The Department of the Gaeltacht will provide €10 million in funding for the development of an educational and community centre at a summer college in Conamara.
Coláiste Lurgan in Indreabhán has been housed in an Údarás na Gaeltachta building for decades and the new "modern, multi-purpose" facility is set for completion in 2026.
Under the proposed new plan, the building will be managed by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Coláiste Lurgan will be a tenant during the summer Irish language courses.
Mícheál Ó Foighil, the director of the summer courses at Coláiste Lurgan, welcomed today's announcement.
"This is a momentous day for the Irish language both locally and nationally," he said.
"We have had some 50,000 students attend here over the past 25 years and now we're going forward stronger than ever."
He said the Conamara community was celebrating today and said it was best summed up in 'cúpla focail'.
"Lurgan '26 - lá ollmhór cinniúnach don teanga, go háitiúil, go náisiúnta, agus go hidirnáisiúnta," he said.
"Ré Nua, ré órga, ré Gaelach."
Minister for the Gaeltacht Catherine Martin said the new centre in the Cois Fharraige area would be built with significant assistance from her department.
"It will serve to further underpin the ongoing implementation of the language planning process and the objectives contained in the Government's Action Plan for Irish and the overarching 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030," she said.
Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan said the centre would benefit the community of Cois Fharraige as well as learners of Irish throughout the country.
"This modern centre will be an important resource for learning Irish and for educational and training courses, including Irish language training courses in the public sector and in the community. Of course, the arts, crafts, technology, sports and especially the youth - one of the most important target-groups in terms of the future of the Irish language - will be catered for there".
Project is huge step forward - Údarás
Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta Tomás Ó Síocháin said this project marked a huge step forward.
"It was a long and complicated process to get us to this point, but we are fully confident that the Education and Youth Centre will be a national model, serving the youth of the Gaeltacht and the Irish speaking and learning community throughout the country. Údarás will continue to work closely with the Department and the Cois Fharraige community to ensure that a centre is developed to the highest standard that will benefit future generations".
The centre will consist of a multi-purpose hall, classrooms, kitchen and offices, as well as an outdoor play and parking space.
A grant of €314,280 has been approved by the ministers for Údarás na Gaeltachta to prepare an application for planning permission which is expected to be ready to be submitted to Galway County Council by this summer.
The college shot to fame for its Irish language music videos of chart topping pop songs.
The videos are produced on a voluntary basis to promote the native tongue among younger generations.
The Lig Mé Saor video (Wake Me Up) by DJ Avicii was one of the college's biggest viral hits with over 8.5 million views.
