This article is from page 16 of the 2014-01-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
CLARE County Council last night debated a motion through the Irish language for the first time in years. The local authority gave their commitment to backing an Irish language Summer School for West Clare, based on the life of noted Gaeilgeóir and a champion of the Irish language, Anrai De Blác.
A motion on the subject, which was put forward by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) was passed at last night’s January meeting of Clare County Council.
A debate on the motion was conducted entirely in the Irish language, the first motion completed ‘as Gaeilge’ by the local authority in a number of years.
Cllr Keating, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) and Mayor of Clare, Joe Arkins (FG) each spoke on the motion in the Irish language with only Pat Keane (FF) speaking though the English.
The restoration of a Gaeltacht area in Clare has been mooted on a number of occasions in recent years. Works to restore the Irish language has been ongoing in a number of locations in Clare in recent years.
The former Mayor of Clare proposed the establishment of Gaeltacht areas in West Clare a number of years ago to facilitate the creation of an Irish college in area. Figures released following the last census showed a strong proficiency in the Irish language among Clare people are hopes are high that a revival is on the cards.
Meanwhile, in a separate motion, Cllr PJ Ryan (Ind) has requested that Clare County Council write to the newly-formed Irish Water Organisation demanding that they replace all lead piping which remains in the system.
Irish Water, which took over responsibly for the Clare water system 14 days ago, was last week embroiled in a controversy after it was revealed that the organisation has spent € 50 million on consultants last year.