Bilingual status on the way for Galway City
Galway will be formally designated a bilingual city in March, thanks to a marathon initiative spearheaded by Gaillimh le Gaeilge over the last ten years.
City councillors agreed a motion last September and will officially declare bilingual status for the city in March.
Early this week, members of Gaillimh le Gaeilge delivered a presentation before members of the City Council outlining the potential benefits of bilingual status for Galway.
Chairman of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, Iggy Ó Muircheartaigh, revealed independent research to Councillors, which showed that the Irish language is worth €136 million to the city economy per annum.
Furthermore he declared that, in terms of tourism alone, Irish is worth €40 million per annum to Galway city and county.
Galway City Mayor Frank Fahy remarked that being awarded bilingual status was a ‘fitting tribute’ to centenary celebrations as well as coinciding with Galway’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2020.
“Beidh bronnadh an stádais seo ina ‘chomhartha ómóis’ do chomóradh Céad Bliain ar Éirí Amach na Cásca agus ina bhuntáiste dúinn chomh maith chun stádas Príomhchathair Chultúir na hEorpa 2020 a bhaint amach do Ghaillimh” a dúirt sé.
Mayor Fahy expressed the importance of the Irish language as central to the Easter Rising - not just our national language but a central part of our identity as a nation. He concluded by saying that Éamonn Ceannt and Pádraig Mac Piarais would be proud of the strength and support for Irish in this city.
“Bhí an Ghaeilge lárnach i gcroíthe ár Laochra in Éirí Amach na Cásca agus beidh ról lárnach aici sa cheiliúradh... Measaim go mbeadh Éamonn Ceannt agus Pádraig Mac Piarais bródúil as chomh láidir agus atá an Ghaeilge agus an tacaíocht atá ar fail di sa chathair.”
Bríd Ní Chonghóile, Senior Executive of Gaillimh le Gaeilge, has been at the forefront campaigning for bilingual status for Galway over the past ten years – and she maintains that recognition is about ownership and celebration of our authentic cultural identity.
Recent trends indicate a cultural “reawakening” according to Bríd who remains optimistic that Irish culture and language are experiencing resurgence in popularity.
Statistics released by Údarás na Gaeltachta reveal that Galway’s Gaeltacht, with a population of 48,907 represents 48.5% of the total Gaeltacht population. Moreover, approximately 15,300 of this population currently reside within Galway city.
A special meeting of the City Council will take place on March 7 to formally mark Galway’s bilingual status with a ceiliúradh – or celebration – afterwards.