CNAG TEORANTA LIMITED
(Private company limited by guarantee without share capital) TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3O APRIL 2024
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the company for the 01 May 2023 to 30 April 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the company's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practices applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016)
Structure, Governance and Trustees
CNAG Teoranta Limited which is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland, registration number NI637586, with the objective of undertaking charitable activities for the benefit of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland.
Objectives and Activities
Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community. Conradh has over 200 branches and numerous individual members registered around the world, members that work hard to promote the use of Irish in their own areas. Conradh na Gaeilge was established by Douglas Hyde, Eoin Mac Néill, and their colleagues on the 31st of July 1893. Conradh na Gaeilge founded the company CNAG TEO and this company is charged and has responsibility with the development of Conradh na Gaeilge in the north of Ireland. CNAG TEO is a leading Irish language organisation in the north that continues to work with community groups, government departments and local bodies to ensure the voices and demands of the language community are heard and represented in forums and spaces that affect the decision making process in relation to language matters.
The organisation runs Irish-language courses; advocates for the language rights of Irishspeakers; raises awareness about the language; hosts the international Irish-language festival Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia; manages the Irish-language information hub PEIG.ie and delivers on a wide range of programmes and projects.
Committee appointment
Conradh na Gaeilge has a board of directors trustees that oversee and direct the programme of work in the north. They meet on a quarterly basis throughout the year. year we had one new director appointed to our board.
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CNAG TEORANTA LIMITED
(Private company limited by guarantee without share capital) TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3O APRIL 2024
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
2023 - 2024 has been hugely successful for us as an organisation and we have shown resilience following another year of no increase in budgets from Foras na Gaeilge but have diversified our funding. In an uncertain time and era we have increased our income and diversified our revenue from additional resources and continue to work to attract private and state income. We have secured income from the Department of Foreign affairs Reconciliation Fund, Community Foundation NI, Cooperation Ireland and Foras na Gaeilge and Belfast City Council . We hope to secure additional funding in 2025 and from additional resources. Belfast City Council are now of our leading funders supporting our Seachtain na Gaeilge festival and human rights work in Belfast.
Irish Language Investment Plan
Conradh na Gaeilge launched our investment plan that addresses the needs of the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities with regards to state spending for the years 20242029. This plan has been presented to the government and relevant parties after receiving input from the public and from community groups. During elections this plan has received support from most political parties.
People and place
As a development of our recent Ár dTeanga Chomhroinnte Project, the People and Place Project focuses on the hidden history and heritage within our place-names here, as we work towards mutual understanding and respect for our culture, heritage and shared spaces. This year we are grateful for the support from our founder, The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
There are four primary strands to this project: Ár dTeanga Roinnte: Bunús, Éabhlóid agus Forbairt na Gaeilge. The development of a bilingual book which explores our place-names tradition and gives examples of place-names according to seven different themes; Raising awareness of the linguistic origin of our local place-names, particularly amongst the 9-14 age group through workshops in schools across the province of Ulster; Raising awareness of the linguistic origin of our local place-names amongst adults, especially through workshops with community groups across the province of Ulster. In early 2024 we began a partnership with the National Trust and how we use our local Belfast Hills to promote the language.
ELEN
The European Language Equality Network (ELEN) is an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting lesser-used, minority, and endangered languages in Europe. We are a proud member of ELEN and attended several steering committee meetings, conferences and institutional meetings at the European Commission. ELEN aims to achieve linguistic equality within a human rights framework. It advocates for linguistic minorities at local, national, European, and international levels, engaging with institutions such as the EU, UN, and Council of Europe. Conradh na Gaeilge visited the EU Parliament on two separate occasions
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CNAG TEORANTA LIMITED
(Private company limited by guarantee without share capital) TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3O APRIL 2024
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Irish Language Investment Plan continued...
ELEN's activities include monitoring legislative processes that affect minority languages, lobbying for stronger language rights, and providing expertise on language revitalization policies. It also coordinates projects like training workshops and data collection to document linguistic discrimination and promote awareness of minority language rights. For example, ELEN played a key role in drafting the 2016 Language Protocol, which aims to establish binding standards for language rights across Europe.
Additionally, ELEN has called for the creation of a new UN instrument to protect endangered languages and supports initiatives like immersion education, which is vital for language preservation. Its broader goal is to foster cultural diversity and ensure that linguistic communities can thrive in modern society. It has been through ELEN that we have developed many partnerships internationally on language rights (Catalonia, The Basque Country, Romania, Sardinia, Breton, Scotland and Wales)
Research & Policy development
The work of Conradh na Gaeilge in solidifying the rights of the Irish language community has once again proven extremely beneficial particularly within local councils, Government Departments and other Arms Length Bodies (ALBs). This past year has seen us taking part in a number of important consultation exercises and compiling a comprehensive evidence base to inform these discussions and representations, most notably with Derry City and Strabane District Council with regard to their updated dual language street signage policy, The Committee for the Executive Office regarding gaps in equality legislation, The Executive Office themselves with regard to the omission of the Irish language in the draft programme for
policy. This year also saw an historic Tribunal ruling regarding disclosure of legal advice obtained during a call-in process at Belfast City Council and a significant advancement with the passing of a motion to secure dual language signage at the Olympia Leisure Centre in Belfast after a 5-year campaign. We look forward to continuing this work next year and beyond.
Spraoi
Conradh na Gaeilge continued this year with their annual Irish language Gaeltacht bursary scheme, Spraoi, aimed at providing financial assistance to young people under the age of 18 like that of previous years, was overwhelmingly oversubscribed. 131 scholarships to the value schools. The core criteria of the scheme is to identify families and young people who would traditionally not be able to attend residential Gaeltacht courses due to the cost, and therefore applicants from socially disadvantaged backgrounds were prioritised in the distribution of the fund. The fund was administered with support from North-South Body
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CNAG TEORANTA LIMITED
(Private company limited by guarantee without share capital) TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3O APRIL 2024
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Seachtain na Gaeilge Béal
respective festivals to new and more diverse audiences. The joint-up approach saw over 50 Irish language events taking place right across the city of Belfast from the 1st-17th March 2024. As well as this, the partnership between Conradh na Gaeilge and Féile an Phobail saw the organisation and delivery of two flagship events for the Irish language; firstly, Spraoi Cois Lao, the enormous Irish language family fun day in Custom House Square, attracted 5,000 people to the heart of the city centre for a day of fun-packed family activities. We are always looking for ways to improve and develop our provision, so as well as the family fun day, we also successfully delivered Ceol Cois Lao, our first concert headlined by seven-piece ensemble Bláth na hÓige. We hope to expand upon our provision again next year. Dearg.ie
Dearg.ie is now synonymous with leading calls for change and affecting that change through our unique community-led website. Dearg.ie continues to publish monthly articles and newsletters, as well as maintaining a media archive to chart the development of the ongoing campaign for language rights. Most notably, however, this past year has seen our campaign building meaningful partnerships with other leading human rights campaigns and facilitating the tools to broaden and centralise community participation across a number of important areas. Our unique tools have, to date, attracted participation from over 25,000 people and we hope to continue to build upon these foundations in line with community demand and Irish language rights
The work of Conradh na Gaeilge in ensuring and challenging shortcomings in the affordation of the rights of the Irish language community has proven transformational, particularly within local councils, Government Departments and other Arms Length Bodies (ALBs). In recent years, we have lobbied for more progressive, rights-based dual language street signage policies across local councils, have responded to and promoted numerous consultations, as well as submitting submissions in specialist areas that have ranged from the development of Irish language policies/strategies, to ensuring the Irish language is considered and promoted in capital projects. We have reached out and met with numerous public authorities, most recently Ulster GAA and Translink, to discuss the potential of how to better promote and
protect the Irish language in their work. We continue to engage with the Education Authority, Irish language legislation & Irish language strategy
Since the passing of the Identity and Language Act (NI) 2022 at Westminster Conradh na Gaeilge has continued to advocate for the full implementation of the legislation, especially concerning the establishment of the Office of the Irish Language Commissioner and the appointment of the Commissioner through a public appointment competition. Conradh has held meetings and made representations via email with a range of public representatives, Meanwhile, Conradh na Gaeilge continued to work on the development of an Irish language Strategy as set out in article 28D(1) of the NI Act (1998).
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CNAG TEORANTA LIMITED
(Private company limited by guarantee without share capital) TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3O APRIL 2024
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Irish language legislation & Irish language strategy
Conradh na Gaeilge appeared as a witness in front of the Communities Committee at Parliament Buildings in March 2024 as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, Irish Language Week, and provided evidence around the need for a Strategy and the timely implementation of the Language Act.
Oireachtas 2025
Belfast has been confirmed as the host city for Oireachtas na Samhna 2025, the oldest and most prestigious Irish language and arts festival on the island of Ireland. The event will take place from October 29 to November 2, 2025, with activities centered around venues like the ICC Belfast and the Europa Hotel, alongside other city locations. This festival is expected to attract up to 10,000 participants and spectators, celebrating Irish language, arts, and cultural traditions through competitions, debates, workshops, film screenings, and more, all conducted in Irish.
thriving Irish language community and its cultural heritage played a key role in securing the create a lasting legacy for young Irish speakers, support local businesses, and showcase Belfast as a cultural hub to visitors from across Ireland and beyond. The festival will also
Collaborative efforts among Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast, Féile an Phobail, and ourselves were pivotal in bringing this landmark event to the city. We are delighted to be part of Béal Feirste 2025.
Céad Míle Fáilte
The Céad Míle Fáilte project, spearheaded by Conradh na Gaeilge, is an initiative designed to help new communities in Ireland, and in the north, connect with the Irish language and culture. The program offers language classes, workshops, and cultural activities aimed at fostering integration and developing a sense of Irish identity through shared experiences of colonisation among migrants and marginalised groups.
The project has engaged over 2,000 participants providing them with opportunities to learn Irish and engage with Irish-speaking communities. For communities in Belfast and further afield, the project reflects broader efforts to create inclusive spaces where linguistic and cultural diversity are celebrated, enhancing community cohesion while preserving Irish language based on similar approaches developed in Wales which has developed best practice
Going Concern
After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies.
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CNAG TEORANTA LIMITED
(Private company limited by guarantee without share capital) TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3O APRIL 2024
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Financial Review
The results for the year ended 30 April2024 are set out on pages 10 and 11 of the financial statements.
The total income for the year ended 30 April 2024 amounted to £340,741 (2023:£176,475). The total expenditure was £238,485 (2023:£214,556)
The Trustees consider that the unrestricted funds of the charity is sufficient and adequate to fulfil their obligations. The charity held £113,293 in reserves at the year end (2023:£39,229).
Reserves Policy
The income of the Company is considered adequate and the risks associated with any significant reduction in income is regarded as unlikely. The Trustees are satisfied with the current level of reserves at the present time. The Trustees are reviewing the Reserves Policy in the current year.
Trustees' responsibilities statement
The Trustees (who are also directors of CNAG Teoranta Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standard (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice)
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the income resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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Make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transaction and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and the enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2016. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
CNAG Teoranta Limited is a company limited by guarantee by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Each members liability is limited to an amount not exceeding £1.
This report was approved by the Trustees, on 10/12/2024 and signed on behalf by:
Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhein
Trustee
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