Marketing the Irish language is a real passion for Padraig Ó Cuanacháin and although his roots may not have always been in the promotion of Irish , today he works tirelessly to do anything which raises the profile of the language.  

Born and raised in Cork City, Padraig Ó Cuanacháin is certainly not what you would imagine as the stereotypical Irish language promoter.

Educated in the North Monastery and later Coláiste Chríost Rí, Padraig always had an interest in the Irish language but, it was not until his mid-thirties that he actually began to work with the language.

Previous to this, he had undertaken a variety of roles including taking a position as a clerk with CIE, but when Padraig reached 35, his love of the language really blossomed and he jumped at the opportunity to take up a role with Údarás na Gaeltachta as Industrial Development Officer.

As part of this role, Padraig was involved in encouraging the development of small businesses in Gaeltacht areas, by both people living in these areas and small businesses willing to establish in the Gaeltacht.

Just a few years into this role, Padraig was seconded to work with the Gaelscoileanna where we was instrumental in setting up Gaelscoileanna both in Cork and throughout Munster including the Bishopstown Gaelscoil and the Carrigaline Gaelscoil.

When Padraig returned to Údarás na Gaeltachta he took on a new role as Cultural Development Officer where his responsibilities included raising the profile of and encouraging cultural endeavours throughout the region.

At this stage in his life, Padraig really began to see the power of marketing and how through the right dissemination of information that the language and indeed Irish culture could really be promoted and when he retired from Údarás na Gaeltachta, he took on a the position of Marketing Director with Gael-Taca; a role which he sees himself in for many more years to come.

Padraig describes his main responsibility with Gael-Taca as “marketing the Irish language to everyone in Ireland”, no small responsibility by any means.

As part of his day to day role, Padraig works continuously to market the language to businesses and the public , encouraging companies to use the Irish language in their signage, their communications and in their advertising.