The North / South Language Body Annual Report & Accounts 2009

A Thegither ForethochtJoint IntroductionComhréamhrá2009 was yet another highly successful year for the North / South LanguageBody. The Ulster Scots Agency made the promotion of Ulster-Scots heritage,culture and language to new audiences at home and abroad a top priority andcontinued to develop their communication channels. The Agency supportedan extensive range of community activities in venues across the nine countiesof Ulster, including over 100 letters of offer for tuition in music and dance, aswell as 36 Ulster-Scots Festivals and 58 Summer Schools.2009 proved to be another productive year for Foras na Gaeilge also. TheBoard focused their attention on gaining both value for money and fairness,while undertaking the rationalisation of the core funded sector andestablished a new Committee, the Development Committee, in order tofacilitate this. The Irish Government also published their Draft 20-yearStrategy for the Irish Language, reaffirming the central statutory role whichForas na Gaeilge has in promoting the Irish language on an all-island basis.The positive relations between the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilgecontinued to be displayed through their co-operation on various projectsthroughout the year. These projects are described in detail in both the UlsterScots report and the Foras na Gaeilge report which follow.Tom ScottCHAIRMANTHA BOORD O ULSTỀR-SCOTCHLiam Ó MaolmhichílCATHAOIRLEACHFORAS NA GAEILGE