Language, Culture, and Art: Engaging Irish Language is a cultural initiative designed to enrich primary, post primary and adult students’ experiences with the Irish language through contemporary art. This project offers a distinctive opportunity for students from Irish language schools in County Galway to engage directly with the TULCA Festival programme, using contemporary cultural practices and art as a means to strengthen their connection to the Irish language, culture, and community.

The project will be led by an Irish Language Education Officer, who will work closely with the TULCA Festival team to bring this initiative to life. The Education Officer will collaborate with Irish language schools and colleges to coordinate the participation of students in the festival. The project will culminate in a series of field trips, where students will be transported to the festival’s exhibitions, providing them with an immersive experience to explore art in a culturally and linguistically meaningful context.

In addition to these visits, the Education Officer will conduct preparatory sessions in schools before the festival. These sessions will introduce students to the artists and themes featured in the exhibitions, as well as encourage them to explore the artworks in Irish. By guiding students through the process of interpreting art through their native language, the project will help develop their vocabulary and communication skills in Irish while fostering a deeper appreciation for contemporary art.

This project aims to create a lasting impact on students by providing them with an engaging, hands-on approach to both the Irish language and art, fostering creativity, cultural pride, and linguistic fluency. It will also strengthen the relationship between the Irish language schools and the broader Galway cultural community, enriching the cultural landscape for young and old learners in the region.

Updates will appear here as the programme develops.

Supported by the Galway County Council.