Macdara Ó Conaola On Gaeltacht Equal Access

The former Irish Language Officer of An Clár as Gaeilge claims sending children to Gaeltacht summer courses can help them to understand the importance of the language on a deeper level. It comes as Conradh na Gaeilge has identifed cost as a significant barrier for some families who wish to send their children to the Gaeltacht, with fees for some courses amounting to over €1,000. While a state-funded scheme supports just under 1,000 Gaeltacht scholarships each year, the Irish language promotional organisation is calling for "around €10 million" in funding to enable more families to enrol their children in Gaeltacht courses. Ennis-based Irish language activist Macdara Ó Conaola says going to the Gaeltacht helps children gain a new understanding of their native language.