Permanent North American Gaeltacht
Encyclopedia
Gaeltacht Bhaile na hÉireann or the Permanent North American Gaeltacht
is a designated Irish
speaking area in the town of Tamworth
, Ontario, along the Salmon River. The nearest main township is Erinsville, Ontario.
Erinsville itself was settled by the Irish with its first five mayors being Irish themselves. It is from this area that the Gaeltacht receives its official name of "Gaeltacht Bhaile na hÉireann" or "Erinsville/Town of Ireland Gaeltacht"
This area is notable mainly in that it is the first and only officially sanctioned Gaeltacht (or 'designated Irish speaking area') to exist outside of Ireland. Official support for this gaeltacht was shown during the opening ceremony, which was attended by the Irish ambassador to Canada, Declan Kelly
, as well as Helen Gannon of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
. An official statement regarding this site was also released by the Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
, Éamon Ó Cuív
. In this, dated 29 May 2007, he states: "I would like to congratulate the Canadian people for establishing a Gaeltacht in Canada, the first outside of Ireland. I wish every success to your work and I hope that it will grow and develop." Also received from Mr. Ó Cuív was the approval of €
20,000 (C$
28,835) for the Gaeltacht, for teacher training.
Currently the site offers Irish language immersion
classes (both on site and in Erinsville) as well as Ceilidh
s and camping (usually August). Eventually, the organizers plan to build cabins to house up to 100 people, as well as classroom facilities and a museum. The classes will be held in the style of, and are in fact inspired by, the 'Oideas Gael
' immersion classes held in the Donegal
gaeltacht of Glencolmcille
.
This gaeltacht has been featured in the news, primarily for the fact that it is the first of its kind outside of Ireland, and has been reported on by both the Irish TG4
and the British BBC
. The organizer Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh, when speaking with the BBC, stated that although the Irish speakers are all from very different places (Canada, Ireland, The United States, etc.) this site is one on which they may all congregate: "'It's a place where they can go when they want to regenerate their cultural batteries and, especially, to come back into contact with the language."
The designation of this area provides much hope for the future of this minority language, and may be seen to provide great help in the revitilization efforts, in a similar manner as the Canadian Scottish Gaelic
speaking areas (or Gàidhealtachd
) in Cape Breton
, Nova Scotia
have done.
Gaeltacht
is the Irish language word meaning an Irish-speaking region. In Ireland, the Gaeltacht, or an Ghaeltacht, refers individually to any, or collectively to all, of the districts where the government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant language, that is, the vernacular spoken at home...
is a designated Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
speaking area in the town of Tamworth
Tamworth, Ontario
Tamworth is a small community in Lennox and Addington County, Ontario, Canada. Tamworth is located due North of Napanee, Ontario and Northeast of Belleville, Ontario, near Kingston, Ontario.-Sports:...
, Ontario, along the Salmon River. The nearest main township is Erinsville, Ontario.
This area is notable mainly in that it is the first and only officially sanctioned Gaeltacht (or 'designated Irish speaking area') to exist outside of Ireland. Official support for this gaeltacht was shown during the opening ceremony, which was attended by the Irish ambassador to Canada, Declan Kelly
Declan Kelly
Declan Kelly is the current Irish Ambassador to Malaysia and Thailand. Prior to that appointment he was the Irish Ambassador to Canada, succeeding Martin Burke.Married to Anne Bernadette Kelly, he gave the 2007 convocation address at St...
, as well as Helen Gannon of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ...
. An official statement regarding this site was also released by the Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is a senior minister at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is Frances Fitzgerald, TD.-Overview:...
, Éamon Ó Cuív
Éamon Ó Cuív
Éamon Ó Cuív is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 1992 and was previously a member of Seanad Éireann.-Early life:...
. In this, dated 29 May 2007, he states: "I would like to congratulate the Canadian people for establishing a Gaeltacht in Canada, the first outside of Ireland. I wish every success to your work and I hope that it will grow and develop." Also received from Mr. Ó Cuív was the approval of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
20,000 (C$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
28,835) for the Gaeltacht, for teacher training.
Currently the site offers Irish language immersion
Immersion
Immersion may refer to:* Immersion therapy overcoming fears through confrontation* Baptism by immersion* Immersion Games a developer of video games...
classes (both on site and in Erinsville) as well as Ceilidh
Céilidh
In modern usage, a céilidh or ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland, but is now common throughout the Irish and Scottish diasporas...
s and camping (usually August). Eventually, the organizers plan to build cabins to house up to 100 people, as well as classroom facilities and a museum. The classes will be held in the style of, and are in fact inspired by, the 'Oideas Gael
Oideas Gael
Oideas Gael is an Irish language cultural centre in Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal. It was founded in 1984. One of the founders of Oideas Gael, and its current Language Director, is Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, the current chairman of Údarás na Gaeltachta.-External links:...
' immersion classes held in the Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
gaeltacht of Glencolmcille
Glencolmcille
Gleann Cholm Cille is a coastal town in the southwest Gaeltacht of County Donegal, Ireland...
.
This gaeltacht has been featured in the news, primarily for the fact that it is the first of its kind outside of Ireland, and has been reported on by both the Irish TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
and the British BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The organizer Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh, when speaking with the BBC, stated that although the Irish speakers are all from very different places (Canada, Ireland, The United States, etc.) this site is one on which they may all congregate: "'It's a place where they can go when they want to regenerate their cultural batteries and, especially, to come back into contact with the language."
The designation of this area provides much hope for the future of this minority language, and may be seen to provide great help in the revitilization efforts, in a similar manner as the Canadian Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
speaking areas (or Gàidhealtachd
Gàidhealtachd
The Gàidhealtachd , sometimes known as A' Ghàidhealtachd , usually refers to the Scottish highlands and islands, and especially the Scottish Gaelic culture of the area. The corresponding Irish word Gaeltacht however refers strictly to an Irish speaking area...
) in Cape Breton
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
have done.