Bean an Ti shortage putting Gaeltacht courses at risk

Organisers of Gaeltacht summer courses in Rathcairn says the annual tradition could be at risk due to a shortage of 'Bean an Tis' coming forward to facilitate students.

The Gaeltacht season will see hundreds of students flood the county’s Gaeltacht areas however there are fears there may not be enough beds for all those who wish to come to these rural areas to brush up on their Gaeilge.

Accommodation for teenagers visiting the Irish speaking area has halved in recent years according to Bríd Óg Ní Chonaire, manager of Comharchumann Ráth Cairn, a cooperative that runs courses in the area. Bríd Óg is pleading for people in the area to consider taking in students to give them “an authentic” Gaeltacht experience.

"We used to have up to 100 beds throughout the year but now we only have 53," says Bríd Óg. "Teachers are contacting us wanting to bring their classes to Rathcairn to allow them to get the feel of the Gaeltacht area but we cannot host them because we do not have enough beds," she added.

A recent report revealed the number of Bean an Tís has dropped by almost a third nationwide in the past five years. Department of the Gaeltacht figures show 495 host families provided places for students to stay last year. That's a 32 per cent drop from 655 families in 2017.

Earlier this year a financial boost was announced for Gaeltacht summer college host families, with approval given for an increase in the number of students who can be accepted per house from 12 to 16.

This will result in an additional income of €3,168 per year for host families. The measure, approved by Junior Gaeltacht Minister Patrick O’Donovan, is in addition to a range of other supports such as an increase from €2,000 to €6,000 to the once-off start-up grant for new host families. However there hasn't been an increase in the take up.

"We used to have nine bean on tis in our local area, some that took students throughout the year and others who took them only during the summer months I can't remember the last time a new bean an ti came on board," said Bríd Óg.

"I think a lot of it is a knock on affect from Covid where people became more apprehensive about letting people into their homes which is understandable and then just pulled out of it altogether.

"Our host families are wonderful and provide such an invaluable experience for students and mná an tí and their families also benefit from hosting, we'd really encourage people in the area to consider becoming involved."

Bríd Óg says we should be "proud" that Meath has not only one but two Gaeltacht areas, a fact that is a surprise to many as she explains:

"Some people don't realise there's one Gaeltacht here in Co, Meath never mind two with Baile Ghib as well. Teenagers especially I think associate the Gaeltacht as being beside the sea. People don't realise there is a gaeltacht in a small area like Rathcairn and when they do come they are amazed.

"During the course students participate in dance and music workshops and lots of different activities through Irish. In the evenings they have a ceili and a table quiz. They also take a trip to Causey Farm and go out on the bog and make brown bread."

Young people getting the opportunity to immerse themselves in a Gaeltacht is an “invaluable experience” according to Róisín Ní Dhúshláine, principal at Coláiste Pobail, Ráth Cairn. She added:

"It's an opportunity to see the language as a living language as opposed to a language they are just learning in the classroom. They can see it in the community, in the shops, in the local area. To live with another family and to see how that family conduct their business all through the medium of Irish is eye opening for young people.

"The craic and the freedom being away from home and learning something different about the culture as well, the music, the singing, that is all a really intricate part of the language. I think it is a brilliant experience."

Róisín who is a former student of Coláiste Pobail, Ráth Cairn says the Irish language is deep rooted in who we are as nation.

"It breaks my heart that people are so out of tune with the language because the language for me is the main way we can connect with our history, with our heritage, connect with the land, to connect with Ireland as an island and as a country," she said.

"When you drive around the country and you see place names bilingual on signs, in many cases the English makes no sense but the Irish gives you an insight into the history or the landscape of that place.

"It opens the door to a deeper understanding of who we are a people. I think it's time we stopped looking at languages in terms of economics, we know that English is a global language but we are forgetting that it means so much more than just allow us to travel or trade with other countries, it is also gives us an understanding of who we are. "