merrion street

Minister of State in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., today (Thursday 23rd February, 2012) announced a grant of €5,560 for Óige na Gaeltachta and Comhairle Chonnachta of the GAA, to hold a 7-a-Side Under 17s football tournament in the Galway Gaeltacht in 2012. Teams from the other Gaeltacht areas will also participate in the tournament again this year.

Minister of State McGinley said that he is pleased to be able to provide the grant and that such projects are hugely important in influencing the preservation and promotion of the Irish language. "I'm hopeful that this project will greatly assist in the preservation of the Irish language among young people in the Gaeltacht," said the Minister of State.

Minister McGinley has also sanctioned a grant of €3,000 for Comhairle Chonnachta of the GAA to develop handballing skills in certain Gaeltacht schools in Galway.

Announcing both grants, the Minister of State said that he is pleased to be able to provide these allocations and that it's a great opportunity to motivate young people to speak Irish in a pleasant environment. “This project will greatly enhance the services being provided under the Hurling and Football Training Scheme already being funded by my Department,” added Minister of State McGinley.