There are numerous career opportunities in this sector spanning galleries, community arts, government, local authorities, education, event management and multimedia, as well as self-employment.

Translation and Interpretating

Download 'Translation and Interpretating' [pdf file]

A career in the Gaeltacht Sector

Download 'A career in the Gaeltacht Sector' [pdf file]

ARTS 

There is a vibrant arts community in Ireland, including visual and performing arts, supported by Ealaín na Gaeltachta. Opportunities with Irish can be found within local authorities, community arts projects, event management, multimedia, and galleries.

LANGUAGE

Foras na Gaeilge, Ealaín na Gaeltachta and the Arts Councils in northern and southern Ireland support Irish language arts organisations through project funding, as well as bursaries and residencies for individual artists.

See also Irish Voices: EU Careers here

Language promotion and development

Language promotion officers are employed at the local and national level. This role can be found in many public and not-for-profit organisations.

  • Irish language development/promotion officers are employed by local authorities to collaborate with local arts and language organisations in the community.
  • Irish language youth organisations (i.e. Feachtas, Ógras and Cumann na bhFiann), run youth clubs around the country.
  • Irish Language Development/Promotion Officer role is available in third level colleges, Institutes of Technology, Student unions; Government departments; County councils; Garda Síochána; Political parties and the HSE among others.
Courses and Summer Schools

Irish Language Courses and Summer Schools in Gaeltacht areas attract a wide range of people - from Irish language teachers and other professionals, required to engage in Continuous Professional Development (CPD), to school, college and university students from Ireland and abroad, seeking to improve their oral Irish language skills, to tourists who simply want a cultural holiday.

[Under Rule 58 of the Rules for National Schools, teachers are entitled to Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) on foot of attending approved summer courses].

There are many associated job roles from the Bean an Tí who is host, surrogate mother, cook, cleaner, housekeeper, counsellor and carer throughout the students' stay, to the directors and teachers who plan, organise, and deliver courses and programmes and the youth leaders and student teachers who coordinate activities and entertainment.

Community groups and co-operatives throughout the Gaeltacht areas of Ireland are particularly involved in Irish language promotion and development.

  • Gael Linn and Conradh na Gaeilge provide a wide variety of educational and cultural services.
  • Glór na nGael supports local committees who promote the Irish language.
  • Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is an umbrella group representing many Irish language not-for-profit organisations.
  • Foras na Gaeilge is the national, cross-border funding body for Irish language promotion and development. It funds the employment of Irish language officers in local communities.

The remit of language promotion organisations is very broad. They employ people from a wide range of disciplines including marketing, education, finance, event management, publishing and public relations.

Opportunities include translating, proofreading, software localisation, subtitling, project management, language coordination and quality management.

Employment opportunities for translators can be found across public organisations, government bodies, the European institutions and in private organisations.

  • The Houses of the Oireachtas have their own translation (and interpreting) service – Rannóg an Aistriúcháin.
  • Translation services are required for websites, technical, legal, engineering and the life sciences sectors for documents, manuals and other information materials and resources
  • For those seeking to pursue a career in translating legal documents, Europus and King’s Inns offer courses and training which are often subsidised by Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht.


CULTURE & HERITAGE

Cultural centres are thriving both south and north of Ireland and numerous Festivals and Fleadhs take place annually to promote Irish Language and Culture.

Oireachtas na Gaeilge promotes traditional Irish arts and holds an annual festival every year to recognise singers, dancers, and performers in traditional arts. The organisation also organises awards and competitions for writers and media professionals.

Other annual festivals include the Pan Celtic Festival, Sean-Nós Cois Life, Merriman Summer and Winter Schools, Turas na bhFilí and Strokestown International Poetry Festival.

Pléaráca supports the development of traditional arts in the Connemara Gaeltacht.

Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann supports the Irish language, holding Irish language events as part of fleadhs and throughout the year and offering support for Irish language traditional music events and training.

Irish Drama 

Irish language drama is constantly evolving and developing. Groups such as Fíbín, Aisling Ghéar and Aisteoirí Bulfin are producing great Irish language plays.

  • Galway-based national Irish language theatre, An Taibhdhearc, reopened its doors in 2012. Many Irish language actors performed here. It gives playwrights an opportunity to showcase their work and talent to an Irish speaking audience.
  • Radio dramas are broadcast on Raidió na Life, Raidió na Gaeltachta and RTÉ, many of which are supported by Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) scheme, Sound and Vision.
  • Oireachtas na Gaeilge run annual literary competitions for Irish language writers, with a specific section for radio drama scripts.

Heritage

Heritage job opportunities include roles for curators, education staff, tour guides/managers and administrators with Irish language skills for museums and heritage sites around the country.

  • Libraries and archives have a high proportion of Irish language material in their collections, and librarians employed in the public library system must meet an Irish language requirement.
  • Archives exist in a wide range of organisations including media, local authorities, educational organisations and private enterprises.
The area of cultural tourism offers opportunities for Irish speakers, especially in Gaeltacht areas. Local authorities often employ heritage officers.


What are the main occupations where Irish may be used?

Professional interpreters and translators generally develop expertise in a subject area such as business, law or medicine. Subject-specific terminology is integral to expertise. At least 158 translators are working through Irish and licensed by Foras na Gaeilge.

Related occupations include editor, proofreader, lexicographer and terminologist. Technical, educational and administrative staff are also in demand. There are opportunities for Irish speaking actors and writers, for commissioned programmes for television.

What types of courses might help?

Undergraduate Courses:

A primary degree in languages is desirable, though not essential. A postgraduate qualification in translation studies or interpreting the norm for related job roles. Linguistics is also a valuable qualification.

A qualification in an art or design discipline, art history, arts management or performing arts, is an advantage.

Many who work in the heritage sector have a relevant qualification in history, archaeology, library or archive studies, folklore, art history, museum management, education or design.

Where to go for further Information