In 1916, Pádraig Mac Piarais gave his life for Ireland, but long before that sacrifice, he gave his heart to education. A visionary teacher, Pearse believed that the Irish language was not merely a subject to be studied but a living force that could shape identity, community, and nationhood. He founded schools in Dublin and Galway, and he often brought students west to Conamara so they could immerse themselves in the language of the people.
Today, Galway County Council honours that legacy through the Pádraig Pearse Gaeltacht Scholarships, a scheme established in 2016 and now entering its tenth year. This initiative is more than financial support—it is a bridge between generations, ensuring that young people in Galway continue to experience the richness of the Gaeltacht and carry forward Pearse’s dream of an Ireland rooted in its native tongue.
A pathway to the Gaeltacht
The 2026 programme offers the fantastic opportunity of 26 scholarships (an extra 10 scholarships over 2025 ), funded either fully by Galway County Council or jointly with Gaeltacht Summer Colleges. These scholarships will allow second-level students to attend one of nine partner colleges across the county, including Coláiste Chamuis, An Tulach/Camus/Ros an Mhíl, Coláiste Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua , Coláiste Cholumba, An Cheathrú Rua, Coláiste Lurgan in Indreabhán, and Coláiste Chonnacht in An Spidéal, Coláiste na bhFiann, Ros Muc, Coláiste na nOileán, Tír an Fhia, Leitir Móir, Coláiste Sheosaimh, Carna/ Cill Chiaráin & Spleodar, Ros Muc / Corr na Móna /Leitir Mealláin / Leitir Móir.
Importantly, five scholarships are reserved for students who might otherwise never have the chance to attend due to financial hardship, with one awarded within each municipal district—Athenry-Oranmore, Ballinasloe, Conamara, Loughrea, and Tuam. This ensures that the scheme is not just about celebrating heritage, but also about ensuring better access, inclusivity and opportunity.
More than a summer course
The Gaeltacht is not simply a classroom. It is a community, a culture, and a way of life. For the student awardees, these weeks in July or August are transformative: friendships are forged, confidence in speaking Irish blossoms, and the language becomes something lived rather than learned. The true reward is immeasurable—the chance to walk in Pearse’s footsteps and to feel the heartbeat of the Gaeltacht.
A call to action
Applications are open now, with a deadline of December 30. Please log on to Galway County Council’s website and social media channels for further updates.
The scholarships will be awarded by open draw in March, and while not every student awardee may secure their first-choice college, the opportunity to attend a Gaeltacht first and foremost, remains invaluable.
Galway County Council has shown remarkable foresight in sustaining this scheme. In a time when globalisation may dilute cultural distinctiveness, initiatives like this remind us that the Irish language is not a relic but a living treasure to be embraced every day.
Pearse once wrote that “Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam”— a country without a language is a country without a soul. The Pádraig Pearse Gaeltacht Scholarships ensure that the soul of Galway’s Irish language remains vibrant, spoken, and sung in the voices of its youth.
For more information, visit gaillimh.ie/scoláireachtaígaeltachta2026
