€420,000 over three years approved for Gnó Mhaigh Eo

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chamber, has announced that he has approved €420,000 over a period of three years for Gnó Mhaigh Eo and €151,732 for the development of an all-weather recreational facility in Ceathrú Thaidhg in the Erris Gaeltacht.

Gnó Mhaigh Eo provides support to businesses in Mayo, encouraging them to use the Irish language when providing products and services to the public.

The organisation has been providing a business support service to businesses in Mayo for over a decade, as well as a translation and language consultancy service.

This funding will be provided to support the organisation to continue this work, as well as providing Irish language classes, running the business awards and participating in business and cultural events in the county.

With regard to the all-weather recreational facility in Ceathrú Thaidhg, this is phase two of the development outlined in the Comhar Dhún Caocháin Local Plan which will cater for young children, teenagers and the general public.

Phase one included a play facility for infants and that development was completed in 2018 with support from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Minister of State Chambers said: “I am delighted that my Department is able to authorise this funding for Gnó Mhaigh Eo again this year.

"Gnó Mhaigh Eo has been doing worthwhile work for over ten years now, enhancing the bilingual image of County Mayo and promoting Mayo as a Gaeltacht county.

"As a result of their hard work, the Irish language can be heard and seen in businesses, shops and restaurants around the county.

"Providing services in Irish is of particular importance, both to customers and to those who wish to conduct their business through the medium of Irish.

"These businesses benefit from the support provided by Gnó Mhaigh Eo and provide an important service to the Irish language community in the county.”