Martin Davoren, Senior Specialist Social Inclusion, Cork City Council, Dr Niall O’Keeffe, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Cork City Council, Laoise Keevers, Irish Development Officer at the Barr na gCnoc Project in Knocknaheeney, based in the Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha section in UCC, Siobhán Ní Chróinín, Irish language instructor at University of Ottawa, GAA legend Sean Óg Ó hAilpín, and Chris Dorgan, Irish Officer, Cork City Council. Photo: Cork City Council

City Council launches Irish Language Plan 2026-2029

Steven Fox

Published: Wed 9 Sep 2026, 1:25 PM

Last updated: Wed 9 Sep 2026, 3:35 PM

The plan outlines the council’s commitment to working with community organisations, individuals, and other public bodies to highlight the benefits and opportunities associated with the wider use, visibility, and promotion of the Irish language in Cork.

Proposals in the plan include investigating and promoting the establishment of a Cultúralann (and Irish language and community hub) in the city, and to explore the possibility of setting up suburban pop-up Gaeltachtaí and a city centre Gaeltacht.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Damien Boylan said: “This plan is ambitious, committed, and measurable. It underpins the commitment of elected members and the executive of the council to support and deliver specific actions.

“It encourages community engagement through events and activities promoting the visibility and use of the language. It encourages networking and cooperation across statutory bodies, businesses, and the community sector.

“In essence, this plan will assist in encouraging all the people of Cork City to engage with the language in new and enjoyable ways,” he said.

At the event launching the plan, Cork hurling legend Seán Óg Ó hAilpín urged people to consider tuning into sports commentary as Gaeilge as a fun way to engage with the language.

He said that he uses Irish regularly during training sessions with underage players at Na Piarsaigh GAA club and that Irish-language sports commentary is an “under-used resource”.

Chief Executive of Cork City Council Valerie O’Sullivan said: “Through the city council’s Grúpa Forbartha Gaeilge, a committee of Council made up of elected members from across the political spectrum, the city council has funed Irish language initiatives, including adult outreach music classes, creative writing in Irish, Ciorcail Comhrá and Irish language events across the city.

“The designation of St Patrick’s Eve, 16 March, as Lá na Gaeilge across the city signals our commitment to encourage those with all levels of fluency to practice their Irish in a non-judgemental and fun way across all aspects of city life,” she said.

The launch of the document was followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Siobhán Ní Chróinín, Irish language instructor at the University of Ottowa in Canada.

It featured contributions from Ó hAilpín, Dr Niall O’Keefe, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Cork City Council, and Laoise Nic Íomhar, Irish Language Development Officer at Barr na gCnoc in Knocknaheeney, based at UCC’s Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha.

O’Keefe spoke about the importance and benefits of the Irish language to the business sector, while Nic Íomhar spoke of the range of work underway in schools and communities to support Irish language development across Cork.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.