Wikipedia

Waterford Gaeltacht

The Waterford Gaeltacht (Gaeltacht Phort Láirge), also known as Gaeltacht na nDéise,[a] is a Gaeltacht situated in County Waterford in the south-east of Ireland. It consists of the areas of Ring and Old Parish in the barony of Decies-within-Drum,[6] 10 km from the town of Dungarvan. The area had a population of 2,063 people at the 2022 Census.[7] It encompasses a geographical area of 62 km2, representing 1% of the total Gaeltacht area.

Waterford Gaeltacht
Gaeltacht na nDéise
Gaeltacht district
Waterford Gaeltacht is located in Ireland
Waterford Gaeltacht
Waterford Gaeltacht
Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°03′00″N 7°35′00″W / 52.0500°N 7.5833°W / 52.0500; -7.5833
CountryIreland
ProvinceMunster
CountyWaterford
Area
 • Total
62 km2 (24 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
2,063
 • Density33/km2 (86/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+0 (WET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid ReferenceX259930
Websitedeise.ie

Language status

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Figures for the use of Irish in the Waterford Gaeltacht are as follows:

YearTotal populationDaily Speaker (Total)Daily speaker

(outside education)

 Daily speaker

(only within the education system)

20111,784-438-
20161,816-467-
2022 2,063 850 508 342

The Waterford Gaeltacht saw the largest increase of Irish speakers since 2016 (15% or 187 people).[8]

Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise

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Research into the status of the language in the area is carried out from time to time. The last such survey of the area was carried out in May 2006. Given the small population of the area, a full population survey was carried out. The research was carried out on behalf of the local development company, Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise, by a team from Cork Institute of Technology.[citation needed] Over one quarter (29.7%) of households were found to use Irish as the principal home language, over two thirds (68.6%) were principally English speaking while a small minority (0.5%) another language was the principal language of the home. More than six-sevenths (86.3%) of respondents reported the ability to speak Irish, 13.7% reported that they are unable to speak Irish. Of those who speak Irish, well over three quarters speak Irish at home, with over half (53.5%) speaking Irish at home on a daily basis.[citation needed] Over one third of those claiming the ability to speak Irish reported speaking Irish at work and with friends on a daily basis. When asked if they wished to retain their status as a Gaeltacht area, the residence of Gaeltacht na nDéise gave a nearly unanimous response with 98% in favour.[citation needed]

Language planning

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The Gaeltacht Act 2012 has set out a language planning process that will be undertaken in 26 Language Planning Areas throughout the Gaeltach, as set out by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Gaeltacht na nDéise constitutes a single Language Planning Area under the act. A 'Ceanneagraíocht' or lead-organisation is selected by Údarás na Gaeltachta to develop a language plan aimed at increasing the use of Irish in their community.[9] Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise was selected by Údarás na Gaeltachta as the lead-organisation for Gaeltacht na nDéise. As such, Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise had two years to develop a seven-year language plan for the area.[needs update]

Economy

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Commerce and employment

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Commercial fishing from the local fishing pier or Cé Heilbhic and Agriculture are sources of employment and economic activity in the area,[citation needed] though the importance of both has declined in recent years.[when?] Education is also a source of employment in both publicly and privately funded. Electronic manufacturing and the televisual sector which supplies TG4 and the international market are also contributors to the local economy.[citation needed] In 2011 there were 121 people employed in a full-time capacity in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies in the Waterford Gaeltacht.[10] By 2019, 149 people were employed full time in client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Waterford Gaeltacht.[citation needed] The area is somewhat disadvantaged, with a higher unemployment rate than the national average.[citation needed] There is a disparity between Ring and Old Parish in terms of economic development with Old Parish being at a lower level of economic development.[11][full citation needed]

Tourism sites

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Signage directing people to Reilig an tSléibhe, the famine graveyard in the Waterford Gaeltacht
Statue at Reilig an tSléibhe

Tourism is an important part of the local economy in Gaeltacht na nDéise. Sites in the area include Reilig an tSléibhe, a famine graveyard located in An Seanphobal. Dating from the Great Famine, there are possibly 3 mass graves in the field that were used to cope with the large numbers and as the deaths declined, it is believed single graves were dug. In 1995, for the 150th commemoration of the famine, a memorial was created which was inscribed with part of Máire Ní Dhroma's poem, Na Prátaí Dubha. Also to be seen at the site is a solitary sculpted figure in mourning, at the side of the field. This sculpture was created by Seán Creagh; he died before it was complete and so the fibreglass structure that would have been used to create the mould for the final piece was erected instead. None of the graves at the site are marked in any way. Within the field there is, however, a headstone where G. R. Jacobs from the HMT Bradford is buried. He died at sea in 1916.[12][full citation needed]

Tourism development

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Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise commissioned a report into Cultural Tourism in Gaeltacht na nDéise in 2014. This report was part of a wider tourism development project in the Gaeltacht that was largely funded by Waterford Leader Partnership. The study was undertaken by Dungarvan-based HandsOnEvents. The report found that significant cultural tourism development potential exists in the area due to the natural environment of the area, its cultural richness in terms of language, music and the arts, built heritage combined with the considerable enthusiasm by the local community.[13][full citation needed]

As a result of this, a new tourism development committee, An Coiste Fáilte, which is a sub-committee of Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise has recently been established in the area. The purpose of An Coiste Fáilte is to develop and enhance the area for both locals and tourists alike, and to focus primarily on the Irish Language, Culture and History of the area. This will ensure the sustainability of the area and preserve the history and traditions for future generations to come. Projects undertaken by this group include the development of Reilig an tSléibhe, the local Famine Graveyard, Aonach an Phátrúin, a Christmas Market organised on the Patron Saint's day in the area and the development of the areas presence as part of the new Ireland's Ancient East initiative.

Notes

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  1. ↑ "Déise Gaeltacht", from the historical territory of Déise (anglicised as Decies),[1] which covered present-day County Waterford and parts of South Tipperary;[2][3][4] its name also survives today in the baronies of Decies-within-Drum and Decies-without-Drum.[5]

References

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  1. ↑ Living Heritage. 8 (1). An Taisce: 11. 1991. "The earliest name for this area was na Déise, anglicised Decies, which means apparently vassal people."
  2. ↑ Walsh, John (2010). Contests and Contexts: The Irish Language and Ireland's Socio-economic Development. Peter Lang. p. 205. ISBN 978-3-03911-914-1. Na Déise refers to a historic barony in east Munster in an area covering much of present day County Waterford and part of South Tipperary [...] Gaeltacht na nDéise is used to describe the remaining parts of this once extensive Gaeltacht.
  3. ↑ MacLean, Alison (29 July 2024). Nioclás Tóibín: Déise Song Keeper (PDF) (Masters thesis). Concordia University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026. The name Déise refers to a much larger ancient territory, belonging to the Déisí, a vassal people of the Eoghanacht dynasty of Mumhan (Munster) whose history dates to the late medieval period.
  4. ↑ Ó Gealbháin, Ciarán (2015). "Raiftearaí's 'Máire Ní Eidhin' in the Waterford Song Tradition". Béaloideas. 83: 1–15. ISSN 0332-270X. The term 'Déise' here refers to the county of Waterford and parts of south Tipperary, roughly coterminous with the present-day Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore.
  5. ↑ Smyth, Daragh (July 1998). A Guide to Irish Mythology. Irish Academic Press. p. 182. ISBN 9780716526124. The name Déise is represented in the modern baronies of Decies within Drum and Decies without Drum, Co. Waterford.
  6. ↑ "An Ghaeltacht". Waterford County Local Authorities. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Press Statement Census 2022 Results Profile 8 - The Irish Language and Education Waterford". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Census of Population 2022 Profile 8 - The Irish Language and Education". Central Statistics Office (Ireland). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Language Planning Process in the Gaeltacht". Údarás na Gaeltachta. 20 June 2014.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ "Waterford". Údarás na Gaeltachta. 20 June 2014.
  11. ↑ Gaeltacht na nDéise - A Socio-economic and Cultural needs analysis.
  12. ↑ Dungarvan Observer - 09-10-2015
  13. ↑ Gaeltacht na nDéise - Cultural Tourism Report 2014
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