After a decade of academic teaching and research on bilingualism, Dr. Francesca La Morgia felt compelled to share positive and empowering messages about bilingualism with parents and professionals working with young children. Beginning in 2015, Francesca immersed herself in workshops on social enterprise, exploring whether this avenue could align with her vision, social mission, and business concept of approaching language through an arts-based approach.

In 2018, she founded Mother Tongues, marking the establishment of Ireland’s first social enterprise to utilise a creative arts-based approach in empowering parents and children to embrace their mother tongue. Recognising Ireland’s diversity and the importance of inclusivity, Mother Tongues strives to foster pride in language, culture, and the sharing of linguistic heritage among all individuals.

Over time, Mother Tongues has evolved and expanded its offerings in response to parental and stakeholder demands. Today, they provide Talks and Consultations, operate a Learning Hub, organise Events, offer a diverse array of Programs, and curate a repository of Resources. Among their flagship programs is Language Explorers, designed for children in their early years, focusing on language development, parent-child communication, and literacy.

Additionally, Mother Tongues hosts the annual Mother Tongues Festival, the largest celebration of linguistic diversity through the arts in Ireland. This festival serves as a platform to showcase the nation’s rich artistic and cultural tapestry, while also fostering connections among people through the universal power of language.