Fresh from a €230 million announcement into the Community Sports Facilities Fund, Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht Thomas Byrne was in Belfast today to announce a funding package worth over €800,000 for Glór na nGael.
This funding package will be used to support the efforts of two GAA clubs outside the Gaeltacht – Laochra Loch Lao in Belfast and Na Gaeil Óga based in Lucan, Dublin – to promote the language.
These two clubs are the only two clubs outside the Gaeltacht that have won the gold medal in Glór na nGael’s Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Donnacha scheme.
The funding will allow these clubs to take their language support to the next level and employ a full-time development officer who will work to support players, their families and other club members to cope with the language by organising Irish classes, running a youth programme, working with local schools and holding other events that give their members opportunities to engage with the language in a social and enjoyable way.
“I am delighted to announce €800,000 in funding for Glór na nGael today which will give two pioneering GAA clubs, Laochra Loch Lao and na Gaeil Óga, the opportunity to build on the achievement they have made to create a space outside the Gaeltacht for young and old to get together and actively speak Irish in a fun way through sport,” said Minister Byrne.
“This funding will allow these clubs to build on that work and support their current members and the next generation of young players and coaches to make the language their own while playing the games they love.”
“Glór na nGael is delighted that funding has been approved for this scheme by the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht,” added Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Head of Glór na nGael.
“Na Gaeil Óga and Laochra Loch Lao are an example of what can be achieved when the will is there together with a measured approach. With the support announced today, Glór na nGael will be able to take the efforts of these two innovative clubs – including what they have already achieved under Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Donnacha – to the next level in collaboration with both club communities, as role models for other clubs around the country.”
Inniu ag ócáid in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste, d’fhógair an tAire Stáit Spóirt, Corpoideachais agus Gaeltachta, Thomas Byrne T.D., pacáiste maoinithe ar fiú os cionn €800,000 é do Ghlór na nGael.
Úsáidfear an pacáiste maoinithe seo chun tacú le hiarrachtaí dhá chlub CLG atá lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht – Laochra Loch Lao i mBéal Feirste agus na Gaeil Óga atá lonnaithe i Leamhcán, Baile Átha Cliath – an teanga a chur chun cinn. Is iad an dá chlub seo an t-aon dá chlub lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht a bhfuil an bonn óir bainte amach acu i bhFondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Donnacha de chuid Ghlór na nGael.
Tabharfaidh an maoiniú deis do na clubanna seo a dtacaíocht don teanga a thabhairt go dtí an chéad leibhéal eile agus oifigeach forbartha lánaimseartha a fhostú agus an t-oifigeach sin ag obair chun tacú le himreoirí, lena dteaghlaigh agus le baill eile an chlub dul i ngleic leis an teanga trí ranganna Gaeilge a eagrú, clár óige a reáchtáil, bheith ag oibriú le scoileanna áitiúla agus imeachtaí eile a reáchtáil a thugann deiseanna dá mbaill dul i ngleic leis an teanga ar bhealach sóisialta taitneamhach.
Ag labhairt dó faoin bpacáiste maoinithe seo, dúirt an tAire Stáit, Thomas Byrne T.D.:
“Tá an-áthas orm maoiniú a fhógairt do Ghlór na nGael inniu a thabharfaidh deis do dhá chlub cheannródaíocha CLG, Laochra Loch Lao agus na Gaeil Óga, tógáil ar an éacht atá déanta acu chun spás a chruthú taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht d’óg agus aosta chun teacht le chéile agus an Ghaeilge a labhairt go gníomhach ar bhealach taitneamhach trí mheán an spóirt.
Tabharfaidh an maoiniú seo deis do na clubanna seo cur leis an obair sin agus tacú lena mbaill reatha agus leis an gcéad ghlúin eile d’imreoirí óga agus de chóitseálaithe a gcuid féin a dhéanamh den teanga agus iad ag imirt na gcluichí is ansa leo.”
Agus é ag cur fáilte roimh an bhfógra, dúirt Lorcán Mac Gabhann, Ceannasaí Ghlór na nGael:
“Tá ríméad ar Ghlór na nGael go bhfuil an maoiniú seo ceadaithe don scéim seo ag Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta. Is léiriú iad na Gaeil Óga agus Laochra Loch Lae ar an méid is féidir a bhaint amach nuair atá an toil ann in éineacht le cur chuige tomhaiste. Leis an tacaíocht atá fógartha inniu, beidh ar chumas Ghlór na nGael na hiarrachtaí atá ar siúl ag an dá chlub nuálacha seo – an méid a bhain siad amach cheana faoi Fhondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Donnacha san áireamh – a thabhairt suas cúpla céim eile i gcomhar le comhluadar an dá chlub, agus iad ina n-eiseamláir do chlubanna eile thart timpeall na tíre.”
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