From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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The Office of Public Works to partner to take the development at Conradh na Gaeilge headquarters at 6 Harcourt Street to the next stage.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, and the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and the Office of Public Works, Patrick O'Donovan, have announced today that the Office of Public Works will be partnering with the department and Conradh na Gaeilge to bring the development at the Conradh na Gaeilge headquarters at 6 Harcourt Street in Dublin city centre to the next stage.
This is another significant step forward in the development of an Irish Language Centre in Dublin city centre, which has been sought for a long time. According to the 2022 Census, the number of people (three years or older) in Dublin who indicated that they could speak Irish is 467,679 compared to 431,413 in 2016. Within that figure, 16,440 said they spoke Irish daily and 29,624 said they spoke Irish weekly. Compared to the national figures this represents 25% of the total number who indicated that they could speak Irish, 23% of those who said they spoke it daily and 25% of those who said they spoke it weekly.
With this development, the intention is to provide an invaluable facility for those who speak Irish, somewhere they can feel comfortable using Irish and taking part in Irish language and cultural events. This will particularly support those who want to raise a family through Irish and will give an opportunity to further increase the number of Irish speakers in the capital, in accordance with the objectives of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
Speaking on the matter today, Minister Martin said:
“I welcome the important progress that has been made in the process of redeveloping Number 6 Harcourt Street today. This project involves the preservation of a building of national historical significance. Since the establishment of Conradh na Gaeilge in 1893, they have played a central role in the revival of the Irish language and in providing significant cultural facilities throughout the country. Irish speakers in the city have come to this building for generations since An Conradh settled there in 1966.
"With today's announcement, it is intended that the Office of Public Works will now play a central role in managing the redevelopment of this important building for the benefit of the Irish speaking community in the Capital and of course those who come to visit from the rest of the country as well. I wish all the stakeholders the best of luck in undertaking this worthwhile project.”
Adding to today's welcome, Minister of State O'Donovan said:
“As Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht and the Irish language, and for the Office of Public Works, I am delighted that both my departments will be co-operating on the development of Conradh na Gaeilge’s headquarters at Number 6 Harcourt Street. Number 6 has had a significant and important place in Irish history and life since it was built. From the time it functioned as the planning headquarters of the First Dáil, and the Department of Finance under Michael Collins, to the present day, this building has taken on a central role in the life of Dublin and Ireland.
"With the progress announced today, the site where Conradh na Gaeilge carry out much of its worthwhile work will be reinforced, providing a central headquarters for the city's Irish speakers and learners of Irish for generations to come.
"This project, for which planning permission has been obtained, is one of the department's main projects and significant investment will be included for this in 2024, 2025 and 2026 under the National Development Plan. With the investment of my department and under the direction of the Office of Public Works, I am confident that the promotion of the Irish language will continue here for many years to come."
Welcoming the announcement of the partnership today, the President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Paula Melvin said:
“As President of Conradh na Gaeilge I whole-heartedly welcome this announcement today of the partnering of the Office of Public Works, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Conradh na Gaeilge in the development of Number 6 as Dublin city’s Irish language centre. We hope to provide a dynamic, innovative centre with a wide range of services for the Irish speaking community and for those with an interest in the language as well as having the history of the building interwoven with the experience to be provided to the public there down the line.”
The government's commitment to the delivery of this project is reflected in the various commitments given in the Programme for Government: Our Future Together, in the National Development Plan 2021-2030 under Project Ireland 2040 and in the Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 under the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
This investment is specifically from the Irish Language Support Schemes for organisations located outside the Gaeltacht. More information on that programme.
Press Release - Census 2022 County Results Summary - Dublin
Programme for Government: Our Shared Future "Promote the development of Irish Language Centres in Dublin and across the country, for a community-based approach to Irish-language promotion.” P.89
Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-2022 : Measures 4.12 and 4.13 specifically
National Development Plan 2021-2030 “Outside of the Gaeltacht, the department will continue to support the development of Irish Language Networks and Gaeltacht Service Towns with a particular focus on delivering Irish language and cultural hubs in recognition of the growing demand for language-related infrastructure. A flagship project will be the delivery of an Irish Language and Cultural Hub at Harcourt Street, Dublin, in partnership with Dublin City Council, Conradh na Gaeilge and other stakeholders.” P. 81