Todhchaí: Tionscnamh nua ag cur na Gaeilge i gcroílár gheilleagar na hÉireann
Seolann an tAire Calleary Todhchaí, ag tacú le 15 ghnólacht nuathionscanta gach bliain agus ag leathnú gheilleagar na Gaeilge ar fud na tíre.
Inniu (Dé Máirt 12 Bealtaine), sheol an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, an tionscnamh Todhchaí go hoifigiúil ag an Mol Digiteach, Baile Átha Cliath 8. Ag feidhmiú ar fud na tíre, cinntíonn Todhchaí gur féidir le bunaitheoir gnó a thosú agus a scálú trí Ghaeilge, cibé an bhfuil siad lonnaithe in Inse Chór nó ar Inis Meáin, i mBaile Sceilg nó i mBaile Breac, i nGaoth Dobhair nó i mBaile Gháire.
Is comhpháirtíocht í Todhchaí idir Údarás na Gaeltachta, an Mol Digiteach agus Gaeilge365 – tionscnamh de chuid ceithre údarás áitiúil Bhaile Átha Cliath. Tacaíonn an clár le cainteoirí Gaeilge na scileanna, an mhuinín agus na naisc a fhorbairt atá riachtanach chun gnólachtaí inmharthana a thógáil agus cur go díreach le todhchaí dhátheangach na hÉireann. Tá sé mar aidhm aige freisin tacú le cruthú ar a laghad 15 ghnólacht Gaeilge beo gach bliain.
Tá an móiminteam atá taobh thiar d’fhiontraíocht na Gaeilge le feiceáil ar an talamh cheana féin – tá an-deis anois ann cultúr gnólachtaí nuathionscanta a fhorbairt ina mbeidh bunaitheoirí ag tógáil gnólachtaí a fheidhmíonn trí Ghaeilge, agus na gnólachtaí sin in ann freastal ar chomhlachtaí poiblí, pobail agus margaí sa bhaile agus thar lear.
San áireamh sna ríomhthacaíochtaí beidh:
Cúrsaí ar líne, haiceatóin agus grodchúrsaí gnólachtaí nuathionscanta atá deartha chun cabhrú le daoine gnólachtaí a thógáil trí mheán na Gaeilge
Naisc dhíreacha idir fiontraithe Gaeilge agus comhpháirtithe san earnáil phoiblí agus san earnáil phríobháideach a bhfuil fíoréileamh margaidh acu
Dúirt an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus na Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, ag an seoladh:
“Is clár uaillmhianach é Todhchaí, atá ailínithe leis an bPlean Náisiúnta do Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge 2024-2030, agus léiríonn sé tiomantas seirbhís phoiblí dhátheangach a sholáthar agus tacú le gluaiseacht níos leithne i dtreo sochaí dhátheangach. Tá an fhiontraíocht i gcroílár an tionscnaimh, ag tiontú scileanna teanga na Gaeilge ina bhfiontair rathúla a neartaíonn geilleagar na hÉireann agus ag an am céanna ag tacú le seachadadh seirbhísí poiblí trí Ghaeilge.”
Dúirt an Comhairleoir Deirdre Heney, ag labhairt thar ceann Ardmhéara Bhaile Átha Cliath agus na gceithre údarás áitiúil i mBaile Átha Cliath:
“Inniu, tá deiseanna againn nárbh fhéidir a shamhlú fiú deich mbliana ó shin. Tá an Ghaeilge ag tiontú níos mó agus níos mó ina thiománaí d’fhás eacnamaíoch inár gcathair agus táim ag súil le Todhchaí ag tacú le níos mó agus níos mó fiontraithe chun luas a chur lenár dturas i dtreo príomhchathair dhátheangach.”
Dúirt Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta:
“Is é Údarás na Gaeltachta inneall na forbartha eacnamaíche agus sóisialta, ag tacú le beagán faoi bhun deich míle post i gcomhlachtaí cliant ar fud phobail Ghaeltachta ó Dhún na nGall go Ciarraí chun marthanacht na Gaeilge a chinntiú. Is é Todhchaí an chéad chéim eile sa mhisean sin. Is é an t-ardán chun soláthraithe seirbhísí Gaeilge a thabhairt le chéile agus an t-éileamh méadaitheach atá ar sholáthraithe seirbhísí Gaeilge a fheabhsú. Agus é sin á dhéanamh, úsáidfear líonra náisiúnta gteic de níos mó ná 30 mol digiteach chun glúin nua fiontraithe a chruthú a fheiceann an Ghaeltacht, ní hamháin mar áit chultúir ach mar áit deise, áit ar féidir leo gnó a thógáil, teaghlach a thógáil agus a saol a chaitheamh trí mheán na Gaeilge.”
Dúirt Richard Shakespeare, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, ag labhairt thar ceann ceithre údarás áitiúla Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Ghaeilge365:
“Tá fonn mór feicthe againn chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i mBaile Átha Cliath. Tugann Todhchaí struchtúr dúinn chun ár n-uaillmhian a chur i ngníomh ionas go neartófar ár ngeilleagair áitiúla. Tacóidh sé freisin leis an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo, oibre ar fud ár gcathrach agus na seirbhísí poiblí, a úsáidtear gach lá i ngnó, i bhfostaíocht agus i saol an phobail.”
Dúirt Fiach Mac Conghail, Príomhfheidhmeannach an Mhoil Dhigitigh:
“Is smaoineamh é seo a tháinig in am. Bhí deis agam leanúint ar aghaidh ag úsáid mo chuid Gaeilge i dtimpeallacht ghairmiúil agus mé ag tosú amach i mo shlí bheatha. Tá sé difriúil anois. Is gnáth-theanga oibre í an Ghaeilge do go leor daoine. Tá an struchtúr chun tacú leis na fiontraithe in easnamh orainn. Líonann Todhchaí an bhearna sin – baineann sé le cultúr fiontraíochta nua-aimseartha, sofaisticiúil a thógáil a oibríonn trí mheán na Gaeilge, mar a tharlaíonn sé.”
Bunaitheoirí ag baint úsáide as an nGaeilge chun gnó nua-aimseartha a thógáil
Lonnaithe i nDún Laoghaire, is cuideachta eachtraíochta í Moontour, a chuireann spóirt uisce, turais lasmuigh agus campaí samhraidh ar fáil a thógann muinín agus líofacht trí ghníomhaíochtaí spraíúla. Chaith an bunaitheoir Seán Greif 12 bliana ag forbairt an ghnó, ag tarraingt ar chur chuige a mhúnlaigh a chuid ama san Amazon agus sa Phatagóin, áit ar éirigh leis Portaingéilis agus Spáinnis a líofacht trí iad a úsáid gach lá. Tá an tsamhail tumoideachais chéanna sin anois mar bhonn le cúrsaí Moontour.
Creideann Seán nach mbeadh an gnó ann gan an Ghaeilge, agus níor mhothaigh sé riamh an gá chun seirbhísí a thairiscint i mBéarla. Dar leis, clúdaíonn daoine eile an spás sin cheana féin agus tá na fíordeiseanna sa Ghaeilge. Is deis í seo a thacaíonn Comhairle Contae Dhún Laoghaire-Ráth an Dúin léi go gníomhach. “Ba chabhair mhór iad ón tús agus thug siad misneach dúinn leanúint ar aghaidh le go n-éireoidh linn,” a deir sé. Ag feidhmiú ó charrchlós Chuan an Ghuail agus ag baint úsáide as slipeanna in aice láimhe le haghaidh cadhcáil agus clárchéaslóireacht, is rogha nádúrtha é Moontour do chomhairle atá tiomanta don teanga a chur chun cinn. Tá an chomhpháirtíocht ní hamháin praiticiúil ach cultúrtha, agus is sampla soiléir í de conas is féidir le tacaíocht áitiúil fiontar na Gaeilge a neartú.
Tá Lorg Media, bunaithe ag an scéalaí agus straitéisí digiteach Loretta Ní Ghabháin atá lonnaithe i nGaillimh, ar cheann de líon méadaitheach gnólachtaí rathúla atá tógtha agus á reáchtáil go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge. Thosaigh an rud mar thionscadal paiseanta agus tá sé anois ina ghníomhaireacht a bhuaigh iliomad gradaim agus a sheachadann feachtais fhíse do chuideachtaí, craoltóirí, eagraíochtaí cultúrtha agus comhlachtaí rialtais. “Thug an Ghaeilge deiseanna dúinn nach raibh muid ag súil leo riamh,” a deir sí, lena n-áirítear obair leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha ag na hOscars i Los Angeles i 2023.
De réir mar a leathnaigh an gnó, chuidigh socrúcháin a fuair tacaíocht ó TG4 agus Údarás na Gaeltachta chun Lorg Media a neartú. Sa lá atá inniu ann, bíonn cliaint ag lorg na gníomhaireachta go gníomhach as a cur chuige Gaeilge-ar-dtús, agus oibríonn an fhoireann trí mheán na Gaeilge gach lá. Tá Loretta mar chuid de ghlúin uaillmhianach fiontraithe atá ag cruthú nach bhfuil gnó a dhéanamh trí mheán na Gaeilge amháin indéanta, ach cumhachtach.
Is gairmí teicneolaíochta í Máire Uí Choileáin a bhfuil beagnach fiche bliain de thaithí aici i ndearbhú cáilíochta agus i mbainistíocht scaoileadh. Dhírigh a gairm bheatha ar obair foirne trasfheidhmeach agus ar phróisis láidre cumarsáide. Nuair a díoladh an chuideachta inar oibrigh sí in 2024, bhain sí úsáid as an aistriú chun deiseanna nua a iniúchadh agus chun athcheangal leis an nGaeilge tar éis di filleadh ar a pobal dúchais i nGaeltacht Mhúscraí.
Chuaigh sí isteach sa chlár Cibear-Nuálaíocht chun fiontar cibearshlándála a fhorbairt agus go luath bhí sí páirteach i dtionscadal le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus MTU chun oideachas cibearshlándála a bhunú i gCampas Íosagáin. Mar chainteoir líofa Gaeilge, ghlac sí ról comhairleora neamhspleách, ag nascadh teicneolaíochta, oideachais agus pobail mionteangacha. Tá sí dírithe anois ar ardán cibearshlándála a chruthú atá bunaithe ar thaighde laistigh den Ghaeltacht agus atá inoiriúnaithe do réigiúin mionteangacha eile ar nós na Breataine Bige, na hÍoslainne agus Tír na mBascach, ag comhcheangal saineolais theicniúil le tiomantas do chuimsiú teanga agus cultúrtha.
Tá Todhchaí oscailte anois do chainteoirí Gaeilge ar fud na hÉireann, cláraigh do spéis i dtógáil tairisceana seirbhíse nó i soláthar seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge ag todhchai.ie
Todhchaí: New Initiative Putting the Irish language at the Heart of Ireland’s Economy
Minister Calleary launches Todhchaí, supporting 15 new start‑ups annually and expanding the Irish language economy nationwide.
Údarás na Gaeltachta, The Digital Hub and Gaeilge365 today announced the launch of Todhchaí, a new national enterprise programme designed to grow Ireland’s Irish language economy and support a rising generation of founders choosing to build businesses through Irish across Dublin and Gaeltacht areas.
Todhchaí is a partnership between Údarás na Gaeltachta, The Digital Hub and Gaeilge365 – an initiative of Dublin’s four local authorities. The programme supports Irish speakers to develop the skills, confidence and connections needed to build viable businesses and contribute directly to Ireland’s bilingual future. It also aims to support the creation of at least 15 live Irish language businesses each year.
Today (Tuesday 12 May), the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, officially launched Todhchaí at The Digital Hub, Dublin 8.
Operating across the country, Todhchaí ensures that whether a founder is based in Inchicore or Inis Meáin, Baile Sceilg or Ballybrack, Gaoth Dobhair or Garristown, they can start and scale a business through Irish.
The momentum behind Irish language enterprise is already visible on the ground and this reflects an emerging startup culture where founders are increasingly choosing to build businesses that operate trí Ghaeilge – serving public bodies, communities and markets at home and abroad.
Key supports will include:
Online courses, hackathons and startup bootcamps designed to help people build businesses through Irish
Direct connections between Irish language entrepreneurs and public and private sector partners with real market demand
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD remarked at the launch:
“Todhchaí is an ambitious programme, aligned with the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024–2030, and represents a commitment to delivering a bilingual public service and supporting a broader move towards a bilingual society. Entrepreneurship is at the centre of the initiative, converting Irish language skills into thriving enterprises that strengthen Ireland’s economy while supporting public service delivery trí Ghaeilge.”
Councillor Deirdre Heney, speaking on behalf of the Lord Mayor of Dublin and the four Dublin local authorities stated:
“Today, we have opportunities that could not even have been imagined ten years ago. The Irish language is becoming an increasing driver for economic growth in our city and I look forward to Todhchaí supporting more and more entrepreneurs to accelerate our journey towards a truly bilingual capital city.”
Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, said:
“Údarás na Gaeltachta has been the engine of economic and social development supporting just under ten thousand jobs in client companies across Gaeltacht communities from Donegal to Kerry to ensure the survival of the Irish language. Todhchaí is the next step in that mission. It is the platform to bring Irish language service providers together with the growing demand for Irish language service providers. In doing so, it will use the national gteic network of more than 30 digital hubs to create a new generation of entrepreneurs who see the Gaeltacht not just as a place of culture but as a place of opportunity, a place where they can build a business, raise a family and live their lives through Irish.”
Richard Shakespeare, Chief Executive of Dublin City Council speaking on behalf of Dublin’s four local authorities and the Gaeilge365 programme, said:
“We have seen a huge appetite for driving the Irish language in Dublin forward. Todhchaí gives us a structure to turn our ambition into action so that our local economies are strengthened. It will also support Irish as a living, working language across our city and public services, used every day in business, employment and community life.”
Fiach Mac Conghail, CEO of The Digital Hub, said:
“This is an idea that has arrived in time. What was missing in the early part of my career was a chance to continue to use my Irish in a professional environment. It’s different now. Irish is a normal working language for many people. What we’re missing is the structure to support the entrepreneurs. Todhchaí fills that gap – it’s about building a modern, sophisticated entrepreneurial culture that happens to work through Irish.”
Founders using Irish to build a modern business
Moontour, based in Dún Laoghaire, is an adventure company offering water sports, outdoor trips and summer camps that build confidence and fluency through fun activities. Founder Seán Greif has spent 12 years developing the business, drawing on an approach shaped by his time in the Amazon and Patagonia, where he became fluent in Portuguese and Spanish simply by using them every day. That same immersion model now underpins Moontour’s courses.
Seán believes the business simply wouldn’t exist without Irish, and he has never felt the need to offer services in English. In his view, others already cover that space and the real opportunity lies in Irish, this is an opportunity actively supported by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. “They were a major help from the beginning and willing us on to succeed,” he says. Operating from the Coal Harbour car park and using nearby slipways for kayaking and paddleboarding, Moontour is a natural fit for a council committed to promoting the language. The partnership is practical as well as cultural, and a clear example of how local support can strengthen Irish language enterprise.
Lorg Media, founded by Galway‑based storyteller and digital strategist Loretta Ní Ghabháin, is one of a growing number of successful businesses built and run entirely through Irish. What began as a passion project has grown into a multi‑award‑winning agency delivering video‑led campaigns for companies, broadcasters, cultural organisations and government bodies. “The Irish language has given us opportunities we never expected,” she says, including work with the Department of Foreign Affairs at the Oscars in Los Angeles in 2023.
As the business expanded, placements supported by TG4 and Údarás na Gaeltachta helped to strengthen Lorg Media. Today, clients actively seek out the agency for its Irish‑first approach, and the team works through Irish every day. Loretta is part of an ambitious generation of entrepreneurs who are proving that doing business as Gaeilge is not only possible, but powerful.
Mary Uí Choileáin is a technology professional with nearly twenty years of experience in quality assurance and release management. Her career has focused on cross‑functional teamwork and strong communication processes. When the company she worked for was sold in 2024, she used the transition to explore new opportunities and to reconnect with the Irish language after returning to her home community in the Múscraí Gaeltacht.
She joined the Cyber Innovate programme to develop a cybersecurity venture and soon became involved in a project with Údarás na Gaeltachta and MTU to establish cybersecurity education in Campas Íosagáin. As a fluent Irish speaker, she stepped into the role of independent consultant, linking technology, education and minority‑language communities. She is now focused on creating a cybersecurity platform informed by research within the Gaeltacht and adaptable to other minority‑language regions such as Wales, Iceland and the Basque Country, combining technical expertise with a commitment to linguistic and cultural inclusion.
Todhchaí is now open to Irish speakers across Ireland, please register your interest in building the service offering or providing services as Gaeilge at todhchai.ie.