaeilge a úsáid taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais.

Beidh grúpa Teaghlaigh le Gaeilge á fhorbairt do theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gclainne le Gaeilge, chun tacaíochtaí a chur ar fáil dóibh agus chun imeachtaí trí Ghaeilge a eagrú don chlann uile. Bíonn ciorcal comhrá Cairde Cois Locha ag bualadh le chéile chuile Chéadaoin, agus tá an grúpa ag éirí níos gnóthaí chuile sheachtain. Beidh turais agus imeachtaí spéisiúla á chur ar fáil ina mbeidh daoine in ann a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid agus a chleachtadh.

Tá Aoife Ní Chonghaile ceaptha mar oifigeach pleanála Teanga i mBaile Locha Riach, agus í i gceannas ar na beartais atá sa bplean teanga a stiúradh agus a bhaint amach. Tá chuile bheart sa bplean teanga dírithe ar cur le líon na gcainteoirí laethúla Gaeilge lasmuigh den chóras oideachais i mBaile Locha Riach.

Is féidir teacht ar an bplean teanga seo, chomh maith le chuile eolas faoi na himeachtaí a bheas ar siúl againn, ar ár suíomh greasáin nua: www.gaeilgelochariach.ie.

I measc na dtosaíochtaí atá againn don bhliain 2022, tá staidéar féideartheachta le déanamh chun tearmann fisiciúil a fhorbairt, ionad ina mbeidh ár seirbhísí suite agus a bheas mar ionad infheicthe ag pobal labhartha na Gaeilge sa mbaile. Le cúig bliana is fiche anuas, tá próifíl na Gaeilge ardaithe go mór sa mbaile agus sa gceantar timpeall air, agus tá pleananna agus spriocanna soiléire anois againn don gcéad chúig bliana is fiche eile, mar sin tá muid ag súil go mór le feiceáil cén dul chun cinn atá muid in ann a dhéanamh sna blianta amach romhainn.

Dúirt Pól Mag Lionnáin, Cathaoirleach Ghaeilge Locha Riach,

“Fáiltím roimh sheoladh an fheachtais Gaelphobal, feachtas a thugann deis dúinn i nGaeilge Locha Riach ár dtaithí a roinnt agus saineolas a fháil ó ghrúpaí ar fud na tíre a bhfuil an teanga á cur chun cinn acu. Tabharfaidh an feachtas deiseanna dúinn tuilleadh spásanna a chruthú i mBaile Locha Riach ina mbeidh an Ghaeilge á labhairt níos mó. Meabhraíonn sé dúinn freisin go bhfuil freagracht ar gach duine, gach ball aonair den phobal, oibriú le chéile má aontaíonn siad leis an sprioc atá againn dár mbaile agus do na daoine, idir óg agus aosta, a bhéas ina gcónaí anseo sna blianta amach romhainn.”

Dúirt an tAire Stáit Jack Chambers,

“Mar Aire a bhfuil freagracht air as cur i bhfeidhm Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, táim sásta an dul chun cinn suntasach a fheiceáil atá déanta sa phróiseas pleanála teanga ar fud na tíre go léir. Sna pobail a dtugaim cuairt orthu i mbailte agus i sráidbhailte fud fad na hÉireann, bím chomh tógtha sin le díograis, coimitmint agus tiomantas mhuintir na háite atá chomh paiseanta sin faoin nGaeilge a neartú agus a chur chun cinn. Tréaslaím le Foras na Gaeilge an feachtas agus suíomh gréasáin nua seo a bheidh ina acmhainn den scoth do na heagraíochtaí pleanála teanga atá ann faoi láthair agus a bheidh ann amach anseo. Tá lúcháir orm freisin gurb é fócas an tionscnaimh seo é a dhéanamh níos éasca don phobal eolas a fháil faoin nGaeilge ina gceantair féin. Tá sé seo ríthábhachtach le go mbeidh níos mó daoine ag iarraidh an teanga a ghlacadh chucu féin agus chun a chinntiú go bhfásfaidh sí léi amach anseo.”

Tuilleadh eolais: Aoife Ní Chonghaile, Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga, [email protected], 087 152 1010

Implementation of Loughrea Language Plan

Foras na Gaeilge has facilitated the investment of over €4.1 million to date in the language planning process in eight areas that have recently received official recognition for the developments in their Irish language communities. These communities across the country have received this recognition and have been provided state support and funding in order to draft and implement language plans to further enhance the use of the Irish language in their area.

Loughrea is one of the Gaelphobail (Irish language communities) chosen for the national awareness campaign which is now in full swing. Gaeilge Locha Riach and members of the local community are central in the campaign. A new video has been created on the Irish language and the community in the area, as well as a radio advertisement on Galway Bay FM and much more.

A range of activities and services is being developed by Gaeilge Locha Riach for all age groups, to add to the opportunities already available to learn and use the Irish language. Practical targets and policies are set out in the Loughrea Language Plan in connection with all areas.

For the young we are seek to strengthen the youth club Spleodar and to provide a space for young people so they can use the Irish language outside of the education system. A Families with Irish group will be developed for families rearing their children with Irish, to provide supports for them and to organise activities through Irish for the whole family.

There is a conversation circle, Cairde Cois Locha, meeting every Wednesday, and the group is getting busier every week. Trips and interesting activities will be provided where people can use and practice their Irish.

Aoife Ní Chonghaile has been appointed as language planning officer in Loughrea, in charge of directing and achieving the policies in the language plan. Every measure in the language plan is aimed at increasing the number of daily Irish speakers outside of the education system in Loughrea. This language plan, as well as all information about the events we have taking place, can be found on our new website: www.gaeilgelochariach.ie.

Priorities we have for the year 2022 include a feasibility study to be carried out to develop a physical sanctuary, a centre in which our services will be situated and which will be a visible centre for the Irish speaking community in the town. For the last twenty-five-years the profile of Irish has been significantly raised in the town and the surrounding area, and we now have plans and clear goals for the next twenty-five years, therefore we are really looking forward to seeing what progress we can make in the years ahead.

Pól Mag Lionnáin, Chairperson of Gaeilge Locha Riach, said,

“I welcome the launch of the Gaelphobal campaign which gives us an opportunity in Gaeilge Locha Riach to share our experiences and gain expertise from groups across the country promoting the Irish language. The campaign will give us opportunities to create more spaces in Loughrea where Irish will be spoken. It also reminds us that everyone, each individual member of the community, has a responsibility to work together if they agree with this goal we have for our town and for the people, young and old, who will live here in the years ahead.”

Minister of State Jack Chambers said,

“As Minister with responsibility for the implementation of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, I am pleased to see the significant progress that has been made in the language planning process throughout the country as a whole. In the communities I visit in towns and villages all over Ireland, I am always so impressed by the enthusiasm, commitment and dedication of local people who are so passionate about strengthening and promoting the Irish language. I congratulate Foras na Gaeilge on this new campaign and website which will be an excellent resource for the current language planning organisations and for those in the future. I am also delighted this initiative focusses on making it easier for the public to find out about the Irish language in their own areas. This is essential for getting more people to embrace the language and to ensure its growth into the future.”

More information: Aoife Ní Chonghaile, Language Planning Officer, [email protected], 087 152 1010