Ireland's Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary has announced funding of €4,549,261 over four years (2025-2028) for Gaeilge365.
The aim of this initiative is to create best practices through local authority services, which create enhanced opportunities for the public to speak Irish.
Gaeilge365 is the first innovation unit to operate through the medium of Irish in the public service.
Minister Dara Calleary TD has announced funding of €4,549,261 over four years (2025-2028) for #Gaeilge365. The aim of this initiative is to create best practices through local authority services which create enhanced opportunities for the public to speak Irish. The Minister made… pic.twitter.com/mELBuabphr
— South Dublin County Council (@sdublincoco) March 6, 2025
Originating from Dublin City Council’s Creative Community Strategy, which encourages creative initiatives between different parts of the Council, early support for the Gaeilge365 project was funded by the Éire Ildánach / Creative Ireland Programme.
Gaeilge365’s innovative approach with staff from across Dublin City Council showcases Irish language creativity and benefitted greatly from this early support.
The fundamental aim of this pilot project was to put an innovative approach in place to create more opportunities for the public to speak Irish through the services of Dublin City Council.
Minister Calleary made the announcement on March 4, during the annual Irish language festival Seachtain na Gaeilge.
The funding will result in a significant expansion of Gaeilge365 – now to be strengthened in Dublin City Council and expanded to Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils thus encompassing the entire Dublin region.
The expansion of Gaeilge365 is set out as a specific action in the Programme for Government and it is hoped that the Dublin model can be implemented in local authorities across the State in the years ahead.
Between now and 2028, Gaeilge365 will work towards four major objectives:
- development of 40+ innovative language-based projects per year – opportunities to speak Irish to be created through Council services pioneered by strong networks of language innovators
- mainstreaming 10+ of the innovative projects per year in the Councils' work streams and scaling 8+ projects per year to enhance opportunities to speak Irish in Dublin
- preparing an ambitious Language Plan for Dublin by developing ecosystems, knowledge bases and specialist skills
- developing a high efficiency model for strengthening the Irish language – a model that any local authority can follow. This will be developed through research, consultation and the widespread dissemination of best practice
In announcing this significant funding, Minister Dara Calleary said: “I'm delighted that my department is in a position to support this ambitious initiative resulting in the creation of numerous socialisation opportunities through Irish in the Dublin region.
"Gaeilge365 aligns strongly with the fundamental aim of the government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language – bringing about a strong increase in the number of people who actively use Irish in their daily lives.
“It's especially meaningful to share this news during Seachtain na Gaeilge, a vibrant celebration that truly showcases the richness and vitality of our Irish language and culture.
“The expansion of Gaeilge365 is a specified action of the Programme for Government and today's announcement demonstrates that the government is determined to deliver on this commitment to unlock the potential of the Irish language for all.”
Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council speaking on behalf of Dublin’s four local authorities said: “Gaeilge365 is living proof that the Irish language isn’t just part of our past – it’s fuelling the creativity, connection, and culture that will shape our future.
"It has the power to drive us towards a connected, inclusive Dublin, where innovation and tradition don’t just coexist, they fuel each other.
"We are delighted to have taken a leadership role in this, and we look forward to working with the other Dublin local authorities to replicate the success of Gaeilge365.”
50% of the funding for Gaeilge365 is to come from the department and the remaining 50% from the four Dublin local authorities.
You can learn more about Gaeilge365 here.
Comments