A new tech hub for young people who are Irish language speakers has opened in Galway city.
The Techspace centre at Áras na Gael offers technological and digital materials including filming equipment, video, music and coding software, and a recording studio, free of charge to young Irish language speakers.
The goal of the pilot project is to provide a weekend drop-in space for young people that can be made freely available to schools and youth groups across the city and county.
Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands Seán Kyne said that it’s “important that such events and innovative materials are made available to young people through the medium of Irish”.
The programme is being run by a working group made up of Áras na nGael, Camara Education Ireland, Clár TechSpace, Conradh na Gaeilge, Foróige and Ógras.
Séamus Ó Fátharta of Camara said the hub would provide and incredible opportunity for “training schemes for youth workers, teachers and young people in Galway city centre”.
“We will be focusing on a range of activities that will engage young people and that we already know young people will be interested in”.
So far €419,000 in funding has been approved for the Techspace programme by the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht with hubs in Connact, Munster, and Ulster.
Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha of Conradh na Gaeilge said, “Research from the Gaeltacht language planning process shows that a language hub is essential for young people if we wish to boost the usage of Irish within this age group.”
“The research also shows the attraction of Galway city to this age group, from every area of Connemara’s Gaeltacht, and that it is necessary to take this into account in the provision of such a space.”
“It is clear to us the need to provide a hub and supports that are attractive to young people, and that we can do this through the development of a TechSpace Hub in Áras na nGael.”
