The importance of creating space in your life for Irish is the message Caitlín Ní Bhroin, the recently appointed language planning officer for Cloich Cheann Fhaola, is hoping to spread in her new role.
Growing up in Machaire Rabhartaigh, Caitlín has always been surrounded by strong Irish speakers and credits her mother for instilling an appreciation for the language.
She grew up in a family of ten which she fondly remembers as being like “a mini Gaeltacht” in her own home.
“Because my dad was from County Meath and he wasn’t from a Gaeltacht area from a very young age we were very aware of people being interested in Irish,” said Caitlín.
“Looking back I’m really grateful to my mother, I appreciate that Irish was the first language of her home. Even in the beginning of the eighties when people were watching more English channels we were given this sense that Irish was a minority language and not as available but that we should create space for it in our lives.”
After secondary school at Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola in An Fálcarrach, Caitlín went on to the Regional Technical College in Letterkenny where she completed a two year course learning to work through the medium of Irish. From there she began working as an Irish language teaching assistant in Northern Ireland.
She went on to study for an Honours Bachelor Degree in Irish language and literature at the University of Ulster followed by a Masters in Research also through the medium of Irish.
Over the last 25 years Caitlín has been teaching Irish classes and among her many students were staff at Donegal County Council, LYIT and Glenveagh National Park. She also has experience of community development throughout Ireland and worked in Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta, establishing Irish medium education in Northern Ireland.
“I wanted to be more involved full time in the promotion of the Irish language so when this job opportunity came up this year I applied,” she said.
As the new language planning officer the job will involve continuing to implement Pleanáil Teanga Chloich Cheann Fhaola, a seven year plan that will enter its fifth year this August. It was the first language plan to be launched in Ireland back in 2018 and a lot of good work has been done since then.
In preparation for the plan’s launch a comprehensive research study was carried out which returned some very promising statistics about the use of Irish in the area. The survey found that 58 per cent or 2,420 people in Cloich Cheann Fhaola speak Irish as their daily language, 75 per cent (1,239) speak the language daily in Gort a’Choirce, 71 per cent (529 people) in Dún Lúiche and 43 per cent (908 people) in An Fálcarrach.
“My job is to maintain those figures and to increase the number of daily speakers from three to five per cent. We see that it can be done,” said Caitlín.
“We have recently approved an application from the GAA in Cloich Cheann Fhaola where they are already working with young people in the community. They have asked for funding to provide training through the medium of Irish in the five national schools in the area and we have approved that.”
Encouraging young families to speak Irish is a key part of the plan and parent and toddler groups as Gaeilge is one way to create a safe space to use the language. In an effort to encourage more people to get involved after Easter a second parent and toddler group will be starting in the hall in Machaire Rabhartaigh.
Caitlín said one of their biggest aims is to encourage teachers and parents to allow their children to be taught primarily through Irish and she is keen to emphasise the benefits of speaking two languages.
“The benefit of bilingualism is well known. It makes children think outside the box, it makes them problem solvers, it makes them more aware of different cultures and different parts of the world,” she explained.
“My emphasis is to encourage native speakers to speak Irish to eachother and to speak Irish to their children.
“You have to make a conscious effort to speak Irish to your children. Your children will reply to you in English but the international research says don’t stop, you’re not doing them any disservice.”
With the increased availability of Irish language apps, websites, day and night-time Irish classes for learners and pop-up Gaeltachts in the county, Caitlín said there has never been a better time for people to use their cúpla focal.
“There’s a good feeling in the area. People are still interested in the language plan and it is still relevant. People are very proud to have Irish and they are very proud of Cloich Cheann Fhaola being one of the strongest areas in Ireland and they want to maintain that but they also want to increase it.”
If anyone would like to learn more about ways to learn Irish they can visit the website www.ptccf.com, email Caitlín on cptccf@gmail.com or call 087 2270722.
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