## **Comhaltas Uladh: Trustees’ Annual Report 2023** ## **(01/01/23 - 31/12/2023)** ## **Charity Name: Comhaltas Uladh** ## **NIC No. 107709** ## **Address: Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail, Cnocán Phádraig Naofa, Chapel Street, Newry BT34 2DZ** ## **Purpose** Comhaltas Uladh’s main purpose is to promote the Irish language in Ulster through classes, school competitions, festivals and supporting ventures to provide Gaeltacht Scholarships. There are a range of Comhaltas Uladh classes all over Ulster. Comhaltas Uladh supports summer courses in the Donegal Gaeltacht for both adult and teenage learners. The charity supports publication of Irish language literature and general reading material to encourage and stimulate literacy in the Irish language. Our branches provide structured and graded language courses and other formal and informal learning opportunities to promote and develop the Irish language with a particular focus on the young, those new to Irish and returners to education. ## **Public Benefit Statement** The public benefit that flows from the purpose is the well attested benefit of bilingualism, participation in group activities, the promotion of shared heritage and cultural awareness, an increase in job opportunities within the Irish language sector and the provision of opportunities to socialise and communicate with others. In addition, the provision of language instruction can lead to formal educational qualifications and facilitates the inclusion of the Irish language community in the cultural context of Northern Ireland and further afield. The benefits of branch membership of Comhaltas Uladh are evidenced through regular qualitative assessment, including annual participation in the organisation’s school and Feis competitions; registers of and feedback from participants at lessons, courses and events; photo and press coverage, documentation and recordings; audited annual accounts; engagement with and feedback from our Facebook page and regular media appearances on BBC, RTÉ and Raidió na Gaeltachta. There is no harm arising from any of the activities and there is no private benefit flowing from any of the purpose. ## **Beneficiaries** The charity’s beneficiaries are the general public in Northern Ireland and in the counties of Monaghan, Louth and Donegal, including affiliated branches of Comhaltas Uladh and both the primary and secondary school sectors in Northern Ireland. The beneficiaries include the age 12-18 age group and learners of the language from all age groups The benefit is provided through various schemes and activities including annual competitions for the 12-18 age-group and provision of online materials for learners of Irish. Activities which are conducted bilingually are advertised as such and in situations where a knowledge of Irish is required (e.g. when working with Irish medium education), this is made clear on all promotional material. Comhaltas Uladh regularly engages with projects which promote reconciliation and Irish medium education. ## **Activities and Achievements 2023** In 2023, Comhaltas Uladh continued with the voluntary administration of a Gaeltacht scholarship scheme, funded by Foras na Gaeilge. This was done through a programme of visits to secondary schools and branches in Northern Ireland to promote the Gaeltacht summer colleges and to give students the opportunity to partake in various competitions to win scholarships. Over 1000 students participated in these competitions, with a significant number aged 12-18 being awarded scholarships. Comhaltas Uladh also continued to contribute to the development of Irish literature and to the provision of language learning resources. The organization assisted in specialized language courses directed towards GCSE; AS and A2 students, enhancing their ability in spoken Irish and understanding of local issues such as Irish Language Place-Names and Surnames. A further edition of the songbook, which we had published in 2022, was produced (Abair Amhrán (Say a Song) book and some smaller publications, including Faigh Fáinne, Caith Fáinne (Get a Fáinne, Wear a Fáinne) we also produced. These were published and distributed throughout our branch network and, indeed, further afield. Further development on a voluntary basis of an online presence, increased the organisation’s impact considerably and has increased the provision of facilities to support the promotion of spoken Irish. ## **Financial** Total income for the year exceeded total expenditure by £20.3k and the Trustees consider the overall financial position at the end of the year as stable. Income received during the year included £2.3k from Conradh na Gaeilge. Comhaltas Uladh had no debts at the end of the reporting year. ## **Statement of compliance** In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s educational purposes and provide a public benefit. ## **Trustees 31/12/23** N. Comer Ú. Cregan S. Mac Dhaibhéid Signed on behalf of the Trustees