‘No Gaeltacht’ for next generation without ‘immediate action’ - Cllr Conaty at protest

Thousands of people from every corner of the country took to the streets for CEARTA - The National Protest for the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht over the weekend.

It was the first national demonstration for the Irish in Dublin in over a decade, and was staged last Saturday, September 20.

Chants, banners, music, and Irish voices filled the capital, demanding fair funding, the right to live in the Gaeltacht, reform of the education systems, and the delivery of long-promised language rights.

Among the thousands there on the day was Sinn Féin’s Stiofán Conaty, who is a strong advocate for the Irish language.

"Irish language funding is at a crisis point and we are sick and tired of successive governments paying lip service to ár dteanga náisiúnta," he said, explaining his reasons for attending the protest.

"We are demanding investment be brought up to an equitable level with Arts and Heritage."

He claims there will be "no Gaeltacht left for the next generation" if government "don’t take immediate action".

"For an Irish government to allow this to happen to our own language, the one thing which personifies us as a people and is truly ours, is nothing short of scandalous.

"I am calling on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to finally listen to the Irish language community and to implement in full the demands made by Conradh na Gaeilge for cearta teanga, cothram na féinne and proper investment for Irish," he stated.