Údarás na Gaeltachta

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Údarás na Gaeltachta
AbbreviationÚnaG
Formation1 January 1980
Founder IDA Ireland
Type Industrial development
Irish language
Headquarters Furbo, County Galway, Ireland
Location
Region
Gaeltacht
Cathaoirleach
Anna Ní Ghallachair
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Údarás na Gaeltachta (Irish pronunciation: [ˈuːd̪ˠəɾˠaːsˠn̪ˠəˈɡeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠə] ; meaning "Gaeltacht Authority"), abbreviated UnaG, is a regional state agency which is responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of Irish-speaking (Gaeltacht) regions of Ireland. [1] [2] [3] Its stated purpose is to strengthen the Gaeltacht communities, to increase the quality of life of its community members and facilitate the preservation and extension of the Irish language as the principal language of the region. It gives funding to small local businesses that have to compete with foreign companies. [1] [3]

Contents

History

It was established in 1980 under the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979, [4] [5] superseding its predecessor Gaeltarra Éireann which had been established in 1958 under the Gaeltacht Industries Act 1957. [4] [6]

It has a strong role in attracting enterprise into Gaeltacht areas, [7] many of which are isolated and economically disadvantaged. [8] The European Union grant-aid is often provided to indigenous startup companies. [9] They are also involved in the setting up of community co-operatives and employment schemes.

Governance

Údarás na Gaeltachta has a 12-member board. In accordance with the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979, as amended by the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht appoints the board members for a period not exceeding five years, five of these on the nomination of county councils from counties which include Gaeltacht areas.

The head office of Údarás na Gaeltachta is in Furbo, County Galway, [10] with regional offices in Derrybeg, County Donegal, [11] Belmullet County Mayo, [12] Dingle, County Kerry [13] and Ballymakeera, County Cork. [14] The current chairperson is Anna Ní Ghallachair from Arranmore, County Donegal. [15] [16]

Elected and appointed members

Some members of the board are appointed by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. The rest represent specific Gaeltacht areas. From 1979 to 2012, the latter were directly elected by Gaeltacht residents using the single transferable vote; since 2012, they have been nominated by county councils, usually from among the councillors themselves. The areas, and number of board members representing them, have been as follows:

Number of members of Údarás na Gaeltachta
Selector1979–1999 [17] 1999–2012 [18] Since 2012 [19]
Donegal 241
Galway 361
Mayo 21
Meath 11
Cork 21
Waterford 1
Kerry 21
All areas7175
Minister637
Total132012

References

  1. 1 2 Murphy, William (2014). 21st Century Business: Business for Leaving Certificate (Revised ed.). Dublin: CJ Fallon. p. 508. ISBN   978-0-7144-1923-7.
  2. ↑ Clavin, Terry (December 2015). "Gallagher, Denis (Ó Gallchóir, Donncha)". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Royal Irish Academy. doi:10.3318/dib.009761.v1 . Retrieved 21 November 2025. His main achievement as minister was the establishment in 1979 of a new Gaeltacht authority, Údáras na Gaeltachta, which had a cultural and linguistic function as well as an economic one.
  3. 1 2 "Údarás na Gaeltachta". Mayo County Council . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Historians tell the history of Údarás na Gaeltachta from its inception to present day". Connacht Tribune . 29 December 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 ( No. 5 of 1979 ). Enacted on 19 March 1979. Act of the Oireachtas .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book .
  6. ↑ Gaeltacht Industries Act 1957, s. 3: Establishment of the Board ( No. 29 of 1957, s. 3 ). Enacted on 18 December 1957. Act of the Oireachtas .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 21 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Regional Competitiveness Agenda: Volume II - Realising Potential (South-East) (PDF) (Report). Forfás. pp. 39–40. Retrieved 21 November 2025– via Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
  8. ↑ Ní Bhrádaigh, Emer (2007). "Gaeltacht Entrepreneurship: An Opportunity for Integrated Development, Yet Peripheral in Many Ways" (PDF). Irish Journal of Management. 28 (2). Blackhall Publishing: 221-222. ISSN   1649-248X – via Maynooth University.
  9. ↑ "Údaras na Gaeltachta to lead €3.2m European tourism project launched today". Galway Bay FM . 24 October 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Phelan, Shane (3 March 2014). "€400,000 in fees and expenses paid to Udaras board in past two years". Irish Independent . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Farrar, Carolyn (11 December 2016). "Gaoth Dobhair residents speak out against plans for wind turbine in business park". Donegal Live . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Mayo". Údarás na Gaeltachta . Retrieved 21 November 2025. Údarás na Gaeltachta – Fo-Oifig Mhaigh Eo ...Béal an Mhuirthead, Co. Mhaigh Eo...
  13. ↑ "Government funded Better Energy Community grant offers for 2018" (PDF). Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. 2018. p. 15. Udaras Na Gaeltachta Regional Offices Páirc Ghnó An Daingin Chiarraí...
  14. ↑ "Múscraí" [Muskerry]. Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí (in Irish). Retrieved 21 November 2025. Tá fo-oifig de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta lonnaithe i mBaile Mhic Íre le fada an lá...[A branch office of Údarás na Gaeltachta has been located in Ballymakeera for a long time...]
  15. ↑ McLaughlin, Rachel (24 September 2018). "New brand developed for the promotion of Gaeltacht areas". Donegal Daily . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Ashmore, Chris (22 March 2021). "Tributes paid following the death of former Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta". Donegal Live . Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ Gaeltacht Act 2012 , s. 16: Amendment of section 6 of Principal Act ( No. 34 of 2012, s. 16 ). Enacted on 25 July 2012. Act of the Oireachtas .Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 4 November 2025.
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