Ireland’s Cork County Council has announced the launch of its fourth annual Irish Language Events and Initiatives Grant Scheme for 2026. The grant scheme was initially launched in 2023.
Cork County Council invites applications from organizations who are planning an initiative or event which is substantially or entirely in Irish. This can include bilingual events aimed at introducing the public to the Irish language in a comfortable way.
Events can be recurring or once off occurrences. The aim of the scheme is to provide financial aid for Irish language events, projects, or initiatives within the functional area of the County of Cork, which benefit the community and promote the language. Previous successful projects include Film Festivals, Community and family fun days and Festivals, Concerts, Dramas, Cultural nights, Irish Classes, Poetry events, singing events, historical talks, research projects, walking tours etc. The possibilities are endless. Permanent features such as signage or interpretive boards can also be considered.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley welcomed the return of the scheme, saying, “It is great to see the return of this scheme. Cork County Council supports events through Irish in any way we can, whether it be through events we organize ourselves such as those organized for the annual Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration, or through supporting community led projects, any event which can successfully increase the use and visibility of Irish as a community language is something we can all be proud of supporting.”
“I encourage organizations throughout the county, who may be in the process of organizing events through Irish, to apply for this grant and to avail what supports are made available. Whether your organization is based within the Gaeltacht, or whether it is in another area of the county, or in a school, or anywhere that Irish is being spoken and used as an integral part of your event, it would certainly be worthwhile considering this grant.”
The maximum amount granted for any event is €1,500 under this scheme. Organizations may apply for more than one event within the application period, and these will be considered subject to availability of funding and the initiative meeting the grant criteria.
The scheme is open to applications until close of business on Friday, 26th June. Please apply through the Irish Language Office section of our website. For further information, or if you have any questions, please email gaeilge@corkcoco.ie.
