Find out who are the top employers for Irish-language jobs, and find out more about their opportunities.
Careers with Irish #
There are many careers possible with Irish and a growing number of employers who regularly have vacancies for people with Irish. Listed below are the main employers for Irish-language jobs by sector.
The public service and state organisations #
The public service is the largest employer in Ireland, and is legally required to have enough Irish speakers as employees so as to be able to provide state services through Irish. All public service jobs are advertised at publicjobs.ie – we’d advise you make sure if you are applying for roles to highlight your fluency with Irish.
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Údarás na Gaeltachta’s aim is to develop the Gaeltacht areas and to create new employment opportunties in those areas. They often have vacancies for officers and managers in different departments and also run employment schemes throughout the year.
Irish-language organisations
Foras na Gaeilge, and the 6 main Irish-language organisations that receive funding from the Foras, will often have vacancies for the many and varied roles within the group. The 6 organisations are – Gael Linn, Conradh na Gaeilge, An tOireachtas, Coláiste & Cumann na bhFiann, Glór na nGael and Gaeloideachas.
Note that a high standard of Irish will be expected for these roles.
Education #
Playschools
Many playschools now are Irish-speaking and are usually in need of assistants, room supervisors and managers, especially at the beginning of each school year. A qualification in childcare is needed for most of the roles.
Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta is the nationally recognised early-years service provider through the Gaeltacht and advertises most of the early-learning posts for those regions. You can find a list of the playschools outside of the Gaeltacht from Gaeloideachas.
Schools and summer colleges
An Foras Pátrúnachta have a lot of information on Gaelscoils and Gaelcholáistí, with a list of vacancies in those schools. You can also find educational vacancies at educationposts.ie.
Irish-language summer camps generally start looking for teachers for their summer terms early in the year.
Universities and colleges
There are often vacancies for lecturers, professors, coordinators, teaching assistants and researchers with Irish at the following institutions: Mary Immaculate College, University of Galway, Dublin City University, Maynooth University, University of Limerick, agus Marino Institute of Education.
It is worth querying the availability of positions with any institution that offers 3rd level courses with irish or has an irish-language centre.
Other opportunities
As well as teaching, there are of course many positions in the areas of education research and support, in institutions such as The Educational Research Centre, Gaeloideachas, COGG, and Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta.
Community groups #
Language planning committees
There are currently 26 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga through the Gaeltacht, and around 16 Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta. A local language planning committee for the area/town is responsible for the operation and activities of the language plan for the area or town, and would be the main contact for roles in the Irish-language and its promotion.
There may also be a Líonra Gaeilge near you that is looking for people to help promote Irish locally.
Cultural centres
There are more than 50 lárionad Gaeilge throughout the country that are often looking for officers, helpers and administrators. Many of thse centres offer playschool services and Irish classes, both of which need Irish-speaking playschool staff and teachers.
Media and the arts #
The main recruiters in the media are RTÉ, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, TG4, Fíbín Media (often in conjunction with An Taibhdhearc), IMRAM and NemetonTV. Volunteer positions are usually always available with Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte, and Raidió Rí-Rá.
In the arts, there are often positions with Irish advertised for An Chomhairle Ealaíon, Ealaín na Gaeltachta, Áras Scríbhneoirí na hÉireann and Fíbín/An Taibhdhearc.
Other companies #
In addition to the employers mentioned above, there are frequently opportunities in companies in the private sector who do business with the Gaeltacht community (or other Irish-speakers).
Irish is of course needed for translation and interpreting jobs in translation companies, or for specific translation projects in other companies.
If you are a teacher, there are opportunities teaching Irish classes for companies that offer courses to adults and other companies.
In the Gaeltacht, there are many vacancies in the client-companies of Údarás an Gaeltachta – such as Viatris, Cambus Medical, Arán Ard Teo and many more.
Additional information #
- What careers are possible with the Irish language
- Browse through the current vacancies with Irish (in Irish)
- Where to find vacancies in the public sector
- Where to find work experience opportunities with Irish
