Changing spaces: the new geographies of the Gaeltacht and Irish language networks

Following developments in recent decades in geography, this chapter argues for a greater sensitivity to interdependence and relationality in what is known in Ireland as the `language planning process. This refers to the Irish governments policy framework aimed at strengthening the knowledge and use of Irish in defined geographical areas throughout the state and through a cross-border mechanism, in Northern Ireland also. Such an argument requires a deeper understanding of the development of concepts such as space, flows and networks which have generated such debate in geographical circles in recent decades. This chapter offers a critical assessment of the Irish language planning process by drawing on insights from theories of space in geography, the discipline to which Colin Williams has contributed so much. However, Colin has also been engaged with Irish language policy for decades and was a member of the consortium which advised the Irish government on its 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, the framework which led to the current local initiatives. Therefore, it is my intention in this chapter to bring together those two aspects of Colins expertise: geography and language policy in the case of Irish.