Families throughout Dublin are being encouraged to discover the "gift of Gaeilge" at Bronntanas 2026, a citywide festival offering a rich mix of culture, creativity and outdoor adventure tailored for young children and their parents, guardians and grandparents.

Running from 14 September to 4 October, the festival will bring a diverse programme to libraries and community venues across the capital. Bronntanas is delivered by Gaeilge365, a collaboration between Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council, and is designed to show that Irish can be enjoyed by every household, no matter their fluency.

Taking its name from the Irish for "gift", the festival celebrates sharing the language across generations. Events are presented through Irish or bilingually so newcomers and fluent speakers alike can take part with confidence.

From storytelling and theatre to music workshops, arts activities and outdoor adventures, families will have plenty of ways to spend time together while engaging with the language. Highlights include rap-writing workshops with James Shannon of Imlé, contemporary music sessions with Lisa Murray, kayaking in Dún Laoghaire, sensory and creative arts workshops, storytelling sessions, céilís and heritage experiences exploring the histories of Dublin's communities. A daily family challenge will invite participants to bring Irish into the home with simple, fun tasks that can easily become part of everyday routines.

For Festival Director HK Ní Shioradáin, Bronntanas is about more than language skills alone. "Sometimes we focus so much on learning the language that we forget the reason for learning it in the first place,"said HK. "The language is a doorway to culture, creativity and community."

HK says festivals like Bronntanas are drawing new audiences by prioritising shared experiences over proficiency. "We're seeing people come to Irish-language events because they're interested in the story, the music or the experience, not because they're trying to study Irish," they said. "That's really exciting because it means the audience is growing. Irish belongs to everyone and there's a place for everyone in it."

As part of the programme, four artists have been commissioned to create new Irish-language work, further broadening the cultural offering available through Gaeilge across the city.

Reassuring families that no prior knowledge is needed, HK added that accessibility is a core message of the festival. "I want people to leave any pressure at the door. You don't need perfect Irish. You don't need any Irish at all. Come to a story, a play, a workshop or a family event. Have fun. Pick up a few words along the way."

All events are free, though many require advance booking. Full programme details and reservation information are available at www.linktr.ee/bronntanas26.