South Derry Gaeltacht Reborn

This new strategy is being promoted jointly by Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair and Glór na nGael Charn Tóchair and is called “An Bealach chun Tosaigh” (“The Way Forward”) and sets out an ambitious primary objective of “within two generations or 50 years to develop a bilingual community where the Irish-language becomes the accepted medium of communication of the majority of the community” With only a few arguable exceptions, nowhere in Ireland has succeeded in reasserting Irish within an established community which has by-and-large become entirely English speaking. The success of this strategy will represent the single most important development in Irish-language revival in 200 years. The area has a long history in the revival of the language spanning back over 100 years, when the area was still a Gaeltacht. Census returns of 1901 show that as many as 50% of the population of some townlands were native Irish speakers – more than many modern-day Gaeltacht areas. However, within 50 years the everyday use of Irish as a community Language largely ceased and was just about kept alive within the area by a core of dedicated enthusiasts. With the setting up of a Naíscoil in 1993 and the foundation of a Gaelscoil in the following year, the language experienced a major resurgence within the area.

Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair (Carntogher Community Association) has been one of the main driving forces in the revival of the language and CLG Sleacht Néill too has been instrumental in accommodating and supporting the Naíscoil and Bunscoil from the start. Over the past 15 years the language has grown from strength to strength and today over 150 children and young people are fluent in Irish, having being educated at the local Gaelscoil. The area is unique in that it is the only rural area in Ireland outside the official Gaeltacht where the majority of local primary school children are educated through the medium of Irish. There is now a young, vibrant and ever-growing Irish-speaking population who use Irish in their everyday life and who are helping to support and promote Irish to the younger children. Minister Ó Cuív said “the Carn Tóchair / Sleacht Néill area is an example to other areas all over Ireland which are trying to reestablish Irish as a community language and that other groups in the country can now draw on and build on the mould that has been created by Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair and Glór na nGael Charn Tóchair”. The strategy sets out a range of objectives to build upon the major achievements of the past 15 years and focuses upon the youth and on developing the use of Irish in the home. The Minister was impressed with the strategy and in particular its emphasis upon the younger generation “the future of the language lies with the youth - developing the skills and abilities of young people will not only improve their life chances, but will also help deliver a strong future for the language”. The strategy also encourages the development of employment opportunities for Irish speakers.

Already in this small rural area the Irish language provides the largest sector of employment with over 20 Irish speakers employed in pre-school, primary and secondary education, film production (Carn Media), translation (Carn Translations), in community development and in youth activities. Niall Ó Catháin of Coiste Forbartha Charn Tóchair emphasised how the strategy will help increase the opportunities for the young people within the locality “With the continued development of Irish-medium Education and the Irish-language sector generally there is an ever-growing need for fluent Irish speakers. Irish is without question the most useful modern language in seeking employment in Ireland in the 21st century. By giving our children the gift of a second language we are equipping them a competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive world”. If anyone wishes to receive a hardcopy of the strategy please e-mail info@ancarn.org or download a copy.