Permanent North American Gaeltacht

Gaeltacht Bhaile na hÉireann or the Permanent North American Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht Bhuan Mheiriceá Thuaidh) is an Irish-speaking site in the community of Tamworth, Ontario, in Canada. The nearest main township is Erinsville, Ontario. Unlike in Ireland, where the term "Gaeltacht" refers to an area where Irish is the traditional language, the Permanent North American Gaeltacht has no resident native Irish speakers. The name refers instead to its being a meeting place for Irish speakers from North America and elsewhere.

Erinsville Gaeltacht

Gaeltacht Bhaile na hÉireann
Signpost at the entrance to Baile na hÉireann
Nickname(s): 
The Canadian Gaeltacht, Gaeltacht Bhuan Mheiriceá Thuaidh (Permanent North American Gaeltacht)
Coordinates: 44°30′06″N 76°59′04″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Established16 June 2007 (as the first Official Gaeltacht outside Ireland[1])
Area
 • Land0.24 km2 (0.09 sq mi)
 seasonal
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))

History

Erinsville was settled by the Irish, and its first five mayors were Irish.[2] It is from this area that the Gaeltacht receives its name of "Gaeltacht Bhaile na hÉireann" or "Erinsville/Town of Ireland Gaeltacht".

This site was the first and only officially sanctioned Gaeltacht (or "designated Irish-speaking area") to exist outside Ireland. The Gaeltacht's opening ceremony was attended by the Irish ambassador to Canada, Declan Kelly, and by Helen Gannon of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.[3] A statement was also released by the then Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív. In this, dated 29 May 2007, he stated: "I would like to congratulate the Canadian people for establishing a Gaeltacht in Canada, the first outside Ireland." [1] Ó Cuív also approved funding of €20,000 (C$28,835) for teacher training.[4]

Following its launch. the project received some news coverage, primarily for the claim that it was the first of its kind outside Ireland, including by RTÉ and TG4 in Ireland,[5][6] the BBC in the UK,[3] and the Globe and Mail in Canada.[7]

Aims and activities

The project's stated aim is to "restore and maintain the language by having a place where speakers can make connections with each other, learn and practice Irish".[8] It is intended to use the site for Irish language immersion weeks and to build a learning centre.[9] Other objectives are to arrange exchanges with Gaeltacht families, to provide an Irish-language summer camp for children and to bring teachers from Ireland.[10][11]

As of 2017, cultural events and "language immersion" courses were being held at the site.[12][13][14]

See also

References
  1. Ó Cuív, Éamonn. "Searmanas Oscáilte Chumann na Gaeltachta" (Craobh Chláirseach Theamhrach Chomhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, 2007) Page 7.
  2. "Bualadh bos... Gaeltacht goes global". Independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 18 April 2007.
  3. "Gaeltacht Cheanada". BBC.co.uk. BBC Northern Ireland. June 2007.
  4. "Donegal example inspired idea for first Gaeltacht outside Ireland". The Donegal News. North West of Ireland Printing & Publishing. 22 June 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007.
  5. "RTÉ Archives - Society - Gaeltacht In Canada". rte.ie. RTÉ. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. Gaeltacht Cheanada. TG4. 2007 – via YouTube.
  7. "A tongue-twisting labour of love in Canada's Gaelic-speaking community". theglobeandmail.com. 2 September 2017.
  8. "North American Gaeltacht society - Grand Opening". anghaeltacht.ca. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012.
  9. "Permanent NA Gaeltacht - Aims" (PDF). gaelige.ca. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  10. "Irish Language Programs" (PDF). gaeilge.ca. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. "Opportunity for two Mayo teachers to work in the North American Gaeltacht". advertiser.ie. Mayo Advertiser. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  12. "Summer Gaeltacht Immersion Week - Cumann na Gaeltachta - 13-20 August 2017" (PDF). gaeilge.ca. North American Gaeltacht. August 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  13. "Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada - Irish Gaelic Festival" (PDF). gaeilge.ca. North American Gaeltacht. June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  14. "Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada, 23 - 25 Meitheamh 2017". oireachtas.ca. Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017.
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