South west Gnó Skillnet / Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne Teo.

South West Gnó Skillnet delivers training in all the Gaeltachtaí nationally.

The Gaeltacht

The Gaeltacht covers extensive parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry – largely on the western seaboard – and also parts of counties Cork, Meath and Waterford.

Although all of the Gaeltacht population speak English, these are the only parts of Ireland where Irish is still spoken as a community language. The Gaeltacht  areas are defined by Government orders and every successive government has recognised the need for specific measures, structures and funding to ensure the maintenance of these communities. Not only does the Gaeltacht present an opportunity and a challenge to maintain naturally the continuity of Irish as a community language, but it also provides the ideal environment for people who wish to become proficient in Irish.

These areas form an Important cornerstone in the building of a bilingual society in Ireland and provide an environment where the language can evolve in a modern setting.  The total population of the Gaeltacht areas and islands in the 2006 Census of Population was approximately 92,000. 

The continuance of Irish as a communal language in the Gaeltacht not only helps to preserve valuable aspects of a distinctive tradition and culture that otherwise would be lost to the Irish nation but also forms an integral and inspirational element of the national objective of achieving a bilingual society in Ireland.

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Established in 1980, Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional development authority funded by the Government to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht with the overall objective of maintaining Irish as the main communal language of the region.

In furtherance of these aims, An tÚdarás promotes productive schemes of employment through the development of local natural resources, skills and entrepreneurial abilities and the attraction of mobile investment to the Gaeltacht. It also promotes and supports community development initiatives and a wide range of language, cultural and educational schemes aimed at strengthening the place of Irish as the principal means of communication among all sections and sectors of the community.

The Authority has a 20 member board, 17 of whom are democratically elected by the Gaeltacht electorate at elections held every five years or so, the other three, including the chairperson, being appointed by the Minister. At year end the organisation had a staff of 107 people and a network of regional offices throughout the Gaeltacht to implement its statutory brief.

Head Office

Údarás na Gaeltachta
Na Forbacha
Co. na Gaillimhe                
Tel: 091-503100
Fax: 091-503101
Email: eolas@udaras.ie