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THE Gaeltacht Experience, accessing Irish language Markets and Sustainable Tourism in the Gaeltacht are just some of the discussions that will take place at the Fóram ar Thurasóireacht na Gaolainne this Monday, October 22 in IT Tralee.
This joint initiative by Fóram Gaeilge Chiarraí, Kerry County Council’s Oifig Gaeilge, and the Hotel, Culinary & Tourism section of IT Tralee, brings together that section of the Gaeltacht and Irish Speaking communities across Kerry with a keen interest in growing language based tourism.
“This niche market forms a vibrant part of cultural tourism and is a corner stone of Gaeltacht tourism, with tens of thousands teenagers attending some 50 Irish Language Summer Colleges nationwide every year,” says Matt Mooney, Cathaoirleach of Fóram Gaeilge Chiarraí.
“But Irish Language Tourism is so much more than that, we have training for Mary I students and upskilling for teachers; Saoire Teaghlaigh sa Ghaeltacht; heritage and language adults courses; American College students, not to mention our cultural centres, guide tours and walks and the 15 or more festivals across Kerry that actively celebrate our language and culture,” says the Cathaoirleach.
“This Fóram gives the Gaeltacht & Irish Speaking Communities an opportunity to create a platform to support the marketing of the Gaeltacht, and Gaeilge experience in a way that will help sustain and grow our Gaeltacht communities” says Dr. Muiris Ó Laoire, senior lecturer and researcher at Institute of Technology Tralee.
Dr. Ó Laoire has written extensively on bilingualism and multilingualism and will officially open the Fóram ar Thurasóireacht na Gaolainne at 10am this Monday.
An Taithí Ghaeltachta, teacht ar mhargaí na Gaolainne and Turasóireacht Inmharthana sa Ghaeltacht – níl iontu ach cuid den gcomhrá a bheas ar bun ag an bhFóram ar Thurasóireacht na Gaolainne De Luain seo an 22 Deireadh Fómhair in IT Thrá Lí.
Tugann an comhpháirtíocht seo idir Fóram Gaeilge Chiarraí, Oifig Gaeilge Chomhairle Contae Chiarraí agus an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cócaireachta agus Óstáin in IT Thrá Lí deis do phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaolainne ar fud Chiarraí turasóireacht teanga-bhunaithe a fhorbairt agus a fhás.
Cuid lárnach den turasóireacht cultúrtha é an margadh nideoige seo arna bhfuil turasóireacht na Gaeltachta bunaithe air, agus na mílte déagóirí ag freastal ar suas le 50 Coláiste Samhraidh go náisiúnta gach aon bhliain” arsa Matt Ó Maonaigh, Cathaoirleach Fhóram Gaeilge Chiarraí.
“Ach tá i bhfad níos mó i gceist ná san le Turasóireacht na Gaolainne, tá oiliúint d’ábhar oidí agus breis oiliúint do mhúinteoirí; Saoire Teaghlaigh sa Ghaeltacht; cúrsaí teangan agus oidhreachta do dhaoine fásta; gan trácht ar na h-ionaid chultúrtha, siúlóidí & trusanna treoraithe agus an breis is cúig fhéile déag fud fad Chiarraí a cheiliúradh ár dteanga” arsa Cathaoirleach an Fhóraim.
“Tugann an Fóram seo deis do Phobail na Gaeltachta agus na Gaolainne ardán a thógáil chun margaíocht a dhéanamh ar an dTaithí Gaeltachta, agus Gaolainne i slí a chabhróidh le n-ár bpobal Gaeltachta a chothú agus a fhás” a deir an Dr. Muiris Ó Laoire, léachtóir sinsearach in Institiúid Theicneolaíochta Thrá Lí.
Tá mórán scrite ar an dátheangachas agus an iltheangachas ag an Dr. Ó Laoire agus is é a osclóidh an Fóram ar Thurasóireacht na Gaolainne ag 10.00rn Dé Luain beag seo.
