Oideas Gael Initiatives
For almost 40 years, Oideas Gael has sought to pursue development projects in collaboration with various partners and funding bodies at national and European level. These initiatives are designed with the aim of revitalising aspects of our native heritage, creating innovative approaches in Irish language learning, and establishing links with other minority language communities while fostering employment and entrepreneurship in Gaeltacht regions.
HEART: Heritage Arts (2022–2024)
Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage through transformative learning within community-based art, or HEART (Heritage Art) for short, is a European cooperation partnership co-funded by the EU Erasmus+ Programme. Oideas Gael is among five project partners from across Europe who developed and tested a fresh model for teaching Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), with the aim of producing new tools for art educators working with cultural heritage.
TITLE: Training for Inclusion in Territorial Language Education (2021–2023)
This EU Erasmus+ KA2 initiative developed an Open Resource Platform for teaching minority languages as a means of inclusion. The online platform hosts an training programme for teachers as well as exemplar teaching resources. Oideas Gael was among six organisations representing three European territorial languages who helped develop the platform.
Beo.ie (2001–2014)
Beo.ie was an online magazine for Irish speakers in Ireland and worldwide, published by Oideas Gael from 2001-2014 with support from Foras na Gaeilge. As the first such digital publication in Irish, with readers and contributors across the globe, Beo.ie was a pioneering initiative. The full archive of the magazine, 161 editions in total, is still freely available and remains an excellent resource for those who wish to improve their Irish language reading skills.
Fiontraí: Fiontraithe le Gaeilge (2006–2007)
Developed a cross-border advanced training programme for Irish-speaking entrepreneurs, including social entrepreneurs and those working in the private sector. 30 entrepreneurs participated fully in the programme. Oideas Gael managed this initiative with partners Forbairt Feirste and WESTBIC. The initiative was co-funded by the the EU INTERREG IIIA Programme and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Ag Tógáil ár bPobail (1997–1998)
A two-year enterprise development and training programme, supported by Integra and Údarás na Gaeltachta, with a focus on the local crafts of stonework carving and dry stone walling. This project trained local young people with the aim of creating long-term, sustainable employment. The project resulted in a viable enterprise model and graduates of the programme are working in the area of dry stone walling to the present day.
Taipéis Gael (1993–1995)
A two-year programme managed by Oideas Gael, with support from the EU Horizon I fund, in which six young people from southwest Donegal were trained and mentored by traditional weavers and spinners from the locality. 'Weaving our Future from our Past' became an international success story, spawing a successful business and exhibiting around the world, with the American ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy Smith, launching their first Dublin exhibition.