2009 Press Releases
Foreign Affairs Minister delivers lecture “The Irish language as international language”
17.02.2009
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin TD delivered a keynote address at a special seminar on “The Irish language as international language” in Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha (Ionad), Áras Uí Rathaille on Friday last, February 13th.
17.02.2009
Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin TD delivered a keynote address at a special seminar on “The Irish language as international language” in Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha (Ionad), Áras Uí Rathaille on Friday last, February 13th.
The Minister congratulated An Stiúrthóir, Pól Ruiséal, Course Administrator, Marian Ní Shúilliobháin and the staff of the Ionad at UCC on their pioneering work in teaching absolute beginner Irish since the mid-eighties noting that they now teach annually up to 350 overseas students from all continents.
In his lecture, the Minister said that the Government and in particular the two State departments of Foreign Affairs and Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, have taken an active interest in the domain and committed €760,000 in 2008 to thirty-one third level Colleges and Universities in the US and in several European countries, where the Irish language and Celtic Studies are actively sought and taught. In this context, he mentioned in particular the Fulbright Irish Language Programme and the Canada-Ireland University Foundation.
He also paid tribute to the enterprising work of the Irish language organisation Gael-Taca among the business and bilingual community in Cork city since the late eighties.
The Minister concluded that if in twenty years’ time, a community of 250,000 people continue to speak the language daily, the language will be set to grow and thrive in ensuing years. The Minister considered that in the context of the Official Languages Act 2003, the establishment of TG4 (Irish language TV channel), the official working status of Irish in the EU, the Government statement on Irish 2006, this eventuality was both probable and possible.
Picture shows: Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheál Martin TD with Pól Ruiseal, An Stiúrthóir, Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha.
In his lecture, the Minister said that the Government and in particular the two State departments of Foreign Affairs and Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, have taken an active interest in the domain and committed €760,000 in 2008 to thirty-one third level Colleges and Universities in the US and in several European countries, where the Irish language and Celtic Studies are actively sought and taught. In this context, he mentioned in particular the Fulbright Irish Language Programme and the Canada-Ireland University Foundation.
He also paid tribute to the enterprising work of the Irish language organisation Gael-Taca among the business and bilingual community in Cork city since the late eighties.
The Minister concluded that if in twenty years’ time, a community of 250,000 people continue to speak the language daily, the language will be set to grow and thrive in ensuing years. The Minister considered that in the context of the Official Languages Act 2003, the establishment of TG4 (Irish language TV channel), the official working status of Irish in the EU, the Government statement on Irish 2006, this eventuality was both probable and possible.
Picture shows: Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheál Martin TD with Pól Ruiseal, An Stiúrthóir, Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha.