Media
Home » About Údarás » Media » Fast facts
Fast facts
Here you will find some fast facts relating to Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Ireland’s Gaeltacht areas
The Gaeltacht covers extensive parts of counties Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry – all along the western seaboard – and also parts of counties Cork, Meath and Waterford.

What is meant by Gaeltacht?
The term ‘Gaeltacht’ is used to denote those areas in Ireland where the Irish language is the communal language of the local population.

Gaeltacht population
The total population of the Gaeltacht is 95,503 (Census 2006).  About 14,304 of this population reside within the expanding suburbs of Galway City. The following is a breakdown of the Gaeltacht population by area (Census 2006)
 
Donegal
23,783
Mayo
10,868
Galway
                      45,052
Kerry
8,695
Cork
3,803
Waterford
1,632
Meath
1,670
Total
95,503
 
 
 Source: Central Statistic Office 2006
 


Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional development authority funded by the Government to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht with the overall objective of maintaining Irish as the main communal language of the region. Údarás was established in 1980 under the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979, and builds on the work of its predecessor Gaeltarra Éireann (1957-1979)

The board of Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta has a 20 member board, 17 of whom are democratically elected by the Gaeltacht electorate at elections held every five years. The other three members of the board, including the chairperson, is appointed by the Government on the recommendation of the Minister for the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. View the current board of an tÚdarás here.

Chief Executive
Mr Seán Ó Labhraí is the current Acting CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Numbers employed in Údarás-assisted companies (2011 year end)
By year end 2011 there were 6,970 people employed on a full-time basis.
 
Breakdown of full-time employment by Gaeltacht area (year end 2011)
 
Donegal
1,876
Mayo
675
Galway
2,745
Kerry
730
Cork
633
Waterford
121
Meath
190
Total
6,970
 
 
Employment by sector (year end 2011)
 
Natural Resources
433
Food
1,008
Other Production
1,512
Textiles
273
Engineering
739
Services
3,005
Total
6,970
 
 
E-mail sign up
Stay in touch with the latest news from Údarás na Gaeltachta, register for our free e-newsletter.
Make an enquiry
If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our website, please don’t hesitate to email your enquiry.
Newsfeed