Irish-language theatre gets major boost as theatre award backs Aisling Ghéar’s modern-day Pygmalion
26th November, 2025
The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, with additional support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, is delighted to announce that Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company has been awarded almost €400,000 under Strand 3 of the Irish-language Theatre Award 2025. This significant investment will fund the creation and touring of an ambitious and exciting new theatre production in Irish.
The award will fund Aisling Ghéar Theatre Company’s innovative adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s celebrated and much-loved play, Pygmalion. Reimagined in Oireachtas na Samhna, Belfast 2026, the Irish-language production will explore how accent and language shape identity and belonging and ask who can call themselves a native Irish speaker.
This all-island tour will visit Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, including The Everyman, An Taibhdhearc and Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, with Gaeltacht dates in Gaoth Dobhair and Conamara, bringing high-quality Irish-language theatre to audiences throughout the island.
Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport commented:
“Comhghairdeas le hAisling Ghéar Theatre Co. This ambitious new project, a creative Irish-language interpretation, signals real momentum for the language and for Irish-language theatre. With plans for a 2026 tour across Ireland, it will engage new audiences. I welcome the support of the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and their collaboration with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.”
Maura McGrath, Chair of the Arts Council, said:
“Congratulations to Aisling Ghéar Theatre Co. on this Irish-language Theatre Award. Reimagining Shaw’s Pygmalion for Belfast 2026 will spark timely conversations about language, class and identity, while bringing ambitious Irish-language theatre to audiences across urban and Gaeltacht venues.”
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said:
“Taking George Bernard Shaw’s most famous and influential play as its starting point, this bold new retelling of Pygmalion brings his story to the present day, tapping into current conversations on the Irish language in contemporary Northern Ireland. This landmark award will enable Aisling Ghéar Theatre Co, based in Belfast, to connect with audiences across Ireland, with the support of our colleagues in An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Congratulations Aisling Ghéar.”
This award advances the Arts Council’s commitment to supporting the use and visibility of the Irish language in the arts, enabling the development, production and presentation of large-scale work in Irish.
As part of the project, the company will work with an evaluator to measure outcomes and share learning that will inform future programme development.
Additional Awardees
In addition to this Production and Touring award (Strand 3), €100,000 was awarded between several recipients under other strands: Cúán de Búrca and Ciara Ní É under Strand 1 (Play Development), and Alan McMahon, Cillian Ó Donnachadha and One Two One Two under Strand 2 (Theatre Creation).
The Irish-language Theatre Award is in the funding schedule for 2026, and more information will be available in due course. For more information about this strand 3 award and other Irish-language awards and the Arts Council please follow this link. https://artscouncil.ie/news/irish-language-theatre-award-2025/