Cookstown District Council

About the council

Irish language development

Did you know that you are entitled to some Irish language services from Cookstown District Council?

Gaeilge 

Foras na Gaeilge
Foras na Gaeilge

 

 

Point of Contact:

Ursula Ní Fhearáil

Oifigeach Forbartha na Gaeilge (Irish Development Officer)

ursulanifhearail@cookstown.gov.uk

028 8676 9949 (Option 6)

Burnavon Arts & Cultural Centre , Bóthar an tSrutháin, An Chorr Críochach, Co. Thír Eoghain, BT80 8DN

Context:

Cookstown District Council are committed to meeting their obligations towards Irish Development in light of equality, The European Charter for Regional & Minority Languages,The Belfast Agreement and in their dedication towards celebrating a diverse and culturally enriched community.

This is evident in Council’s appointment of Irish Development Officer and implementation of Irish Development Programme.

The Belfast Agreement of 1998 gave a new status to the Irish language in Northern Ireland. A statutory Cross-Border Language Body was established between December 1999 and February 2000. Foras na Gaeilge, the Irish language agency of the body, is now the main language promotion and funding organisation in Ireland. Two new organisations were also established by the Department of Education to fund and develop Irish-medium education in Northern Ireland.

Foras na Gaeilge have contributed to the Irish Development plan of Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council in terms of their contribution to the appoinment of a part-time Irish Devleopment Officer.

Did you know?

  • According to the 2001 census 167,490 or 10.4% of the total population of N.Ireland aged three and over reported some knowledge of Irish
  • The Census does not provide information on the fluency or ability of speakers estimated by scholars 13-15,000 are ‘fluent speakers’ and that a further 40-45,000 are ‘functional speakers of Irish’ who claim better than average ability to speak in Irish
  • Irish is experiencing an unprecedented revival throughout the North with increasing career opportunities for those with Irish, particularly in teaching, translation and in the print and broadcasting media.
  • In half of the district councils in the north more that 10% of the population has knowledge of the language

Council Services through the medium of Irish

You can:

· Write letters and fill in forms in Irish

· Speak to, or telephone us, in Irish

· Have a translator at meetings with government and public bodies

· Receive some official documents in Irish

· Use your personal name in Irish

· Use traditional place names in Irish

If there is a street light broken in your area, report it through the medium of Irish

If there are difficulties with refuse collection, make your complaint through the medium of Irish

If you are making an application for funding from a government agency, write in Irish