Picture: Don MacMonagle
KILLARNEY students hoping to improve their command of the Irish language will benefit from a new €3.5 million language and enterprise development centre in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh.
2,500 students will attend courses worth €7 million to the local economy in west Kerry, Minister of State for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan, was told when he performed the official opening.
The new centre will provide a range of Irish language based activities and courses as well as a number of enterprise units for use by the local community.
The development also includes an Irish language family support centre, preschool services and a public playground as well as enterprise units owned by Údarás na Gaeltachta which are available for lease to new businesses.
The development cost of €3.5 million was co-funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht and Comharchumann Forbartha Chorca Dhuibhne.
Údarás na Gaeltachta chief, Steve Ó Cúlain, said the facility will act as the supportive backbone to reinforce Irish as a community language in the area and offer a language haven for native speakers and learners for years to come.
