Page "Gaeltacht" Paragraph 33

West Clare is fighting for the return of its Gaeltacht status.

Irish language support group Kilrush Coiste Forbartha Gaeltachta has cranked up the pressure on local politicians and Minister Dinny McGinley with a view to restoring Gaeltacht status to Clare.

Coiste Forbartha na Gaeltachta Contae an Chláir and its chairman Seósamh Mac Ionnrachtaigh believes that there is a demand for Gaeltacht status, particularly amongst the known 170 people who speak the language on a daily basis in the western part of county Clare.

Parts of the county were recognised Gaeltacht areas back in the 1920s with Irish speakers living west of Ennis in Doonbeg, Ennistimon, Carrigahold and Lisdoonvarna.

It's a long road ahead, he says, but the committee aims to introduce and develop networks amongst Irish speakers in the interim before finalising detailed plans and developing the future Gaeltacht network for the county by 2016.