BBC Irish Language Unit ‘decimated’ as 60% of Irish language staff to lose jobs
Conradh na Gaeilge, the democratic forum for Irish speakers, has reacted to news that BBC will be cutting 60 % of the full-time roles within the BBC Irish Language team.
It is understood staff were informed of the cuts on Thursday (15th October 2026) via a Microsoft Teams presentation. Conradh na Gaeilge has called the cuts entirely “disproportionate” in comparison to other units, teams and departments within the BBC, identifying the “devastating impact” they will have on the BBC live Irish language programmes.
The cuts will most likely mean live (and award-winning) BBC Radio Ulster Irish language programmes such as Blas will come to an end.
President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, said: “We understand that of the 5 full-time jobs in the BBC’s Irish Language team, 3 of those are being cut. That is a 60% cut to the Irish language workforce.
“At a time where the Irish language is going through phenomenal growth across society, between Irish Medium Education, adult classes, families using Irish in the home, it is difficult to comprehend any logic or rationale to cut 60% of the BBCs Irish language team whilst the Irish language audience is growing and expecting increased provision.
“Those levels of cuts, to what is an award-winning broadcast team within the BBC’s Irish Language Unit, will be devastating to the Irish language in broadcasting here in the North, and seem to be entirely disproportionate to the cuts taking place elsewhere within the BBC.
“We cannot imagine any other sector, team or unit is facing a 60% staffing cut.”
“As things sat prior to these cuts, the Irish language was already the poor cousin in the context of BBC’s provision for our indigenous languages.
“In Wales, there are 2 bespoke Welsh language radio stations, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Cymru 2, broadcasting around 200 combined hours per week, with an annual budget of £12.8m.
“In Scotland, BBC Radio nan Gàidheal broadcasts for at least 90 hours a week and has an annual budget of £3.7m. Here, there is no Irish language BBC station. None.
“We get around 30mins a day, or around 5 hours a week on BBC Radio Ulster. And now BBC are cutting 60% of the team providing that already limited service.
“Those who have made these cuts should be ashamed. The Irish language team’s expertise and experience should all be protected and indeed increased to allow them to address the growing needs of the Irish language community and those with an interest in the language here.”
“The BBC, however, seems to be becoming an increasingly hostile space for the Irish language.
“They have no Irish language corporate policy. They have no dual-language signage on their premises. They have an embarrassingly small library of content for young people and families. They have no Irish language Radio station. And now they are disproportionately targeting Irish language jobs and reducing an already reduced team.
“BBCNI will only have 2 Irish language staff amongst their 650 workforce. Live Irish language output will be decimated as a result of these cuts.”
“We would remind the BBC, and in particular the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, of their duties under the Good Friday Agreement, namely to take “resolute action to promote the Irish language” with bespoke reference to the relative British authorities regarding broadcasting.
