‘Cruthaigh’ Campaign by Dublin’s Four Local Authorities

What do a queer arts collective in the city centre, a GAA club in Lucan, a yoga school in Portmarnock, and a coffee shop in Tallaght all have in common? They’re all operating ‘as Gaeilge’ and are part of a bold new campaign to inspire Irish speakers to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship across the capital and further afield.

Irish is thriving in communities across the country, with more people finding ways to use the language in their daily lives. To support this momentum, Dublin’s four local councils have joined forces on Gaeilge365, a language innovation programme designed to integrate Irish into everyday activities.

Their latest initiative, ‘Cruthaigh’ (meaning ‘Create’), is a call to action for individuals and communities to launch their own Irish-language projects, whether in business, the arts, or social spaces. Among the pioneers already leading the way are:

• Na Gaeil Óga CLG: An all-Irish GAA club that has grown to over 600 members since its foundation in 2010. With over 40 teams across football, hurling, and camogie, the club provides a welcoming, immersive space where learners and fluent speakers alike can play and socialise through Irish. “A key part of our ethos is making sure Irish speakers feel supported and confident in using the language naturally,” said the club’s founder Ciarán Ó Feinneadha.
• Aon Scéal? Café: A fully Irish-speaking coffee hub run by Dawn Nic Íomhar, offering a welcoming space for both fluent speakers and learners.
• AerachAiteachGaelach (AAG): A queer arts collective founded in 2020 by Ciara Ní É and Eoin McEvoy, AAG provides a space for LGBTQ+ people to connect through the Irish language. The collective has over 110 members, including playwrights, poets, musicians, drag performers, and academics. Last summer, AAG launched Ireland’s first Gaeltacht for LGBTQ+ adults, creating an inclusive space where Irish can be spoken freely. “Irish can be used to discuss any topic, nothing is off the table,” said co-founder Eoin McEvoy.
• Gaelgáirí: An Irish-language comedy collective led by Louisa Ní hEideáin and Aideen McQueen, bringing the language to stand-up and improv performances.
• Óga Yoga: Founded by Ciarán Mac Fhearghusa, this initiative delivers mindfulness and yoga classes to schools through Irish.

Grassroots Creativity and Community

Daithí de Buitléir, Programme Manager with Gaeilge365, highlighted how Cruthaigh is central to the programme’s vision:

“Cruthaigh is a vital strand of Gaeilge365, ensuring that grassroots creativity and community-led initiatives are embedded in our language innovation strategy. By integrating these projects into the wider programme, we are fostering a sustainable, living Irish-language ecosystem across Dublin.”

For more information on Cruthaigh please visit gaeilge365.ie .