gaeltacht

{{Short description|Primarily Irish-speaking regions in Ireland}}

{{About|the Irish Gaelic-speaking area|the Scottish Gaelic-speaking area|Gàidhealtachd{{!}}Gàidhealtachd}}

A {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|eɪ|l|t|ə|x|t}} {{respell|GAYL|təkht}}, {{IPA|ga|ˈɡeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠ|lang}}, {{small|pl.}} {{lang|ga|Gaeltachtaí}}) is a district of Ireland, either individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home.[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gaeltacht Webster's Dictionary – definition of Gaeltacht]

The {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} districts were first officially recognised during the 1920s in the early years of the Irish Free State, following the Gaelic revival, as part of a government policy aimed at restoring the Irish language.{{cite journal|last=Maguire |first=Peter A. |title=Language and Landscape in the Connemara Gaeltacht |journal=Journal of Modern Literature |date=Fall 2002 |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=99–107

|doi=10.2979/JML.2002.26.1.99 |s2cid=161439552 }}

The {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} is threatened by serious language decline.Mac Donnacha, Joe, 'The Death of a Language', Dublin Review of Books, Issue 58, 16 June 2014: http://www.drb.ie/essays/the-death-of-a-language Research published in 2015 showed that Irish is spoken on a daily basis by two-thirds or more of the population in only 21 of the 155 electoral divisions in the {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}}. Daily language use by two-thirds or more of the population is regarded by some academics as a tipping point for language survival.RTÉ News Report of Friday 29 May 2015[https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/udaras-na-gaeltachta.pdf NUASHONRÚ AR AN STAIDÉAR CUIMSITHEACH TEANGEOLAÍOCH AR ÚSÁID NA GAEILGE SA GHAELTACHT: 2006–2011]

History

File:Gaeltacht 1926.jpg}}]]

File:Gaeltacht 1956.jpg

In 1926, the official {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} was designated as a result of the report of the first Gaeltacht Commission Coimisiún na Gaeltachta. The exact boundaries were not defined. At the time, an area was classified as {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} if 80% or more of the population was Irish-speaking; however, partial-{{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} status was also accorded to many areas that did not meet the threshold, so long as they were at least 25% Irish-speaking. The Irish Free State recognised that there were predominantly Irish-speaking or semi-Irish-speaking districts in 7 of its 26 counties, covering 22 districts.{{Cite report |url=https://aran.library.nuigalway.ie/handle/10379/2586 |title=Coimisiún na Gaeltachta Report |date=1925 |publisher=The Stationery Office |language=en}}

In the 1950s, another {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} Commission concluded that the {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} boundaries were ill-defined. It recommended that {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} status be based solely on the strength of language use in an area.{{Cite web |last=Ó Tuathaigh |first=M. A. G. |date=1990 |title=The Development of the Gaeltacht as a Bilingual Entity. |url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED379921.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430162849/http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED379921.pdf |archive-date=2015-04-30 |url-status=live |pages=7–8}}

In 1956, under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956, the position of Minister for the Gaeltacht (now the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media) was created. The same legislation allowed the government to designate areas as being {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} districts.{{Cite ISB|title=Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956|year=1956|number=21|section=2|stitle=The Gaeltacht|date=5 June 1956}} They were initially defined precisely{{Cite ISB|title=Gaeltacht Areas Order 1956|year=1956|number=245|type=si|date=5 June 1956|signedby=Taoiseach, John A. Costello}} and excluded many areas in which the number of Irish speakers had declined. {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} areas were recognised in seven of the state's 26 counties (nominally Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Kerry, and Waterford).

Since then, the {{lang|ga|Gaeltacht}} boundaries have been maintained with minor changes: the inclusion of An Clochán (Cloghane) and Cé Bhréanainn (Brandon) in County Kerry in 1974; the inclusion of a part of West Muskerry in County Cork (although the Irish-speaking population had decreased markedly from what it had been before the 1950s); and the inclusion of Baile Ghib (Gibstown) and Ráth Chairn (Rathcarran) in County Meath in 1967.

21st century

A study in 2005 by the Educational Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-Medium Schools, said that Gaeltacht schools were facing a crisis. It forecast that, without support, few of them would be teaching in Irish in 20 years' time. This would threaten the future of the Gaeltacht. Parents felt that the educational system did not support their efforts to pass on Irish as a living language to their children. The study added that a significant number of Gaeltacht schools had switched to teaching in English, and others were wavering.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/number-of-gaeltacht-schools-using-irish-in-steep-decline-25979924.html|title=Number of Gaeltacht schools using Irish 'in steep decline'|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=11 June 2005|last=Walshe|first=John}}

In 2002 the third Coimisiún na Gaeltachta stated in its report{{cite web|url=http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/20YearStrategyfortheIrishLanguage/Publications/Report%20of%20Coimisi%C3%BAn%20na%20Gaeltachta.pdf |title=Report of the Gaeltacht Commission |year=2002 |access-date=21 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017090003/http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/20YearStrategyfortheIrishLanguage/Publications/Report%20of%20Coimisi%C3%BAn%20na%20Gaeltachta.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013}} that the erosion of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht was now such that it was only a matter of time before the Gaeltacht disappeared. In some areas, Irish had already ceased to be a community language. Even in the strongest Gaeltacht areas, current patterns of bilingualism were leading to the dominance of English. Policies implemented by the State and voluntary groups were having no effect.

The report recommended that a new language reinforcement strategy was required, one that had the confidence of the community itself. The Commission recommended, among many other things, that the boundaries of the official Gaeltacht should be redrawn. It also recommended a comprehensive linguistic study to assess the vitality of the Irish language in the remaining Gaeltacht districts.

The study was undertaken by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge (part of the National University of Ireland, Galway). On 1 November 2007 Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ("A Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Usage of Irish in the Gaeltacht") was published.[http://www.pobail.ie/en/AnGhaeltacht/LinguisticStudyoftheGaeltacht/ pobail.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117224402/http://www.pobail.ie/en/AnGhaeltacht/LinguisticStudyoftheGaeltacht/ |date=17 January 2008 }}

Concerning Gaeltacht boundaries, it suggested creating three linguistic zones within the Gaeltacht region:

A – more than 67% daily Irish speaking – Irish dominant as the community language
B – 44%–66% daily Irish speaking – English dominant, with large Irish-speaking minority
C – less than 44% daily Irish speaking – English dominant, but with Irish-speaking minority much higher than the national average of Irish speaking

The report suggested that Category A districts should be the State's priority in providing services through Irish and development schemes. It also said that Category C areas that showed a further decline in the use of Irish should lose their Gaeltacht status.

The 2006 Census data shows that of the 95,000 people living within the official Gaeltacht, approximately 17,000 belonged to Category A areas, 10,000 to Category B, and 17,000 to Category C, leaving about 50,000 in Gaeltacht areas that did not meet the minimum criteria.{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.ie/en/census/census2006reports/census2006-volume9-irishlanguage|title=Census 2006 – Volume 9 – Irish Language|publisher=CSO|year=2007}} In response to this situation, the government introduced the Gaeltacht Bill 2012. Its stated aim was to provide for a new definition of boundaries based on language criteria, but it was criticised for doing the opposite of this.

Critics drew attention to Section 7 of the Bill, which stated that all areas "currently within the Gaeltacht" would maintain their current Gaeltacht status, regardless of whether Irish was used. This status could only be revoked if the area failed to prepare a language plan (with no necessary relationship to the documented number of speakers).{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/debate/flawed-gaeltacht-bill-in-need-of-brave-revision-1.528204|title=Flawed Gaeltacht Bill in need of brave revision|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=3 July 2012}} The Bill was also criticised for placing all responsibility for the maintenance of Irish on voluntary organisations, with no increase in government resources.{{cite web|url=http://www.beo.ie/alt-teorainneacha-na-gaeltachta-faoin-mbille-nua.aspx/ |title=Teorainneacha na Gaeltachta faoin mBille Nua |first=Donncha |last=Ó hÉallaithe |publisher=Beo |date=July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108155554/http://www.beo.ie/alt-teorainneacha-na-gaeltachta-faoin-mbille-nua.aspx |archive-date= 8 January 2013}}

The annual report in 2012 by the Language Commissioner for Irish reinforced these criticisms by emphasising the failure of the State to provide Irish-language services to Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht and elsewhere. The report said that Irish in the Gaeltacht was now at its most fragile and that the State could not expect that Irish would survive as a community language if the State kept forcing the use of English on Gaeltacht communities.{{cite web|url=http://www.coimisineir.ie/downloads/Tuarascail_Bhliantuil_2012.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205082232/http://www.coimisineir.ie/downloads/Tuarascail_Bhliantuil_2012.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-05 |url-status=live|title=Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2012 Annual Report|publisher=An Coimisinéir Teanga|year=2012}}

A report published in 2015, Nuashonrú ar an Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht: 2006–2011, said that on present indicators, Irish will cease to be used as a community language in the Gaeltacht within ten years.{{cite web|url=http://www.udaras.ie/media/pdf/002910_Udaras_Nuashonr%C3%BA_FULL_report_A4_FA.pdf|title=Nuashonrú ar an Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht: 2006–2011|publisher=Údarás na Gaeltachta|year=2015|access-date=5 June 2015|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114064521/http://www.udaras.ie/media/pdf/002910_Udaras_Nuashonr%C3%BA_FULL_report_A4_FA.pdf|url-status=dead}} By the time of the 2022 census, the number of speakers using the language daily had declined to 20,261. The recent decline is in part attributed to the housing crisis, as young people who grew up within the Gaeltacht are unable to afford homes in the area and leave.{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=James |title='A lot of work to do' - Census shows drop in Gaeltacht's Irish speakers |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/a-lot-of-work-to-do-census-shows-drop-in-gaeltachts-irish-speakers-1625716 |website=Newstalk |language=en}}

Administration

File:geill sli.jpg, meaning "Give Way" or "Yield", in Ring, County Waterford]]File:Stad Irish stop sign.jpg, meaning "Stop"]]

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, under the leadership of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is responsible for the overall Irish Government policy with respect to the Gaeltacht, and supervises the work of the Údarás na Gaeltachta and other bodies. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta is the {{Lang|ga|Raidió Teilifís Éireann}} (RTÉ) radio station serving the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers generally. TG4 is the television station which is focused on promoting the Irish language and is based in the County Galway Gaeltacht.

In March 2005, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív announced that the government of Ireland would begin listing only the Irish language versions of place names in the Gaeltachtaí as the official names, stripping the official Ordnance Survey of their English equivalents, to bring them up to date with road signs in the Gaeltacht, which have been in Irish only since 1970. This was done under a Placenames Order made under the Official Languages Act.http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2003/en/act/pub/0032/index.html Irish Statute Book

Gaeltachtaí in the Republic of Ireland

=Demographics=

File:Gaeltacht 2007.jpg

The 2022 census of the Republic of Ireland showed that the population of the Gaeltacht was 102,973, 2% of the total population; this figure represented an increase of 2% from 2016. 65,156 (66%) of the Gaeltacht population were Irish speakers.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-19 |title=Irish Language and the Gaeltacht – CSO – Central Statistics Office |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpp8/census2022profile8-theirishlanguageandeducation/irishlanguageandthegaeltacht/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=www.cso.ie |language=en}} As of the 2022 census, English is the family and community language in the majority of the 156 Electoral Divisions of the Gaeltacht.

File:Percentage stating they speak Irish daily outside the education system in the 2011 census.png.]]

The Gaeltacht districts have historically suffered from mass emigration.{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.hunter.cuny.edu/courses/geog347/articles/resuscitation_gaeltacht.pdf |first = Kevin C. |last = Kearns |title=Resuscitation of the Irish Gaeltacht|pages=88–89}} Being at the edge of the island they always had fewer railways and roads, and poorer land to farm. Other influences have been the arrival of non-Irish speaking families, the marginal role of the Irish language in the education system and general pressure from the English-speaking community.For a description of this in a local area and the steps taken to counter it, see http://www.udaras.ie/en/faoin-udaras/cliant-chomhlachtai/cas-staideir/ceim-aniar-teo-caomhnu-teanga-i-ndun-na-ngall/. There is no evidence that periods of relative prosperity have materially improved the situation of the language.

=Donegal Gaeltacht=

The Donegal (or Tyrconnell) Gaeltacht ({{lga|Gaeltacht [Chontae] Dhún na nGall}} or Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill)[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/1677 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603152636/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/1677 |date=3 June 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1975-06-04/26/|title=Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. – Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill |website=Houses of the Oireachtas|date=4 June 1975}} has a population of 23,346{{cite web|url=https://udaras.ie/en/our-language-the-gaeltacht/the-gaeltacht/donegal/#facts |title=Donegal |publisher=Údarás na Gaeltachta |year=2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526060346/https://udaras.ie/en/our-language-the-gaeltacht/the-gaeltacht/donegal/ |archive-date=26 May 2013}} (Census 2016) and represents 23.4% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Donegal Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of {{convert|1502|km²|abbr=on}}. This represents 26% of total Gaeltacht land area. The three parishes of the Rosses, Gweedore and Cloughaneely constitute the main centre of population of the Donegal Gaeltacht. There are over 17,132 Irish speakers, 14,500 in areas where it is spoken by 30–100% of the population and 2,500 in areas where it is spoken by less than 30%. In 2006 there were 2,436 people employed in a full-time capacity in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies in the Donegal Gaeltacht. This region is particularly popular with students of the Ulster dialect; each year thousands of students visit the area from Northern Ireland. Donegal is unique in the Gaeltacht regions, as its accent and dialect is unmistakably northern in character. The language has many similarities with Scottish Gaelic, which are not evident in other Irish dialects.

File:Signs in Irish - geograph.org.uk - 51693.jpg, County Donegal.]]

Gweedore in County Donegal is the largest Gaeltacht parish in Ireland, which is home to regional studios of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. It has produced well-known traditional musicians, including the bands Altan and Clannad, as well as the artist Enya. All three have recorded music in Irish.

=Galway Gaeltacht=

The Galway County ({{lga|Gaeltacht Chontae na Gaillimhe}}) and Galway City ({{lga|Gaeltacht Chathair na Gaillimhe}}) Gaeltachtaí[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/gaillimh/1735 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527173635/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/gaillimh/1735 |date=27 May 2011 }} have a combined population of 50,570{{cite web|url=https://udaras.ie/en/our-language-the-gaeltacht/the-gaeltacht/galway/#facts |title=Galway |publisher=Údarás na Gaeltachta |year=2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526045359/https://udaras.ie/en/our-language-the-gaeltacht/the-gaeltacht/galway/#facts |archive-date=26 May 2013}} (2016) and represent 50.8% of total Gaeltacht population. The Galway Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of {{convert|1225|km²|abbr=on}}. This represents 26% of total Gaeltacht land area.

There is also a third-level constituent college of National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) called Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua and Carna. The national Irish-language radio station Raidió na Gaeltachta is located in Casla, the Tuairisc online newspaper is in Barna, and the national television station TG4 is in Baile na hAbhann. Galway city is home to the Irish language theatre Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe.

=Kerry Gaeltacht=

The Kerry Gaeltacht ({{lga|Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chiarraí}})[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/ciarra/1736 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527173825/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/ciarra/1736 |date=27 May 2011 }} consists of two areas – the western half of Gaeltacht Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle Peninsula) and central and western parts of Iveragh Peninsula (Uíbh Ráthach). The largest settlement in Corca Dhuibhne is Dingle and the largest in Iveragh Peninsula is Ballinskelligs. The Kerry Gaeltacht has a population of 8,729 (6,185 Irish speakers){{cite web|url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=04 |title=Gaeltacht Area Kerry |publisher=Central Statistics Office |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015625/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=04 |archive-date=3 December 2013}} and represents 9% of total Gaeltacht population. The Kerry Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of {{convert|642|km²|abbr=on}}.[http://www.udaras.ie/en/an-ghaeilge-an-ghaeltacht/an-ghaeltacht/ciarrai/ udaras.ie]

=Mayo Gaeltacht=

The Mayo Gaeltacht ({{lga|Gaeltacht [Chontae] Mhaigh Eo}})[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/maigh_eo/1734 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527173752/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/maigh_eo/1734 |date=27 May 2011 }} as of 2011 has a total population of 10,886{{cite web|url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=05 |title=Gaeltacht Area Mayo |publisher=Central Statistics Office |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526050557/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=05 |archive-date=26 May 2013}} and represents 11.5% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Mayo Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of {{convert|905|km²|abbr=on}}. This represents 19% of the total Gaeltacht land area and comprises three distinct areas – Erris, Achill Island and Toormakeady. There are 6,667 Irish speakers, with 4,000 living in areas where the language is spoken by 30–100% of the population and 2,500 living in areas where it is spoken by less than 30%.

=Cork Gaeltacht=

The Cork Gaeltacht ({{lga|Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chorcaí}})[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/corcaigh/1737 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527172743/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/corcaigh/1737 |date=27 May 2011 }} consists of two areas – Muskerry and Cape Clear Island. The Muskerry Gaeltacht has a population of 3,895 people (2,951 Irish speakers){{cite web|url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=01 |title=Gaeltacht Area Cork |publisher=Central Statistics Office |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017090441/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=01 |archive-date=17 October 2013}} and represents 4% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Cork Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of {{convert|262|km²|abbr=on}}. This represents 6% of the total Gaeltacht area. The largest Muskerry settlements are the villages of Baile Mhic Íre (Ballymakeera), Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney), Cill na Martra (Kilnamartyra), and Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary).

=Waterford Gaeltacht=

The Waterford Gaeltacht (Gaeltacht na nDéise, {{lga|Gaeltacht [Chontae] Phort Láirge}})[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/port_lirge/1738 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527173836/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/port_lirge/1738 |date=27 May 2011 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2010-02-18|title=Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Thursday, 18 Feb 2010 – Houses of the Oireachtas|first=Houses of the|last=Oireachtas|date=18 February 2010|website=www.oireachtas.ie}}[http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/kfqlojidid/ waterford-news.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054838/http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/kfqlojidid/ |date=21 July 2011 }} is ten kilometres (six miles) west of Dungarvan. It embraces the parishes of Rinn Ua gCuanach (Ring) and An Sean Phobal (Old Parish). The Waterford Gaeltacht has a population of 1,784 people (1,271 Irish speakers){{cite web|url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=07 |title=Gaeltacht Area Waterford |publisher=Central Statistics Office |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017090743/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=07 |archive-date=17 October 2013}} and represents 2% of total Gaeltacht population.

All education in Gaeltacht na nDéise is carried out through the medium of Irish. There are two Pre-schools, two Primary level national schools, one Secondary School, Meánscoil San Nioclás and Coláiste na Rinne, a private boarding school and summer college.

=Meath Gaeltacht=

The Meath Gaeltacht ({{lga|Gaeltacht [Chontae] na Mí}})[http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/an_mh/1733 udaras.ie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527173446/http://www.udaras.ie/index.php/roghchlr_corparideach_/an_ghaeltacht/larscileanna_den_ghaeltacht_/ire/an_mh/1733 |date=27 May 2011 }} is the smallest Gaeltacht area and consists of the two villages of Ráth Cairn and Baile Ghib. Navan, {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}} from Baile Ghib, is the main urban centre within the region, with a population of more than 20,000. The Meath Gaeltacht has a population of 1,771{{cite web|url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=06 |title=Gaeltacht Area Meath |publisher=Central Statistics Office |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021734/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2011/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=GA&Geog_Code=06 |archive-date=3 December 2013}} and represents 2% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Meath Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of {{convert|44|km²|abbr=on}}. This represents 1% of the total Gaeltacht land area.

The Meath Gaeltacht has a history quite different from that of the country's other Irish speaking regions. The Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht was founded in 1935 when 41 families from Connemara in West Galway were resettled on land previously acquired by the Irish Land Commission. Each was given {{convert|9|ha}} to farm. Baile Ghib (formerly Gibbstown) was settled in the same way in 1937, along with Baile Ailin (formerly Allenstown). In the early years, a large percentage of the population returned to Galway or emigrated, but enough Irish speakers remained to ensure that Ráth Cairn and Baile Ghib were awarded Gaeltacht status in 1967. The original aim of spreading the Irish language into the local community met with no success, and the colonists had to become bilingual.{{cite journal|first=Nancy|last=Stenson|title=Language Report: Rath Cairn, the youngest Gaeltacht|journal=Éire-Ireland|date=Spring 1986|pages=107–118}}

Revival and innovation

There are areas of Ireland, north and south, where an attempt is being made to re-establish Irish-speaking communities, with varying levels of success. Such areas are both urban and rural. Most daily speakers of Irish now live outside the existing Gaeltacht areas, and are particularly numerous in Dublin. In 2018 Foras na Gaeilge announced that Carn Tóchair in County Londonderry was going to be one of the first five Líonraí Gaeilge (areas with Irish-speaking networks) on the island of Ireland, along with Belfast, Loughrea in County Galway, Ennis in County Clare, and Clondalkin in Dublin.

=Dublin=

Dublin and its suburbs are reported to be the site of the largest number of daily Irish speakers, with 14,229 persons speaking Irish daily, representing 18 per cent of all daily speakers.{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.ie/en/newsandevents/pressreleases/2012pressreleases/pressreleasecensus2011profile9whatweknow/|title=Profile 9 What We Know – Education, skills and the Irish language |publisher=CSO|date=22 November 2012}} In a survey of a small sample of adults who had grown up in Dublin and had completed full-time education, 54% of respondents reported some fluency in Irish, ranging from being able to make small talk to complete fluency. Only 19% of speakers spoke Irish three or more times per week, with a plurality (43%) speaking Irish less than once a fortnight.{{cite web |url=http://languagecontact.humanities.manchester.ac.uk/McrLC/casestudies/NC/NC_Irish.pdf |last=Carty |first=Nicola |title=The First Official Language? The status of the Irish language in Dublin}}

There is an Irish-language centre Áras Chrónáin in Clondalkin and an Irish language GAA club Na Gaeil Óga CLG based in Lucan and the Phoenix Park.

County Dublin has over 50 Gaelscoileanna including 10 Gaelcholáistí.

=Northern Ireland=

In 2001, the British government ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. Irish (in Northern Ireland) was specified under Part III of the Charter, giving it a status comparable to that of the Welsh language or Scottish Gaelic. This included undertakings in relation to education, translation of statutes, interaction with public authorities, the use of placenames, media access, support for cultural activities and other matters. Compliance with the state's obligations is assessed periodically by a Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe.[http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/minlang/report/EvaluationReports/UKECRML3_en.pdf Council of Europe Charter monitoring report, 2010]

A language revival has also taken place in southern County Londonderry, centred on Slaghtneill (Sleacht Néill) and Carntogher (Carn Tóchair), both outside Maghera.

In 2022 the British Parliament passed the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, which made Irish alongside English as the two official languages of Northern Ireland, it also repealed the 1737 ban of Irish in Northern Irish courts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-63923308|title=Language and identity laws could spell significant change|date=11 December 2022|access-date=14 September 2023|via=www.bbc.com}} In January of 2024 Irish was spoken for the first time in a Belfast court since the repeal of the act. This is the first time in nearly 300 years.{{Cite news|url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/irish-language-used-in-belfast-courtroom-for-first-time-in-300-years/a1191123085.html |title=Irish language used in Belfast courtroom for first time in 300 years |newspaper=Belfasttelegraph.co.uk |date=16 January 2024 }}

=West Clare=

Parts of County Clare were recognised as Gaeltacht areas following recommendations made by Coimisiún na Gaeltachta 1925. In 1956, however, it was decided that there were too few traditional speakers to justify the inclusion of Clare in the Official Gaeltacht. Since then there have been attempts to re-establish the language in the community, and it was claimed in 2012 that there were up to 170 people in County Clare who were daily speakers of Irish.{{cite web|url=http://www.cogar.ie/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=7465 |title=Public Meeting on Clare Gaeltacht Revival |date=27 January 2012 |publisher=Cogar.ie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017105201/http://www.cogar.ie/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=7465 |archive-date=17 October 2013}} The main activist group is Coiste Forbartha Gaeltachta Chontae an Chláir (The Gaeltacht Development Committee for County Clare), whose aim is to achieve Gaeltacht status for County Clare or for part of it.

=North America=

The Permanent North American Gaeltacht is an area in Tamworth, Ontario in Canada. It has no permanent residents but serves as a resource centre for Irish speakers throughout North America. It was officially opened in 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaeilge.ie/The_Irish_Language/Canadas_Gaeltacht.asp |title=Gaeltacht Cheanada – Canada's Gaeltacht |access-date=14 January 2014 |publisher=Foras na Gaeilge |date=2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116081601/http://www.gaeilge.ie/The_Irish_Language/Canadas_Gaeltacht.asp |archive-date=16 January 2014}}

Irish colleges

Irish colleges are residential Irish language summer courses that give students the opportunity to be totally immersed in the language, usually for periods of three weeks over the summer months. During these courses, students attend classes and participate in a variety of different activities games, music, art and sport. There are a number of different Irish colleges for students to choose from throughout the country. Many of the colleges while providing a number of activities and events for young people through the Irish language will be known for or specialise in a specific category. For example, Coláiste Lurgan is commonly known for its promotion of the Irish language through music, Coláiste Aodáin for water sports and team games, and others for GAA sports.

As with the conventional schools, the Department of Education sets out requirements for class sizes and qualifications required by teachers. Some courses are college-based and others provide for residence with host families in Gaeltacht areas, such as Ros Muc in Galway, Ráth Cairn in County Meath, and Teileann and Rann na Feirste in County Donegal, with instruction given by a bean an tí, or Irish-speaking landlady.{{Cite web|url=http://www.meoneile.ie/ailt/col%C3%A1iste-aoidh-mhic-bhricne-ag-ceili%C3%BAradh-60-bliain#.V4ZPJLgrLIU|title=Coláiste Aoidh Mhic Bhricne ag ceiliúradh 60 bliain|access-date=12 August 2015|publisher=Meon Eile|date=2015}}

Popular Irish colleges/Gaeltachts include: Spleodar, Colaiste Sheosaimh and Uisce.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Most Irish language summer colleges for teenagers in the Gaeltacht are supported and represented by CONCOS, who are based in Leitir Móir.

References

External links

[https://chg.gov.ie/ Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media]
[http://www.gaeilge.ie/ Forsa na Gaeilge]
[http://www.udaras.ie/ Údarás na Gaeltachta]
[http://anghaeltacht.net/index.html An Ghaeltacht]