Out of interest, does anyone know of anyone Irish speaking communities in the 'Galltacht' so that I might visit them to see how they managed to be set up in the first place?
Freisin, i am aware of the sugestion of handing over abandoned housing estates to people who are willing to speak Irish. If this is the case does anyone know of it being carried out?

The most well known is the Bóthar Seoighe Gaeltacht in West Belfast. It grew up from the community and has no official recognition as such.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaw's_Road

I see a Gaeltacht Quarter in the Falls Road also mentioned in that article.

There was also talk of setting up a mini-Gaeltacht in Ballymun.

The abandoned housing estate thing is just kite flying - I wouldn't pay too much attention to it.

Carn Tóchair in North County Derry has it in their development plan to have Irish as the primary language of the area within two generations. Taken from website ancarn.org “within two generations or 50 years to develop a bilingual community where the Irish-language becomes the accepted medium of communication of the majority of the community” Two unique selling points are 1. All the children in the area are educated in Irish the only place outside of the official Gaeltacht areas and 2. The post office in Tirkane is the only one in the six counties that offers bilingual service Irish/English. This, like Gaeltacht Bóthar Seoige, has arisen out of a community led demand for language shift.

Ard Barra is a micro Gaeltacht in Gleann Maghair Co. Cork consisting of six Irish speaking households in an estate. Tomás O Canainn the musician originally from Derry lives in one of them.

I was aware of the Gaeltacht movement in the North, but I suppose it would be wishful thinking if the same could be said for the South.

In Kildare there is an area with a community of Irish speakers, and most people go to Gaelscoil in the area.

Ca bhfuil an ait sin i gCill Dara?

is there any unregistered gaeltachts in Clare?

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An Carn is an area just outside Machaire Rátha (Maghera)in South Derry. Irish was spoken here a few generations ago but currently the Irish language primary school has more pupils than the english speaking one. An Carn is the centre of all that happens in this project, ranging from Irish language classes, music classes agus drama as Gaeilge. They have oifig an phoist, siopa an carn with a huge range of books, arts and crafts etc. go online and help support this project.
They also hold local history,surname and placename lectures on a regular basis. It's a community based project and they deserve great credit.

So An Carn could be a 'flagship' gaeltacht (or Bailetacht, as I like to call it) for the rural areas of Ireland?

Trócaire orainn, a Sheamais91. Bailetacht is a horrible word. Tá brón orm.

What about Baile na nGael? Gaelbhaile?

We already have "Baile na nGall" and "Gallbhaile".. We even have Galltacht.

You could go further and think of Áitreabh Gael or Críocha Gael.

Suppose you left out "Gael" altogether and took a look at the cluster of townlands in the area and pick the most poetic of them and designate that as a regional name in Irish. If the people rose to the challenge and learnt Irish with a view to using it among themselves -- to whatever degree -- the name would become known. Perhaps An Carn is as good as you'll get. Cuirfidh gach aon duine san áit agus gach glúin dá dtagann ina ndiaidh cloch ar an gcarn.

Carn Tóchair nó Carntogher is the name given to the local mountain. The An Carn Centre is nestled at the foot of this mountain, on the edge of the Sperrin mountain range. This route (over Carntogher) was used years ago, as the main route to Derry etc. The views from here are fantastic with Slemish, Divis and the Mourne Mountains etc in the distance. An enjoyable climb but worthwhile, when at the top. Scaip an scéal!!