Mayo set to lose seat on Udarás na Gaeltachta board

MAYO is set to lose a seat on the Udarás na Gealtachta board under a proposed new Bill.

The Tourmakeady area is coming under the remit of Galway, Councillor Gerry Coyle explained at a municipal meeting held in the north Mayo Gaeltacht in Eachléim.

It would leave Mayo with just one representative on the board.

Councillor Coyle expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal, saying it is 'wrong'. The county should have two representatives.

His area colleague Councillor Sean Carey agreed, pointing out that the Achill and Erris Gaeltachts are large areas and there should be increased representation.

Elected members were told the matter isn't yet a 'done deal'.

At their meeting, a presentation was delivered by Mayo County Council's Irish language officer, Fionnuala Nic Pháidín on the work of her office, which includes the promotion and protection of the language and local dialects, promoting the development of Gaeltacht areas, supporting language plans, community engagement and awareness, as well as event input, translation services and legislative compliance and advice.

Director of services Catherine McConnell said committing to a living language should be seen as an opportunity, for example in respect of language schools or cultural tourism.