Grant for Mayo coláiste to promote Irish among teenagers

MINISTER Sean Kyne approved grant aid of up to €225,000 to Coláiste UISCE Teo., Cuan Eilí, An Eachléim, when he officially opened the coláiste's new facility.

Ionad UISCE na hEachléime is located in the north Mayo Gaeltacht village of Eachléim.

In May 2018, UISCE undertook a renovation of existing enterprise units built by Udarás na Gaeltachta, costing €160,000. The project included the renovation of three modern classrooms with IT facilities and broadband, offices, kitchenette, First Aid room, siopa beag, a basketball court, five-a-side soccer pitch, volleyball court, recreational outdoor space and carparking facilities.

This second site allows UISCE to offer a wide variety of Irish courses to the public, including Summer Gaeltacht courses for second-level students, courses for Transition Year students, school tours for Gaelscoileanna and Scoileanna Gaeltachta, youth leadership courses as Gaeilge, and courses for third-level students and adult courses.

Welcoming the funding announcement, Minister Michael Ring said it will enable the coláiste to implement its activities for the good of the Irish language and to consolidate the language as the main spoken language, especially among young people both in and outside of the Gaeltacht.

Local Councillor Gerry Coyle stated: “With this funding the college will be able to continue the great work they do for the advancement of the Irish language in north Mayo. Many of the courses will be directed towards teenagers from the Gaeltacht schools and the Gaelcholáiste.

“The sanctioning of this allowance is a practical plan – which will be of benefit to both the language planning process and the policy for Gaeltacht education.”