Speaking Irish at Home, Scheme for School Communities
Glór na nGael is working to develop networks of Irish speaking families in school
communities throughout Ireland. Teanga Tí is a support scheme to encourage and support
families to speak Irish more often at home. The scheme caters for families with different
levels of Irish language competencies. Some families might have a lesser command of the
language and wish to improve this, others may have little Irish and wish to raise their Irish to
a higher level.
There scheme provides a support fund. Participating schools are awarded €600 on the basis
that the school itself invests €300 in the programme. This money is used to fund events
organised by the families.
What is the aim of Teanga Tí?
The aim of Teanga Tí is to encourage and support families with children in Gaelscoileanna
agus scoileanna Gaeltachta, to speak more Irish as a normal language in the home.
Who can take part in the scheme?
It is anticipated that there will be a maximum of nine and a minimum of five families in each
participating group. The scheme is limited to families who have children attending
Gaelscoileanna or scoileanna Gaeltachta. The school must make the application to participate
on behalf of the families.
How will Teanga Tí be funded?
The scheme awards each participating school €600 on the basis that the school itself will
invest €300 in the scheme. This money should be held in care by the school and used to fund
a minimum of four events organised by the families. The parents must agree a reporting
mechanism with Glór na nGael to record the use of this funding.
What happens when a application to participate is received?
In order to apply to participate in teh scheme, the school principal should forward an
expression of interest to Marcas Mac Ruairí at marcas@glornangael.ie .
Should the application to participate in the scheme succeed, Glór na nGael will meet with the
group of families to explain the scheme and to agree goals. A committee of parents will be
put together and agreed to organise a minimum of four family events during the year as part
of the scheme. Feedback will be required by Glór na nGael after each event in regard to the
type of event organised, numbers in attendance, date organised and impact of the event on
language development among the participants.
Each family will be asked:
1. To attend a meeting with the other interested families and a representative of Glór na
nGael
2. To complete a short language survey in regard to the use of Irish in the home
3. To agree a plan to use more Irish in the home
4. Each family will asked to give a commitment to attend a minimum four events
through Irish with the other participating families during the course of the year
5. Agree a time table for these events at the start of the scheme
6. Agree to follow the Rules and Regulations as laid out in Appendix 1
7. Provide a report to Glór na nGael after each event.
A development officer from Glór na nGael will be available to provide advice and support.
Appendix 1 Rules and Regulations of Teanga Tí
It is the intention of the Teanga Tí scheme to hold safe Irish language based events for
families and to develop family networks.
It is the duty of participating parents to ensure that they understand that they and their
children keep to the following rules and code of practice:
1. An Ghaeilge
• Those attending the events are asked to use whatever Irish they have.
• There should be at least one parent with good Irish in each group.
2. Parents
• Parents are asked to ensure that they are in charge of their own children and to
know at all times where their children are.
• A parent or guardian of each child should be present at the events.
3. Children
• All children should be respectful and well behaved.
4. Environment
• Regardless of where any event is held, the premises/area should be kept clean and
respect shown to resources and the environment
• Should any equipment or toys be broken, the parent of the child responsible is to
pay for its replacement.
Parents and children should understand that these rules are there to ensure that all events are
enjoyable and worthwhile for everybody and to ensure that an encouraging environment is
created for the Irish language
For further information: marcas@glornangael.ie