The designation of Gaeltacht status to the entire parish of Achill is a primary aim of a "plean Gaeilge" presented on the Mayo island last night by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív. Aine Ryan reports.
Two-thirds of the parish, which includes some mainland villages and the Curraun peninsula, is designated. The three-year plan to extend the use of "Gaeilg Acla", the island's distinctive Irish dialect, and to foster and nurture local traditions is an initiative of Cóiste na Gaeilge, a sub-committee of the island's development firm Cómhlacht Forbartha Aitiúil Acla.
It has the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta and Glór na nGael.
Plean Gaeilge do Cheantar Acla is based on extensive research, including a questionnaire distributed throughout the island earlier this year.
Much of the questionnaire was informed by issues discussed at a public meeting held last April which attracted broad support from Gaeltacht and non-Gaeltacht islanders.
"The promotion of 'Gaeilg Acla' has received resounding support from the people of Achill and the Curraun peninsula," said Ms Pamela Ní Thaidhg, a language and cultural officer with Údarás.
"We were very encouraged by the attendance at the meeting of a wide range of age-groups unanimous in their commitment to the language, and whose input was extremely helpful in drawing up the plan."
The plan outlines a set of activities whereby the use of spoken Irish is encouraged across several sectors of the community including sporting organisations, youth groups, cultural groups and businesses.
Irish classes will be supplemented by the use of the language at social gatherings such as card playing, informal "oícheanta cómhrá" and music sessions.
Cómhlacht manager Mr Terence Dever hopes the establishment of an all-Irish primary school within the next decade will further enhance the use of the language and strengthen the case for extended Gaeltacht status. Mr Dever said "increased enrolment at the island's naíonra for September 2004 is also a positive indication".
Mr Ó Cuív said yesterday the aspiration to extend Gaeltacht status to the entire community of Achill was a case to be looked at since it was basically one community and should be either fully in the Gaeltacht or fully out of the Gaeltacht.
He said the implementation of the plan was important. An interesting factor was that the initiative had been driven by the community itself.