A new plan to promote Irish in the Letterkenny area has been published online for the public to review.
The strategic plan has been created by Líonra Leitir Ceanainn following two years of research, public meetings and is based on good practice in language planning.
Letterkenny was named as a candidate for the Gaeltacht Services Town status in 2012. As part of this process, the development of a language plan was essential if the town is to be accepted by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
The plan is available to read on lionraleitirceanainn.ie with some sections available in English.
People can submit their thoughts and any feedback to ursula@cinnteacht.ie up until Friday the 20th of March.
Ursula Ní Shabhaois from Cinnteacht, who facilitate meetings for the development of Letterkenny’s Irish Language Plan
Ursula, Caitríona Nic Sheoin from Glór na nGael, Aidan McCloskey Donegal ETB and Líonra Letterkenny Treasurer and Colm Ó Baoill from Foras na Gaeilge who has supported Líonra in their work over the past two years.
Ms Ní Shabhaois will then make any changes to the plan before submitting it to Forás na Gaeilge, where Dr.Dónall Ó Baoill will review the plan before it is submitted to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Bairbre Uí Chathail, Cathaoirleach Líonra Leitir Ceanainn said: “We hope that the plan will be ratified by the department within the next few months so that funding will be released and we will then be in a position to employ a language planning officer.
“Líonra Leitir Ceanainn would like to thank Glór na nGael, Foras na Gaeilge and Donegal County Council for the support given over the past two years and we look forward to working together to bring this language plan to fulfilment.”
