Youth Work ‘as Gaeilge’ Comes to the Aran Islands for the First Time
- Published on: 11 May 2026
- Last updated on: 11 May 2026
Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton has welcomed the launch of the Oileáin Árann Pilot Youth Work Initiative, which will deliver dedicated, island‑based youth work services through Irish to Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr for the first time.
Funded by the Department of Education and Youth in partnership with Galway and Roscommon ETB and the Muintearas UBU Your Place, Your Space service, the four‑year pilot represents an investment of €300,000.
The funding will support three part‑time youth workers, each based within their own island community and delivering locally led youth work services as Gaeilge.
The initiative marks a significant milestone for young people living on the Aran Islands, ensuring they can access consistent, culturally grounded youth supports within their own communities and through their first language.
Welcoming the launch, Minister Naughton said:
“This initiative is about ensuring that young people on the Aran Islands have access to the same opportunities and supports as their peers across the country, while also recognising and celebrating the unique strengths of island life and the Irish language.
“Delivering youth work trí Ghaeilge helps to strengthen wellbeing, identity and connection, while building on the strong sense of community which already exists across the islands.
“By investing in locally-based youth workers, we are creating safe and inclusive spaces where young people can connect, develop confidence and access support within their own communities.”
The pilot initiative was developed following consultation with schools, local services and community stakeholders. It responds to challenges identified by young people living on the islands, including isolation and limited access to early intervention and non‑therapeutic mental health supports.
By embedding youth workers directly within the islands, the initiative aims to strengthen social connections, promote positive wellbeing and reduce reliance on online or mainland services.
A core principle of the initiative is that all youth work activities will take place on the islands and through the medium of Irish, ensuring supports are accessible, meaningful and firmly rooted in Gaeltacht culture and community life.
The programme also includes a built‑in evaluation process which will also provide valuable insight into the delivery of youth work services through Irish in offshore island communities and help inform future policy development.
Over the course of the four‑year pilot, the Oileáin Árann Youth Work Initiative aims to support young people to build confidence, strengthen resilience, and thrive within safe inclusive communities, without geography or language becoming barriers to participation or support.