Councillors take lessons for meeting through Irish

In an effort to live up to the city’s bid to be bi-lingual, Galway City Council is to hold its next meeting through the medium of Irish.

The Council is currently finishing its third Irish language scheme which covers its commitment to providing an Irish language service for the public across all its sections.

The local authority had been rapped on the knuckles last year by the Irish Language Commissioner for not living up to its promise, but temporary Irish Language Officer, Ailish Breathnach, was encouraging in her presentation to councillors at a recent meeting.

She told them that there were ongoing Irish language classes being held for staff and that as a city with a bi-lingual status as well as a Gaeltacht status, it was incumbent on the Council to prepare a language plan and lay down criteria that would help them build a solid framework for improving on their Irish language services.

A number of councillors were able to make contributions to the debate in Irish and in general all efforts to improve the Irish language service within the Council offices was welcomed.

However, one of the councillors who had pushed hardest for this may not get to take part in the Council’s first Irish language meeting next month if her bid for a Dáil seat is successful.

Cllr Catherine Connolly said she had raised this when she was first elected to the Council in 1999 and was delighted that an Irish meeting would finally be held in early March.

Cllr Terry O’Flaherty said Ms Breathnach’s appointment had certainly made a difference.

The objective is for the Council to be able to provide an Irish language service where possible and it is legally obliged to provide all forms and information leaflets in Irish and English.

It remains to be seen just how many of the city councillors will be in a position to debate the March agenda ‘as Gaeilge.’

A number of councillors are also availing of the Irish classes and their ‘cúpla focal’ will be put to the test on March 7.