Gaeltacht areas lobby to secure ethnic status

Residents of Irish-speaking Gaeltacht areas should be granted ethnic minority status, according to a local campaign group based in Connemara.

Bóithre Chonamara, which was set up to lobby for better roads infrastructure in the area, has started a petition that Gaeltacht residents be recognised as a distinct ethnic group.

The campaign believes ethnic status would help preserve characteristics unique to Gaeltacht areas, and in practical terms, make it easier for locals to be granted planning permission.

An ethnic group is made up of people who share certain characteristics such as culture, language, religion and traditions. Travellers were granted ethnic minority status for the first time in 2017.

Mánus Ó Conaire, of roads lobby group, Bóithre Chonamara, is spearheading the campaign, and said it would address the neglect of Gaeltacht areas by the State.

“Conservation status was given to our fields, our bogs and our bays, which we have preserved for centuries. Why should we not get this status, to preserve our language, culture and heritage?” asked Mr Ó Conaire.

“The principle behind an ethnic minority is that the community is recognised as a group that brings culture and tradition that do not belong to the rest of the country’s population, and an ethnic minority claim different rights accordingly.

“If the Gaeltacht was registered as an ethnic minority, it is hoped that the people of the Gaeltacht would flourish and would be put back on an equal footing with communities outside of the Gaeltacht,” he said.

Galway West Fianna Fáil TD, Éamon Ó Cuív, a former Gaeltacht Minister, has said that he does not believe that the campaign to achieve ethnic minority status will succeed. Mr Ó Conaire said he was ‘disappointed’ with Deputy Ó Cuív’s stance.

“As far as we’re aware, we meet all the criteria for ethnic status, set down by the EU. In our opinion, we believe it would make it easier to get planning permission in the Gaeltacht. We would face fewer challenges in areas such as planning and it would maintain our strong heritage and culture, and perhaps get international companies to invest in Gaeltacht areas,” he said.

The group has requested a meeting with Minister Catherine Martin. The petition is available to sign online, and has attracted support from Gaeltacht residents in Donegal, Cork and Kerry.