Mayo town successful in its Gaeltacht Service Town application

Belmullet has successfully applied to become a Gaeltacht Service Town, the steering committee responsible for the application has announced.

The committee was congratulated for putting together a comprehensive application and are now looking forward to the next step – the preparation of a language plan for the town.

Liam Mac Aindriú, chairperson of the steering committee, commented: “We are delighted to hear the news that our application was successful. By preparing and implementing a language plan in the town, the community, the voluntary sector, the public sector and the private sector will work together to support and promote the Irish language.

“Many residents and businesses in the town have worked very hard to improve their Irish, and to nurture the language. There is a lot of grá in the community here in relation to the Irish language and this process will help us to provide a better service and further improve Belmullet for residents and visitors alike.”

The cultural and economic impact that the Irish language has on towns is enormous. Becoming a Gaeltacht Service Town will add yet another USP to Belmullet’s list of unique selling points.

In terms of cultural and heritage tourism, the Irish language is a huge asset. Many studies have shown that the promotion of Irish is not only about re-establishing the language, but that it can bring broader social, cultural and economic benefits to a town or area.

One example is Galway city. The Connemara area of Co. Galway has always been strongly associated with the Irish language but in the 1980s, the city had a weak Irish language identity. However, in recent years, due to efforts by those living and working in Galway to integrate Irish into their work and their daily lives, the urban area has transformed into one of the most attractive destinations for tourists seeking a distinctive cultural experience in this country.