Irish language

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Irish, or Gaeilge, is a Celtic language native to the island of Ireland. It belongs to the Goidelic branch of Insular Celtic. It is the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland and an official language of Northern Ireland and of the European Union.

Where it’s spoken
- In the Republic, Irish is strongest in communities known as Gaeltacht areas, but many people learn and use it in cities too.
- In 2022, about 1.87 million people aged 3 and over in the Republic said they could speak Irish (around 40% of that age group). Only a minority use it daily outside school.
- In Northern Ireland, the 2021 census showed about 43,557 people spoke Irish daily, with more who had some ability. On the island as a whole, there are people who use Irish in schools, at work, and at home.

Dialects and writing
- There are three main dialects in everyday speech: Connacht, Munster, and Ulster. There are also local varieties in Leinster and among urban speakers.
- Irish has a standard written form called An Caighdeán Oifigiúil (The Official Written Irish), created in the mid-20th century and updated since. It helps people write in Irish, but spoken Irish varies a lot by region.
- The language uses the Latin alphabet today, with some letters and signs that show how words change in speech (lenition and initial mutations). There are no fixed pronunciation rules that fit every dialect, so pronunciation varies.

History and revival
- Irish was the traditional language of most people in Ireland for many centuries.
- From the 16th to the 19th century, English spread, and Irish declined in everyday use. This led to a long process of language loss.
- In the late 1800s, the Gaelic Revival renewed interest in Irish culture and language. The Gaelic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) worked to promote Irish in schools, media, and daily life.
- Since then, Irish has become a recognized national language and has strong official support, though English remains more widely used in daily government and public life.

Status and policy
- The Irish government promotes the language through various laws and plans.
- Official Languages Act 2003 aims to provide services in Irish and English.
- The Official Languages Scheme (updated in 2019) sets out how government services should be available in Irish.
- In 2010–2030, Ireland launched a 20-Year Strategy to strengthen the language, with a plan to increase daily speakers.
- Education policy requires Irish to be studied in schools that receive public funding, and many schools teach entirely through Irish in the Gaelscoileanna (Irish-medium schools).
- In the European Union, Irish became an official language in 2007, allowing use in the European Parliament and EU institutions (with interpreters arranging translations as needed).

People and culture
- There are many “new speakers” who learn Irish in urban settings or online, as well as communities where Irish is still used daily.
- Irish language media (radio, television, newspapers, and online content) and cultural events help keep the language alive and evolving.
- There are also diaspora communities around the world that study and use Irish, keeping links to Irish culture and language.

Writing, grammar, and sound
- Irish has both “broad” and “slender” consonant pairs that affect pronunciation and grammar.
- The language has noun gender, three numbers (singular, dual with two, and plural), and four cases. Verbs change for tense, mood, person, and number, with two forms of the verb “to be” (for different kinds of descriptions).
- Mutations at the start of words show grammatical relationships and meanings, giving Irish its distinctive sound patterns.
- Old writing practices (like Ogham) gave way to the Latin alphabet; the traditional Gaelic type is now mostly used for special purposes.

Endangerment and future
- Irish is considered endangered in some contexts, but it remains an official language with strong cultural and educational support. Many people are learning it as a second language, and urban Irish communities are growing.
- The language’s future depends on continued support in schools, media, public services, and everyday use in homes and communities.

In short, Irish is a long-standing, living language of Ireland with deep roots in history and culture. It has official status, ongoing revival efforts, and a growing variety of speakers—from those in the Gaeltacht regions to many urban learners around the world.