A 16 person Scottish delegation led by Scotland’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Ivan McKee, will take part in a three day trade mission to the West Donegal Gaeltacht from tomorrow.
The mission will be hosted by Údarás na Gaeltachta and its Scottish partner, The West Lothian Chamber of Commerce.
The visit is the result of an invitation extended on a similar visit to meet the Irish Diaspora in Glasgow earlier this year by Joe McHugh, then Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, representatives from Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Delegates will visit the An Clochán Liath and Gaoth Dobhair areas, get a taste of the unique Gaeltacht culture and language and make connections with a number of Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies and community organisations. The delegation will also visit the Randox Teoranta facility in An Clochán Liath to see the potential that exists in the Donegal Gaeltacht with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Delegates will also visit Páirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair and speak to a number of companies on the business park. They will hear from start-up businesses and agencies on the practicalities of setting up business in Ireland. The three day visit will also include a presentation and tour of gteic@Gaoth Dobhair, one of a network of 31 innovation and digital hubs being established by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The minister and delegation will also visit Donegal Airport and meet with airport management and representatives from Loganair to further support Irish-Scottish links.
Micheál Ó hÉanaigh, Chief Executive Officer of Údarás na Gaeltachta, who accompanied Minister McHugh on his visit to Scotland in July said, “The links between North West Donegal and the West of Scotland are well-established and longstanding.
“The Donegal Gaeltacht is familiar to successive generations of Irish emigrants to the west of Scotland, many of whom come from Gaeltacht areas such as Gaoth Dobhair, Na Rosa and Cloich Chionnaola, and many have maintained regular contact with their relatives there.
“These initiatives are keen to build on existing connections, build new contacts and develop stronger economic ties between the Gaeltacht regions of Ireland and the West of Scotland.
“The Diaspóra na Gaeltachta project, included in our three year strategic plan, will endeavour to encourage the emigrant Gaeltacht community abroad or in Ireland to return home to the Gaeltacht, their families and communities and, thereby, bolster the Irish language as a community language in those areas.”