# Connolly launches year-long initiative to make Irish welcome at Áras an Uachtaráin

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/during-her-first-media-appearance-in-months-catherine-connolly-encourages-irish-speakers-to-be-welcoming-of-those-who-are-not-fluent-in-the-language-but-then-the-president-decides-to-only-answer-q/
- Published: 2026-11-10T22:55:53+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T23:12:53+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16282759/Catherine-Connolly-encourages-Irish-speakers-welcoming-NOT-fluent-language-President-answer-questions-Gaeilge.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Connolly launched a year-long Irish-language initiative.
- She answered almost all media questions in Irish.
- Community groups will be invited to Áras an Uachtaráin.

## Summary

President Catherine Connolly launched an initiative to encourage people to use more Irish and make Áras an Uachtaráin a place where people can speak it at any level. At her first media appearance in months, she answered almost all questions in Irish, despite urging fluent speakers to welcome learners, and asked reporters to keep questions focused on the announcement.

The initiative, called Togra Gaeilge an Uachtaráin, will run until November next year and invite community groups to the presidential residence. Plans include Irish classes for Áras staff and training for civil servants working with the President. Several dozen Irish-language influencers were invited, while journalists were not initially guaranteed time to ask questions; Connolly translated only one answer into English.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.