Cairde

Part of Fanad is a designated Gaeltacht, an Irish-speaking area, and this includes the area where Fanad Lighthouse is located. A local community group, Gaeltacht Bheo Fhánada, are committed to ensuring the Irish language is a living language in the region, and Fanad Lighthouse is the designated language services centre for the area.

In 2015 Gaeltacht Bheo Fhánada won a national Pride of Place award for their work in promoting the Irish language here. Many of Ireland’s Gaeltachtaí are in rural areas where population decline is one of many challenges facing the language.

The story of the Irish language’s decline is a long and complex one. It has suffered due to colonisation, emigration and rural-urban migration. Huge efforts are now being made to ensure that the language is respected and supported in Ireland. It is a unique part of our culture. ‘Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam’ – ‘A land without language is a land without soul’.

We are proud to be part of the Fanad Gaeltacht and hope you enjoying hearing our language when you visit. We are happy to do business and indeed to offer tours ‘As Gaeilge’. Labhair Gaeilge linn!