'Customers love to see Irish'

Local Sinn Féin councillor Stiofán Conaty has encouraged businesses in Cavan to consider applying to Foras na Gaeilge’s ‘Scéim Tacaíochta Ghnó’, a support scheme which helps small and medium-sized enterprises promote Irish.

The scheme covers signage, websites, product packaging and printed marketing material, enabling businesses to seek up to 50% of the total cost, up to a maximum of €3,000.

One example locally is Murphy’s in Redhills, formerly the Village Shop and Playboys Inn, now displaying ‘Ó Murchú’ on their ‘siopa’ and ‘teach tábhairne’.

Cllr Conaty congratulated new owners Niall and Martha Murphy. “It is a unique selling point and I hope others follow the Murphys’ example”.

Speaking about the scheme, Mr Murphy said he is delighted with the new signage.

“Customers seem to love to see Irish when they are out and about, and I think it adds something different to our business and to the village as a whole, as well as, of course, doing our bit to promote the language,” said Mr Murphy. The Scéim Tacaíochta Ghnó is run by Foras na Gaeilge, the north-south statutory body charged with promoting the Irish language across the island of Ireland.

Fiach Uíbh Eachach of Foras na Gaeilge, a native of Cootehill, said that local businesses can up their game by bringing Irish into their marketing strategy.

“We have a proud linguistic identity in this country and using Irish on your branding and marketing can help tap into the feel-good factor associated with our heritage and culture.”

The deadline for 2026 applications for Foras na Gaeilge’s business support scheme close at the end of October.

Other grant categories include Irish or bilingual packaging, websites, and other bilingual or Irish language materials.

“This could include anything from beer mats, tshirts, pens, packaging on products and many more items of branding besides”, explains Cllr Conaty. “It is an opportunity not to be missed. Tapaigh an deis!”