European Union Official Languages Irish
Posted in EU Info on 10/06/2010 11:23 pm by admin
Is your language dying out ?
Eventhough Irish-Gaelic is 1st official language of Ireland and working language of the European Union, there are less than 80,000 native speakers.
However saying that, there are another 250,000-300,000 who speak the language fluently.
Irish is a mandatory school subject in primary and secondary school.
10% of the schooling population are educated entirely through Irish.
Another 1.8 million can speak at least a few words and understand some Irish.
25,000 Irish speakers in the USA.
There is an Irish-speaking area in Erinsville, Ontario, Canada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_North_American_Gaeltacht
In New Foundland, Irish was the main language of the population during the 19th Century.
However, eventhough Irish has huge national and European support, it seems that the language will soon eventually die out.
What’s your oppinion ?
Kerry j put’s it Perfect,
I am welsh and our language was in and could still be in the same situation albeit there are 750 000 native welsh speakers compared to the Irish 80 000 sadly =(. Ireland is doing it’s best to preserve the language they just need to put it into practical use and not just for preservation(I.E IN THE CITIES AND TOWNS, NOT JUST THE GAELTACHTAí.) I have also noticed not everything from the Irish government is bilingual and so on which is a great shame. The Irish need to undergo a massive Back the Irish language movement like wales did . Ireland has been described as wales 30 years ago (In terms of language and policies) Let’s hope in 30 time Irish is going from strength to strength like welsh) Agus ta cupla focail gaeilge agam. I speak a little Gaeilge. Cymraeg yw fy mamiaith. Welsh is my mother tongue.
Slán, Hwyl
Irish Language