Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, Joe McHugh TD has announced that discussions regarding a financial package to back a year-long official celebration of the Irish language in 2018 are nearing completion.
Minister McHugh made the announcement in Killarney, Co Kerry where he launched the annual cultural celebration, Oireachtas na Samhna.
The Fine Gael Minister said at the function: “We have carried out a lot of work on the Irish language since Oireachtas na Samhna was held this time last year. We have had a busy year in dealing with the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language, a new Language Bill, language planning, budgeting and future planning.
“There will be lots of events in Killarney over the next five days with activities in many areas including drama, film, culture, language and heritage.
“I am pleased to announce that we will have a very special year in 2018. Conradh na Gaeilge will launch their program for Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 on Saturday.
“Over the last few months, my Department’s officials have been working together with Foras na Gaeilge, Údaras na Gaeltachta, Conradh na Gaeilge and the other lead organisations in order to promote this concept.”
He said discussions are currently underway in order to agree a financial package for the next year’s events and he is hopeful to see the results of these talks before Oireachtas na Samhna finishes on Sunday.
“In addition to support from my own Department, I want Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 to receive support across the entire system and, in that regard, I will be talking again with my colleagues in Government in the coming weeks.
“Today, I have already received the Taoiseach’s support from the US for the project and he has expressed an interest in launching the full Bliain na Gaeilge Program with me before Christmas.
“Bliain na Gaeilge 2018 will be a national and international celebration and will build on the love of Irish in the United States, Canada, Europe and further afield.
“To this end, my Department staff in Na Forbacha and the staff of Irish language organizations will be supported by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht staff currently working on the Creative Ireland Program and who also worked on the last year’s National Commemoration of the Easter Rising.
“We will all play a major role in this celebration next year in order to tell our story to the world – our story is that Irish is still alive and well and is vibrant not just here in Ireland but in many places around the world.”
D’fhógair an tAire Stáit don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin, Joe McHugh T.D. go bhfuil plé beagnach críochnaithe ar phacáiste airgeadais chun ceiliúradh oifigiúil na Gaeilge a chur ar siúl i 2018.
Rinne an tAire McHugh an fógra i gCill Airne, Co Chiarraí inniu, áit a sheol sé Oireachtas na Samhna.
Dúirt an tAire tráthnóna inniu, “Tá go leor oibre ar bun againn, dár ndóigh, i saol na Gaeilge ó tionóladh Oireachtas na Samhna an t-am seo anuraidh. Tá bliain chrua caite againn ag plé leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, le Bille Teanga nua, leis an bpleanáil teanga, le cúrsaí buiséid agus le pleanáil don todhchaí.
“Sa chúig lá atá amach romhainn, cloisfimid ceol, feicfidh muid scoth na drámaíochta agus scoth na scannánaíochta, a leithéid d’ilghnéitheacht cultúir, teanga agus oidhreachta, ní fheicfidh tú in aon áit amháin satír ó cheann ceann na bliana.
“Tá bliain thar a bheith speisialta romhainn i 2018. Déanfaidh Conradh na Gaeilge an clár atá leagtha amach acu do Bhliain na Gaeilge a seoladh Dé Satharn.
“Le cúpla mí anuas, tá oifigigh mo Roinne ag oibriú as lámha a chéile le Foras na Gaeilge, Údaras na Gaeltachta, Conradh na Gaeilge agus leis na Ceanneagraíochtaí eile ar mhaithe leis an gcoincheap seo a thabhairt chun cinn.
“Tá comhráití ar bun faoi láthair ar mhaithe le pacáiste airgeadais a aontú d’imeachtaí na bliana agus táim dóchasach go bhfeicfidh muid toradh ar na cainteanna seo sula mbeidh Oireachtas na Samhna thart Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn.
“Anuas ar thacaíocht ó mo Roinn fhéin, teastaíonn uaim go bhfaighidh Bliain na Gaeilge tacaíocht trasna an státchóras uile agus, chuige sin, beidh mé ag caint arís le mo chomhghleacaithe sa Rialtais sna seachtainí amach romhainn. Tá tacaíocht an Taoisigh, atá i Meiricá inniu, faighte agam don togra cheana féin agus tá spéis léirithe aige Clár Iomlán Bliain na Gaeilge a sheoladh in éindí liom fhéin roimh na Nollag.
“Is ceiliúradh náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta a bheidh i mBliain na Gaeilge 2018 agus beifear ag tógáil, lena linn, ar an suim atá léirithe sa Ghaeilge sna Stáit Aontaithe, i gCeanada, san Eoraip agus níos faide i gcéin le blianta fada. Chuige sin, beidh foireann mo Roinne sna Forbacha agus foirne na n-eagras Gaeilge ag fáil tacaíochta ón fhoireann de chuid na Roinne Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta atá ag obair faoi láthair ar an gClár Éire Ildánach agus a d’oibrigh ar an gComóradhNáisiúnta ar Éirí Amach na Cásca anuraidh.
“Beidh ról le himirt againn uile sa cheiliúradh seo an bhliain seo chugainn ar mhaithe lenár scéal a insint do phobal an domhain – ár scéal go bhfuil an Ghaeilge beo i gcónaí agus go bhfuil pobail bríomhar anseo in Éirinn agus in áiteanna níos faide ar fud an domhain.”
Tags: