Support, services & facilities

The article lists the organisations that provide support, services and facilities to families.

Altram

Altram is a regional support group for Irish-medium early years projects. It was founded in 1990 by local pre-schools in Derry, Belfast, Armagh and Newry. Altram supports the Irish-medium early years providers, helps improve the standard of provision in the sector and promotes the importance of the early years in Irish medium education

JAMIE

Welcome to Jamie, a Marino Institute of Education initiative designed to assist Leaving Certificate students with their studies by providing short video clips to help them prepare for their Leaving Certificate Irish examinations. JAMIE stands for Jump-Start at Marino Institute of Education. Each of the 15 videos focus on a different aspect of the Irish Leaving Certificate examination.

Gael Linn

Founded in 1953 Gael Linn is a national organisation whose principal aim is to foster and promote the Irish language and its heritage as a living language and as an expression of identity at policy and at community level. Gael Linn operates on an all-island basis, with offices in Dublin and Armagh.

Gaeloideachas

Gaeloideachas is a national, voluntary organisation supporting the development of Irish-medium education. Founded as Gaelscoileanna in 1973 to support Irish-medium schools, primary and post-primary, outside of the Gaeltacht, the organisation’s remit now includes the provision of support services for Irish-medium schools in Gaeltacht areas, and for Irish-medium preschools outside of the Gaeltacht. Gaeloideachas provides advice, assistance and support to people who wish to have their children educated through Irish, as well as support services and advocacy for those working in the sector.

Glór na nGael

Glór na nGael was established in 1961 as an organisation that would promote and further the Irish language by way of competition between community groups. Glór na nGael in active in three specific areas; promoting Irish in the family, promoting Irish in business and promoting Irish in community development.

Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta

Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta was set up in 2011. It is a voluntary organisation that gives support to Irish-speaking families in the Gaeltacht. Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta receives funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and from Ealaín na Gaeltachta. The group began in the Connemara Gaeltacht and has since spread to the Donegal Gaeltacht. They organise family events on a regular basis in both areas.

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment

A comprehensive list of resources useful for teaching through Irish within the Northern Ireland Curriculum. The list covers everything from teaching the language itself to interactive learning methods such as drama through Irish and interactive games.

Tús Maith

Tús Maith is an initative of Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne in an effort to support families raising their children with Irish and also those who wish to use more Irish in their daily lives. We organise play groups, home language visits and Scléip an tSathairn to assist parents in their efforts.

Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta

Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta is the nationally recognised Early Years Service Provider throughout the Gaeltacht. Over 100 services are provided by CNNG with offices located in all Gaeltacht areas. CNNG provide administration, support and training services for early childhood education and care services which includes naíonraí, crèches, breakfast clubs, afterschool services and parent and toddler groups in the Gaeltacht areas.

Ógras

Ógras is an Irish-language youth organisation for young people from 7-17 years old. We offer a wide range of youth services and activities including Clubs, Camps, Trips, Projects, Workshops, International Exchanges and more, all through Irish. Our clubs are divided according to age: Óg-Ógras looks after 7-12 year-olds while Ógras serves those aged 12-17.

Spleodar

Spleodar is a not for profit Irish Language youth organisation which runs residential courses in the heart of Connemara during the Summer months. With more than 20 years of experience, Spleodar have a proud heritage of providing high quality education and promoting the Irish language.

Feachtas

Feachtas was founded in 1980 to promote the use of Irish among young people and to aid their personal and social development. We cater for the 11-18 age group. We are proud to be a volunteer-led youth organisation. A member of the National Youth Council of Ireland, we take an active part in youth and Irish matters. We organise youth clubs and events through Irish to develop social networks of young Irish speakers to promote the use of Irish outside of school.

Cumann na bhFiann

Cumann na bhFiann is the largest nationwide Irish language youth service. Weekly/fortnightly Irish language youth clubs as well as regional and national events through Irish are its main focus. These services give young people the opportunity to use and improve their spoken Irish outside of the school environment on a social level. Cumann na bhFiann provides opportunities for young people to meet and make friends throughout the country through the medium of Irish.

Óige na Gaeltachta

Óige na Gaeltachta is committed to providing a broad range of support services to youth clubs, community groups and voluntary organisations providing an important service to young people in the Gaeltacht. One of Óige na Gaeltachta’s main aims is to improve community based youth services for children from the ages of 7 to 18 and to promote and increase the use of Irish within these services.

Muintearas

Muintearas is a community education and training organisation. The organization’s headquarters are located in Tír an Fhia, Lettermore, Co Galway; and they also have branch offices in Donegal, and Cork.  Education is provided for all age groups in the community, from pre-school to lifelong education for adults. Muintearas is working in all aspects of education, training and services for the Gaeltacht community and have years of experience in language acquisition and management in the Gaeltacht.

Date updated: July 2023