Dublin councils honoured with top national award for Irish language innovation

Dublin’s four local authorities are celebrating national success as the Gaeilge365 wins Best Innovation Project at Scale at this year’s Better Public Services Awards

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 16:30, 03 Jul 2026 Updated 16:36, 03 Jul 2026 View Image Rónán Mac Lochlainn, Irish Language Development Officer, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council, Pauline Mulligan, Chief Executive Officer, Local Government Management Agency, Tríona Ní Mhathúna, Assistant Principal Officer, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Frank Feighan TD, Minister of State, Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and Daithí de Buitléir, Programme Manager, Gaeilge365 (Image: Bryan James Brophy)

Dublin’s four local authorities are celebrating national success after their Gaeilge365 initiative was awarded for innovation in Ireland-language public services.

Crowned Best Innovation Project at Scale at this year’s Better Public Services Awards, Gaeilge365 aims to put the Irish language at the centre of public services . Led in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, communities have already seen innovation in action as they provide opportunities for people to use Irish in everyday life.

Presented by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the Better Public Services Awards celebrate excellence, innovation and civic impact across the Irish public sector. This year, thirty-six teams were shortlisted across twelve categories.

“The winning projects see digital transforming how people engage with the State, data improving decisions and outcomes, and services designed around real user needs. We see innovation not just tested, but scaled and a clear commitment to inclusion and sustainability,” Minister Chambers said.

Gaeilge365 was recognised for its progressive and creative approach to public service delivery, reimagining how local government connects trí Ghaeilge with opportunities presented by increasingly bi-lingual communities to strengthen the impact of public services.

Programme Manager of Gaeilge365 Dáithí de Buitléir spoke about their mission to “unlock” the full potential of “Gaeilge for Dublin ” while expanding opportunities for people of all Irish-language abilities. “We are working to create 150,000 Irish-speaking opportunities across Dublin by 2028,” he said.

“Over the past year, we have delivered a range of innovative initiatives designed to make Irish more visible, accessible and enjoyable. These include Binsí Comhrá, which tackles urban isolation by connecting people around this shared interest in Gaeilge on public benches; and youth programmes such as Foraois and Snámh le Spraoi, which are building communities of young Irish speakers who use Irish as an everyday language of sport, arts and friendship.”

The award recognises not only the achievements of the programme to date but also its potential to shape the future of Irish-language promotion within the public sector, creating real tangible examples of the bi-lingual public services of our future. Building on this success, Gaeilge365 aims to continue developing innovative programmes and partnerships that support the growth of Irish-language communities throughout Dublin.

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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