The language planning process has officially begun in two more towns in the west of Ireland. 

After a successful application process, two lead organisations have been selected to begin the language planning process in Ballinrobe, County Mayo and in Clifden, County Galway. Once language plans have been prepared for these towns they will receive status as Gaeltacht Service Towns under the Gaeltacht Act 2012. 

Gnó Mhaigh Eo has been selected as the lead organization for Ballinrobe. Gnó Mhaigh Eo provides support to businesses throughout County Mayo to increase their use of Irish and is also the lead organization for the language planning process taking place in order for Castlebar to achieve status as a Gaeltacht service town. 

Forum Connemara is the chosen lead organization for Clifden and has a long record of assisting in local community projects, rural development and social enterprise in the area. 

Both of these lead organisations will work with local language planning steering committees made up of representatives of the local community, business, the arts, the education sector and more. Together, the lead organizations and the committees will have up to two years to draft a language plan that best suits the needs of their towns.

Language plans are currently being developed in Dungarvan, Castlebar, Cahersiveen, and Cork. A plan has been submitted for Tralee and Galway and Letterkenny are both currently implementing their language plans at the moment. The language planning process will soon officially begin in Navan, Athboy, Donegal Town and Macroom.