Continued funding for Irish language programme in the US
The Government has approved funding for the Fulbright Commission 2026 to continue its Irish language programme in the United States.
Since 2006, the Government have been funding the Fulbright Irish language teaching programme and has helped hundreds of university students every year participate in Irish language events and learn Irish.
This also provides a unique opportunity for Irish language teachers from Ireland to work in American universities. While some American students are also given the opportunity to travel to and visit the Gaeltacht.
The Government say that the programme provides invaluable professional experience for Irish language teachers. Enabling them to return to Ireland with enhanced skills and new teaching methodologies.
The programme also helps to create a network for the language worldwide, creating opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration; benefitting the Gaeltacht and Ireland as a whole.
Minister Calleary said: “The work of the Fulbright Commission in fostering educational and cultural exchange between Ireland and the United States is invaluable. Under this scheme, Irish Language Teaching Assistants (FLTAs) are given opportunities to teach Irish at universities across the United States, significantly raising the international profile of the language. This is in line with the Department’s mission to promote the use of the Irish language, both at home and abroad. By nurturing a new generation of Irish language learners, FLTAs contribute to the vitality and growth of the language on a global scale.”
Fulbright Ireland Director, Dr Dara Fitzgerald, said: “I am extremely proud that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht have approved funding of €471,500 to enable us to continue our Irish Language Teaching Programme in the United States in 2026. This funding will not only support students in America and Irish language teachers, but it will also ensure that the Irish language thrives in academic institutions across the US. By establishing a strong foundation for the teaching of Irish in American universities, we are preserving and promoting our linguistic heritage for future generations."