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Irish Language Office

Details of our efforts and commitments to supporting the Irish language.

Irish Language Services

The County of Galway takes great pride in its Gaeltacht status, boasting a lively Irish-speaking community and holding the distinction of being the largest Gaeltacht in Ireland.

Galway County Council recognises the public's right to conduct their business in their preferred language and ensures facilitation in both English and Irish.

Galway County Council has a legislative obligation, under the Official Languages Acts 2003 & 2021 (Amendment), to provide services in the Irish language to the public of equal standard to those offered through English.

Our Customer Charter commits to “providing an efficient and courteous customer service” and it also states that “customers wishing to conduct their business through Irish will be welcomed.”

This section of the website highlights the various initiatives undertaken by the Irish Office of Galway County Council to support and promote the Irish language.

The Council’s Irish Office is dedicated to advancing the use and development of Irish, both through Council services and within the wider community.

📧 For any inquiries regarding the Council’s Irish language services, or if you wish to conduct your business in Irish, please contact:
gaeilge@cocogaillimh.ie

Galway County Council Language Scheme

Irish Language Schemes are being replaced by Language Standards, following an amendment to the Official Languages Act 2003. These new standards will guide how public bodies use Irish in areas like:

  • Social media
  • Official names
  • Forms
  • Logos

Public bodies must follow these rules, and the Government plans to provide full guidelines in the near future.

Galway County Council introduced its Language Scheme in 2019 under Section 15 of the Official Languages Act 2003. This language scheme outlined which services would be available:

  • In Irish
  • In English
  • In both languages

Our Language Scheme 2019–2022 also sets out a plan for expanding Irish-language services over time.

Collage of images representing county Galway

Details of language scholarships, community support schemes, awards, and other projects that support the Irish language

Irish language supports

Official Languages Act

The Official Languages Acts are laws designed to promote and protect the use of the Irish language in official capacities.

Official Languages Act 2003

The Official Languages Act 2003 was the first major legislation aimed at ensuring that public services are available in Irish, alongside English. It requires public bodies to provide certain documents and services in both official languages and established An Coimisinéir Teanga, an independent office that oversees compliance with this legislation.

Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021

The 2021 amendment strengthens the original Act by expanding language requirements for public bodies and improving the quality of Irish-language services. It aims to increase the number of Irish-speaking public servants and enhance the visibility of Irish in official communications.

Placenames

Placenames legislation in Ireland is primarily governed by the Official Languages Act 2003, which ensures the recognition and use of Irish-language versions of placenames.

  • The Placenames Branch conducts research to determine authoritative Irish-language versions of placenames for official and public use.
  • These names gain legal status through Placenames Orders, issued by the Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs following public consultation.

Related Orders

Gaeltacht Service Towns

A Gaeltacht Service Town is a town with at least 1,000 people, located in or near a Gaeltacht area, that plays an important role in providing services like jobs, leisure, and social support.

There are sixteen such towns in Ireland — three within the Gaeltacht and thirteen outside it. Údarás na Gaeltachta or Foras na Gaeilge help local organisations create and implement language plans for these areas.

List of Gaeltacht Service Towns

County Town(s)
Donegal Letterkenny, An Clochán Liath, Donegal Town
Mayo Béal an Mhuirthead, Castlebar, Ballinrobe
Galway Galway City, Clifden
Kerry Daingean Uí Chúis, Tralee, Cahersiveen
Cork Cork City, Macroom
Waterford Dungarvan
Meath Athboy, Navan

🔗 For more information, see the Gov.ie page on Gaeltacht Service Towns

Irish Language Networks

An Irish Language Network is a community with strong support for the Irish language from both locals and the state. These areas create language plans based on research to promote Irish usage.

Loughrea, in County Galway, has been officially recognised as an Irish Language Network and receives funding from Foras na Gaeilge.

🔗 For more information, see the Gov.ie page on Irish Language Networks

Contact the Irish Language Office

Address

Áras an Chontae
Cnoc na Radharc
Gaillimh
H91 H6KX

Phone numbers

Phone
091 509000

Office hours

Sunday Closed
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday Closed