My daughter displays a profound interest in Irish, it indeed is one of her favourite subjects at school. While I have my concerns about its future prospects, particularly if she plans to live overseas, I wonder if there are professional avenues open which would enable her to continue indulging this passion without compromising her prospective career growth.
Teaching at any academic stage presents a viable and rewarding career pathway for pupils – many of these career paths are indeed global. A comprehensive understanding of Irish is a prerequisite for teachers in most primary schools in our region, and numerous positions are available for preschool staff in naíonraí countrywide. In addition, there is a vast demand for Irish language teachers and those teaching different subjects in Irish at secondary level, and open positions at tertiary level. Similarly, there are countless opportunities for teaching Irish within European educational institutions as well as universities in America and Canada.
In the cinematic world and spheres such as societal, digital, print, and broadcast media, career opportunities abound. Raidió na Gaeltachta marked its semicentennial last year. Celebrated films like An Cailín Ciúin and Kneecap, the exceptional standards of TG4 programming, and the introduction of an exclusive Irish language TV channel for children, Cúla 4, can’t be ignored.
CAO 2024: Uptick in applications for high-points courses—the likes of veterinary science, dentistry, and pharmacy.
Newly implemented legislative procedures have enforced several State entities to increase their advertising in Irish. This development has amplified the opportunities for proficient individuals to craft creative content, act, and construct influential advertisements in Irish targeted primarily at social and mainstream media.
[ ‘Irish is dynamic and full of personality, and carries a touch of mischief in it’ ]
These alterations have reinforced the Irish language’s significance in national and European management structures. Nowadays, numerous State corporations must offer superior public services in Irish and are hiring accordingly. By 2030, the Government aspires that 20 per cent of all new public sector hires would be proficient in Irish. This recruitment initiative applies to a broad spectrum of roles across various sectors and departments, including inspectors, vets, engineers, planners, economists, and administrators.
Irish has been established as an official language within the European Union, resulting in all EU documents now being accessible in the Irish language. The EU translation services in Brussels and Luxembourg have enlisted the assistance of over 220 personnel fluent in Irish. There is also a growing demand for translators in the Irish Houses of Parliament, with half of their current job opportunities still open and needing to be filled. Additionally, the requirement for strong Irish language skills has led to recruitment drives by both social media firms and private translation services, both within Ireland and internationally.
In the Gaeltacht, nearly 8,000 people have secured full-time employment within the organisations affiliated with Údarás na Gaeltachta. These organisations are making a considerable impact economically, spanning industry sectors such as high-tech, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and wind power generation. Last year alone saw the creation of almost 1,000 new jobs at various levels. Irish-speaking job seekers in the Gaeltacht also have numerous opportunities within the health service, tourism, and technology hospitality sectors. For further information, refer to the website Saoloibre.ie.
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