STIMULATING AND SUPPORTING NEW BUSINESS IN IRELAND

Completion of Cross-Border Irish Language Entrepreneur programme - Fiontraithe le Gaeilge

By Joan Fahey, November 11, 2008

The two-year cross-border entrepreneurship programme, Fiontraithe le Gaeilge, part-financed by the European Union through the Interreg IIIA Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the ICBAN Partnership with matching funds from Údarás na Gaeltachta had its final conference on 21st May 2008 in Óstán na Cúirte in Gaoth Dobhair.

The programme recruited thirty participants from community and private businesses in the Gaeltacht and in the Interreg region and they were involved in a comprehensive advanced study programme over the period. The programme commenced in November 2005 and was officially launched by The Minister for Rural, Community and Gaeltacht affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív Gleann Cholm Cille in the summer of 2006.

The programme’s mission was to ensure that the best support and mentoring was available to the participants. Up skilling opportunities were provided in communications, financial and business planning, management challenges, marketing skills, innovation in technology and management with professional mentoring. Accreditation in the form of the Higher Certificate in Business in Enterprise Development was provided through Líonra by the Letterkenny Institute of Technology.

The participants also spent a period of study at the leading international European School of Entrepreneurship at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland. Four were selected to participate in the advanced pedagogic program hosted by Babson College last February, also in St Gallen.
Entrepreneurship is of particular relevance to the future of the Irish language. The growth in Irish-medium education and the increased investment in the Gaeltacht demand that employment opportunities are available in the Irish language. There are, in recent years, increased opportunities in the Irish language sector, here and at EU level - in media, technology, interpretation & translation, tourism and education.

‘Fiontraithe le Gaeilge’ is managed by Oideas Gael, Gleann Cholm Cille in partnership with Forbairt Feirste, and is co-ordinated by WESTBIC the Business and Innovation Centre for the Border, Midland and Western Region.

Pictured at the Completion of Cross-Border Irish Language Entrepreneur programme ‘Fiontraithe le Gaeilge’ are from left to right: Eunan Cunningham (Regional Manager, WESTBIC), Liam Ó Cuinneagáin (Director, Oideas Gael), Róisín McManus (Communications Officer, ICBAN), Michael Tunney (CEO Donegal County Enterprise Board), Pádraig Ó hAoláin (CEO Údarás na Gaeltachta), Emer Ní Bhrádaigh (Head of Business School, Fiontar DCU), John Andy Bonar (Head of Development, Letterkenny Institute of Technology). The launch coincided with the closing event of the cross border business programme for Irish speaking entrepreneurs, Fiontraithe le Gaeilge promoted by Oideas Gael and Forbairt Feirste and co-ordinated by WESTBIC. The programme was part-financed by the European Union through the Interreg IIIA Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the ICBAN Partnership with matching funds from Údarás na Gaeltachta.