Neo-Gaeltacht

A Neo-Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht Nua) is an area where Irish is the predominant spoken language, but is not part of the officially defined or traditional Gaeltacht areas.

Belfast

Main article: Gaeltacht Quarter, Belfast

In February 2002, the report of the West Belfast Task Force recommended turning part of West Belfast into An Ceathrú Gaeltachta/The Gaeltacht Quarter ^[1], encompassing a population of 20,000 people as it is widely felt^{[citation needed]} that if the language is to survive, it must make a come-back in Irish cities. The proposal was accepted and put into force by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland.^[2]

Belfast's Gaeltacht Quarter is now an area in which the Irish language is spoken widely. The area is home to Gaelscoileanna (Irish-medium primary schools), Gaelcholáistí (secondary schools), Naíonraí (crèches) and Naíscoileanna (nursery schools). The area has Irish language restaurants and agencies and is home to both Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (the city's Irish language cultural centre). The Gaeltacht Quarter also has two community radio stations: Raidió Fáilte, Northern Ireland's only full-time Irish language radio station and Féile FM, a third of whose content is in Irish.

Dublin

In a special report on the 13/1/2009 on Nuacht TG4 news, it was confirmed that a group in Ballymun, in conjunction with the local branch of Glór na Gael have received planning permission to build 40 homes for people who want to live in an Irish-speaking community in the heart of the city. There are 4 Gaelscoileanna schools and Naíonraí creches in the area, as well as a shop where Irish is spoken. Deposits have been given already by those who want to live in such a community, and are all very positive about the project. Irish language classes will be organised for those who want to improve their Irish. It is expected that the project will be complete by the end of 2009. The group hopes that their project may become a prototype for other similar mini-Ghaeltachts around the country.

South Derry

An area in southern County Londonderry centred on Slaghtneill (Sleacht Néill) and Carntogher (Carn Tóchair), which had gone from being 50% Irish-speaking in 1901 to having only a few speakers by the end of the century, has seen a language revival since the setting up of a naíscoil in 1993 and a gaelscoil in 1994. In 2008 two local organisations launched a "strategy for the rebirth of the Gaeltacht", based on Irish-medium primary and secondary education. Announcing the launch, Éamon Ó Cuív, the Republic's Minister for the Gaeltacht, said that the area was "an example to other areas all over Ireland which are working to reestablish Irish as a community language".^[3]

North America

Main article: Permanent North American Gaeltacht

Baile na hÉireann is a designated Gaeltacht area in Ontario, Canada.

See Also

• Gaeltacht
• Language revival

References

1. ^ "West Belfast Task Force Report". West Belfast Task Force. 2002. http://www.detini.gov.uk/west_belfast_report-_cover___exec_summary.pdf. Retrieved 2011-07-10. 
2. ^ Irish language at DCALNI.gov.uk
3. ^ Irish-Medium Education back bone of the strategy for new Gaeltacht in south Derry, Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta, January 2008. Accessed 5 April 2011