Cllr. Robert Brosnan of Kerry County Council has this week travelled to the European Parliament in Brussels to voice an urgent call for action on the growing housing crisis affecting Gaeltacht regions.
The West Kerry Sinn Féin councillor was invited by MEP Kathleen Funchion and he joined campaigners, elected representatives, and cultural advocates to highlight the direct threat housing policy poses to the future of the Irish language and its communities.
Proud to Represent his Area
Speaking from Brussels, Cllr Robert Brosnan said that he was proud to be there to represent the concerns of his community in West Kerry and other Gaeltacht areas.
“The housing situation in our Gaeltacht is at a critical point. Young Irish speakers, born and raised in these areas, are being forced out due to the surge in short-term lets and second homes, along with outdated planning regulations that make it nearly impossible for locals to build on their own land,” Cllr. Brosnan said.
Survival of a Way of Life
“We’re not just talking about housing, this is about the survival of a language, a culture, and a way of life that has been passed down through generations. The Gaeltacht is more than a place on a map, it’s where our language lives and breathes every day in homes, schools, music sessions, and storytelling nights. If Irish speakers can’t live in the Gaeltacht, then what hope is there for the language’s future?”
Cllr Brosnan welcomed the opportunity to meet with European Commission officials responsible for housing and language rights, alongside colleagues including Mairéad Farrell TD, Conor McGuinness TD, and musician and activist Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich.
Rights of Minority Language Speakers
The delegation also held a key meeting with Davyth Hicks, Secretary General of the European Language Equality Network (ELEN), who has long championed the rights of minority language speakers across Europe.
“We’ve seen similar challenges in places like Wales, Scotland, and Catalonia. What’s clear is that the commodification of housing is having a devastating impact on minority language communities across Europe. Brussels is the right place to bring this fight, because language rights and housing rights must go hand in hand.”
“This is a European Issue”
Cllr Brosnan has pledged to continue working with local campaigners and national representatives to push for stronger protections for Gaeltacht communities and reforms to planning and housing policy that reflect the unique cultural and linguistic heritage of these areas.
“The message from Brussels is clear, our concerns are valid, and this is a European issue. Now it’s time for our own government and local authorities to act. The future of the Gaeltacht, and the Irish language itself, depends on it.”
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