Abstract:

Since September 2006 UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Folklore and Linguistics has developed new postgraduate courses alongside new pathways for entrance to these courses. With the increasing use of the Irish language in an urban environment alongside the traditional Gaeltacht environment, where, as a result of media influence and employment provision, it is viewed as a living, progressive language, the need to develop courses which would ascertain that standards are maintained in the public domain is paramount. The starting point for this in UCD was the establishment of a new master's programme which deals with the needs of the language in a contemporary context. The main elements of the pilot course were journalism, translation, writing skills (creative and administrative) and skills in technology. Following a call for proposals from the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Folklore and Linguistics submitted a proposal for funding for the introduction of specific graduate programmes in Irish language skills. As a result of the funding received a suite of Irish language graduate diploma and masters degrees will begin in September 2009. These will build on the original MA in Writing and Communication with a focus on journalism with new areas translation and editing being introduced this autumn, extending to administration, interpreting and law next year. These courses will serve the needs of both the public and private sectors in fostering the Irish language as a competent working language.

At the centre of the most recent development in this project is the granting of the new status of Irish as the 23rd official language of the EU in January 2007. All key EU legislation is translated into Irish and Irish is now interpreted at ministerial council meetings and European Parliament plenary sessions and on a practical level. As a result of this applicants for jobs with EU institutions can list Irish as one of the two official EU languages required.

The paper will trace the project from its inception in 2005 to its coming of age outlining the successes and pitfalls along the way. It will explore the background to these educational developments in light of contemporary language planning on a European platform and it will review historical educational trends in the context of language planning in a minority language context. The paper will conclude with an assessment and evaluation of the project to date with an overview of future projections.