Irish guide to ESA promotes Celtic language

The Irish translation of ‘This is ESA’ is expected to give teachers a new cosmic angle to Irish lessons.

It also presents an opportunity to inspire people about Ireland’s exciting contributions to ESA’s programmes, which include a small but growing group of space-based companies that actively use the country’s native tongue. 

The translation was created though a collaboration between ESA and Enterprise Ireland, the government organisation that oversees the country’s space activities.

Irish – known locally as Gaeilge – is the first official language of Ireland. It is taught to most primary and secondary school students, and even has its own national radio and television channels.

Although the language is not as dominant as it once was, it remains in daily use, especially in a few regions of Ireland known collectively as the Gaeltacht.

Global interest in Ireland’s native tongue is currently running high thanks to the annual international Irish language festival Seachtain na Gaeilge. The event – taking place between 1 and 17 March – ends on St Patrick’s Day, a religious holiday that has evolved into a celebration of the country’s culture.

This provides the perfect opportunity to launch the guide – which will be used to help people learn about the language, as well as the Irish space companies that use it.

One firm – ÉireComposites, based in the Galway Gaeltacht which is the country’s largest Irish speaking region – is creating technology that will help to boost understanding of Earth’s atmosphere, after it won an ESA contract.

In collaboration with Belgium-based OIP Space Instruments, the company is developing advanced materials that will prevent stray light from interfering with instruments on board the Earth observing Altius satellite, enabling the spacecraft to collect accurate readings of ozone in the atmosphere.

Tomás Flanagan, chief executive of ÉireComposites, said: “We are proud to be located in one of the most vibrant hubs of the Irish language in the country. Not only are we situated on the edge of the magnificent Wild Atlantic Way with stunning views but every day we hear the tones of our beautiful language.

“At ÉireComposites, we embrace the Irish language and actively play a role in trying to engage with it and ensure it’s a defining part of our company as we continue to develop ground-breaking technologies for crucial ESA missions such as the Altius satellite.”

ESA and Enterprise Ireland would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone across the agency's member states a Happy St Patrick's Day -- Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh!