Partnership enters its third year as Gaelchultúr continues to invest in the promotion and development of Irish across Gaelic games.

Gaelchultúr, the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) are delighted to announce the renewal of their Irish-language scholarship partnership for 2026, continuing a successful initiative that gives inter-county players across Ireland the opportunity to develop their Irish-language skills.

Now entering its third year, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the longstanding connection between the Irish language and Gaelic games and creating practical opportunities for players to use and promote Irish within their teams, clubs, counties and communities.

First launched in 2024, the initiative was established to make high-quality Irish-language learning more accessible to inter-county players. Since then, strong interest in the programme has demonstrated a clear appetite among players to reconnect with the language, improve their existing skills and build greater confidence in using Irish in everyday life.

Through the partnership, 100 participating players will receive scholarships to Gaelchultúr’s award-winning Irish-language courses, with options catering for a range of proficiency levels, from those taking their first steps with the language to more experienced speakers looking to further develop their fluency and accuracy.

The programme is also supported by An Cumann Camógaíochta and the LGFA, extending its reach across Gaelic games and reinforcing a collective commitment to the promotion of Irish throughout the sporting community.

Speaking about the renewal, Darren Ó Rodaigh, CEO of Gaelchultúr, said:

‘Gaelic games and the Irish language are two of the strongest expressions of our culture and identity, and this partnership brings them together in a very practical way. Over the past two years, we have seen a real enthusiasm among inter-county players to strengthen their Irish and, importantly, to use it.

Our commitment to Irish within Gaelic games extends well beyond this scholarship programme. Through our partnerships across the sector, we are investing approximately €50,000 each year in scholarships, courses, learning resources and other language supports. Our aim is to create more opportunities for players and communities to engage with Irish and, ultimately, to make the language more visible and more accessible throughout our national games.’

Jarlath Burns, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, said:

‘The Irish language has always been central to the identity and values of the GAA. Renewing this partnership gives our players another meaningful opportunity to strengthen their connection with the language and to use it with greater confidence.

Our inter-county players are hugely influential within their clubs and communities. Every time Irish is heard naturally in those settings, whether on the pitch, in the clubhouse or in conversation, it reinforces the language as a vibrant and important part of modern Gaelic games.’

Tom Parsons, CEO of the Gaelic Players Association, said:

‘The response from players to this initiative over the past two years has shown us that there is a genuine desire among our members to engage more with the Irish language. Players come to the programme with very different levels of Irish, but what they share is an ambition to learn and to become more confident using the language.

We are delighted to continue working with Gaelchultúr and the GAA to make that opportunity available to our members and to support players who want to make Irish a greater part of their everyday lives.’

The renewed partnership comes at a time of particularly strong engagement with the Irish language among younger adults. Research conducted by Amárach Research in collaboration with Gaelchultúr and Údarás na Gaeltachta found that 73% of adults under 35 want to improve their Irish, while more than half of this age group already report using Irish in at least one setting.

The findings underline the opportunity for high-profile players to contribute to a new generation of Irish speakers by demonstrating that the language has a natural place in contemporary sport, social life and communities across Ireland.

The GAA and GPA scholarship programme forms part of Gaelchultúr’s wider commitment to making Irish more accessible and visible within Ireland’s national games. Alongside its ongoing partnerships with the GAA and GPA, Gaelchultúr launched a new partnership with Dublin GAA in September 2026 and continues its sponsorship of Na Gaeil Óga.

Through these partnerships, Gaelchultúr provides scholarships, Irish-language courses, learning resources and other language supports to players and the wider Gaelic games community. Collectively, this represents an investment of approximately €50,000 each year by Gaelchultúr to support the use and development of Irish within Gaelic games.

The college’s growing network of partnerships reflects a long-term commitment to creating practical opportunities for people to learn, speak and engage with Irish through sport, while supporting clubs, players and sporting organisations to increase the visibility and everyday use of the language.