Fáilte2020, a new project organised by Gaillimh le Gaeilge, aims to increase the use of the Irish language in the Salthill area. The project is supported by Galway City Council and will focus mainly on the tourism and hospitality sector in Salthill but as time goes by, the project will also be extended throughout the city. It was launched by the Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr. Mike Cubbard in The Galleon Restaurant, Salthill on Thursday the 26th of September.
Speaking at the launch, Cathaoirleach Ghaillimh le Gaeilge, Bernadette Mullarkey said:
“Tá Oireachtas na Samhna ag teacht go Gaillimh mar chuid d’imeachtaí chultúrtha Ghaillimh 2020. We are delighted that Ireland’s largest Irish language cultural and arts festival accepted 
Gaillimh le Gaeilge’s invitation to come to Galway! We expect the Oireachtas to attract over 10,000 people to our city in November of next year. Most of the activities will take place in Salthill and to prepare for its arrival, Gaillimh le Gaeilge through the Fáilte2020 project will work closely with The Village Salthill in order to further promote the use of the Irish language in the area.”
Launching Fáilte2020, the Mayor Cllr Mike Cubbard said:
“It’s hard to beat Salthill as a location, the Gateway to the Connemara Gaeltacht on the Wild Atlantic Way. Fáilte2020 is the perfect opportunity for Salthill businesses to extend a Galway ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ to Oireachtas na Samhna and indeed to all of our visitors to Galway in 2020 with the use of the Irish language.
We are proud of our status as a bilingual city and good work has been done in order to achieve this. The Irish language is proudly displayed on signage on our shopfronts, bilingual menus in our restaurants and bilingual announcements can be heard in our Shopping Centres, so, we know this can be achieved! I would encourage everyone to get involved. We will shortly have an Irish Language Plan for Galway city, so, why not make an early start on the work. I wish Fáilte2020 every success.”
To assist with Fáilte2020, Ciara O’Connor has joined Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge. Ciara, who is a Galway native has recently graduated from NUI Galway with an honours B.A International degree in Irish and French and has just completed a masters ‘Cleachtas Gairmiúil sna Meáin’ in NUIG. Ciara lived in France as part of her Erasmus programme where she spent a year teaching English in French schools. As part of her work placement for her masters, Ciara worked in RTÉ where she worked closely with media and the Irish language. During this period, she was part of the production team for Scannal and Cloch le Carn, as well as working in the Digital Media department focusing on journalism online.
In the coming weeks, Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge look forward to meeting with business owner(s) or manager(s) to review the business in terms of its visual image; menus, signage, marketing material, social media, advertising etc. The team will examine the various possibilities in terms of the use of Irish and they will put together a multi-step programme with an agreed timeframe. Foireann Ghaillimh le Gaeilge will provide advice and free translations wherever necessary throughout the process.
Liam Ó Maolaodha, Stiúrthóir Oireachtas na Gaeilge spoke about the economic benefit of the festival. He went on to say:
“In 2015, the Oireachtas was held in Citywest, as it will be this year. South Dublin County Council Tourism estimated that the event was worth over €8million to the area, I believe that the good people of Killarney where the festival was held in 2016, 2017 & 2018 would agree.”
Visit www.gleg.ie for more details on Fáilte2020 or contact Gaillimh le Gaeilge on 091 568876 to arrange a meeting. Gaillimh le Gaeilge works in association with Galway City Council, Galway Chamber and other groups in the city to promote Galway as a bilingual city. The National Lottery through the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Galway City Council and the Galway Chamber through the Cairde scheme fund Gaillimh le Gaeilge.
