Gaeltacht Service Towns () are areas designated under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, situated in or adjacent to Gaeltacht areas in Ireland, that have a population of over 1,000 people, and which play a significant role in providing public services, recreational and commercial facilities for Gaeltacht residents.
History
In 2016 it was announced that Galway City, Dingle and Letterkenny would be the first designated Gaeltacht Service Towns subject to local networks co-formulating and adopting approved Irish language plans in conjunction with Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Údarás na Gaeltachta fund Gaeltacht Service Towns plans within the Gaeltacht and Foras na Gaeilge fund the plans in the towns outside of the Gaeltacht.
In August 2020 the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht announced that Dingle and Letterkenny have been officially recognised by the department as the first two Gaeltacht Service Towns. Since then Galway City, Dungloe, Tralee, Dungarvan, Castlebar and Cahersiveen have been recognised as Gaeltacht Service Towns.
Cork City, Macroom, Belmullet, Ballinrobe, Clifden, Navan and Athboy have also been mentioned by the Department of the Gaeltacht as possible towns which may become Gaeltacht Service Towns.
See also
Údarás na Gaeltachta The Gaeltacht Authority
Foras na Gaeilge All-island public body established as a cross-border body under the Good Friday Agreement. Líonraí Gaeilge Irish Language Networks outside the Gaeltacht whose development was also legislated for under the Gaeltacht Act 2012. Irish language outside Ireland Scottish Gaelic Gaeilge na hAlban / Gàidhlig.