Irish Language and Gaeltacht Regions

The Irish language is a living language. There have been huge strides taken over the years to increase the number of people speaking Irish. Yet the state has failed to develop the infrastructure needed to achieve the level of service that the public demand. Funding for organisations supporting the Irish language has declined dramatically in recent years yet according to a Conradh na Gaeilge report into the development of the language over the next 5 years (An Plean Fáis 2024-2029), 2 out of every 3 people surveyed believed that the state needed to provide more support to promote the language.

The same report showed that 1 of every 2 people surveyed would like the opportunity to speak Irish more often. The desire is clear. The need is also clear. The Irish language is one of the most important cultural identifiers we have as a people. It is a gift that has been handed from generation to generation and has survived centuries of attempts to stifle its use. In a world where globalisation and cultural homogeneity is rife, the language is that connection with the sense of place and community that every independent society needs to flourish.