Gaeltacht gateway out of boundary ‘con job’

I HAVE some sympathy for the predicament of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuív in relation to redrawing Gaeltacht boundaries.

Due to their alleged levels of daily use of Irish, it is expected that Dingle, Spiddal, Falcarragh and Dungloe will stay within the official Gaeltacht. These places are mostly English-speaking and should not be in that category.

However, as the latest census says that a large number of people in these centres speak Irish every day, they will have to stay in the Gaeltacht — even if many think the whole situation is a con job. I don’t know enough about Dungloe, but I suggest that the status of Gaeltacht ‘gateways’ be given to the three others.