Career options for Irish-speaking graduates

Do Ghairm le Gaeilge ('Your Career with Irish') is a new guide for graduates looking to use the 'cupla focal' as part of their work. Do Ghairm le Gaeilge is a bilingual careers guide which provides an insight in to the myriad of careers opportunities using the Irish Language.

The guide gives an overview of the various sectors in which fluency in Irish would be an advantage, and in many cases a distinct requirement. These include Arts and Heritage; the Media; Public and Private Sector employment; ICT; as well as the better known areas of teaching and translation. The user-friendly format comprises well-researched information, case studies, web resources, and valuable hints and tips for students and graduates.

Launching the guide, Deputy Chief Executive of TG4, Pa¡dhraic O Ciardha pointed out that: 'The Irish language television production sector reflects the wide variety of jobs available for Irish speaking graduates, not only as presenters and scriptwriters, but also as project managers, translators, camera staff, editors and graphic designers.

More than 600 public sector bodies are covered by the Official Languages Act (2003) which requires these bodies to provide certain services through the medium of Irish. Public organisations in which Irish Language Officers are now employed include third level educational institutions; local authorities; and other semi-state bodies. These officers often combine their Irish language responsibilities with marketing / public affairs responsibilities. There are campaigns for a specific Irish language act to be also introduced in Northern Ireland.

Private sector organisations, anxious to gain competitive advantage, sometimes target the Irish language market. Examples include Samsung, who developed the first ever texting service through Irish; Microsoft, who have developed Irish language software products; Accenture, an international consultancy firm, designed the bilingual Revenue.ie website. Facebook recognised the demand for Irish-medium social networking by facilitating its translation to Irish by Irish-speaking clients. There is a demand in Irish language voluntary and public sectors for Irish speaking accountants; solicitors; marketeers and graphic designers etc to provide professional services through the medium of Irish.

Irish became an official working language of the EU in 2005 and is one of the minority languages being promoted, not just within the European Parliament but within higher education institutions in the EU and in colleges across the United States, through the support of the Fulbright Commission and in Canada through the support of the Ireland Canada University Foundation.

The publication of Do Ghairm le Gaeilge is a response to these developments. The editorial committee consisted of Dr Emer Ni­ Bhra¡daigh and Muireann Ni­ Dhuigneain from DCU,  Orlaith Tunney, Careers Advisor, TCD; Cora Cregan, Careers Officer, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra; and Catherine Lyster, Careers Officer, Letterkenny IT.

Click here to see an online version of the guide.