Primary schools in the Galway gaeltacht will benefit from over €210,000 in funding for a Sports and Athletics Programme to bring Irish out of the classroom.
Galway West TD and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands Seán Kyne has approved €213,588 over three years to Connemara-based organisation Muintearas to administer the Athletics and Sports Programme to primary schools in the Gaeltacht.
This includes 15 schools in Connemara, with 1,000 pupils in the language planning areas of Conamara Láir, the islands, An Cheathru Rua, Cois Fharraige and Joyce Country/Thuar Mhic Éadaigh.
Minister Kyne emphasised the importance of programmes like this which tackle the often difficult issue of getting young people interested in active pastimes, especially when they don’t have an existing interest in activities like football.
“There is a clear link between exercise and social, mental and physical health and we are all advised to be active and exercise on a regular basis,” Seán Kyne said.
“In addition, this programme is a practical way to encourage and promote the use of the Irish language among pupils in an enjoyable away outside of the classroom setting.”
The funding of the Athletics and Sports Programme is under action 2.20 – the Community and Language Support Programme – of the Government’s Five Year Action Plan for the Irish Language 2018-22.
