Everyone knows that Ireland is the homeland of Guinness and St. Patrick’s Day, but what many people tend to forget is that the country’s first official language is Irish (even though the majority of the nation speaks English). Sadly, the Irish language is included in the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger – but many lovers of the language are fighting to turn the tide.
The Irish language is a unique and beautiful one – one that has survived centuries of adversity. Did you know that, alongside the works by ancient Greek and Roman writers, the earliest examples of European literature were actually written in Irish? And did you know that there’s no one word in Irish for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ respectively? Today, upwards of two million people in the world speak Irish fluently, and while it is the first official language of Ireland and enjoys official recognition in Northern Ireland too, the number of Irish speakers is declining quickly.
The decline
The number of Irish speakers started to fall in the 17th century. The reason why? During this period, the English government ruled Ireland, and restrictive policies were put in place. While English became the language of the ruling class, even children in primary school were punished for speaking Irish in the classroom. Other reasons for the sharp decline in Irish speakers include natural and political disasters, such as the Great Potato Famine.
Saving efforts
A growing number of Irish speakers are now urging the government to turn the tide, calling for an Irish Language Act, which has yet to be implemented. The proposed legislation would give the Irish language equal status to English in Northern Ireland, while a new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, as well as a commissioner for Northern Ireland’s Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition, would be put into place.
There seems to be some movement in the right direction. As of April 2021, an Irish and Ulster-Scots language translation service for public bodies in Northern Ireland started to operate – one of the changes promised in the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement for the restoration of the government of the Northern Ireland Executive. The translation service will provide written translations for public bodies, as well as proofreading services – a good start, and certainly a step in the right direction.
In an ever-connected world that sees more and more smaller languages disappear for good, the loss of Irish would mean the disappearance of an unparalleled cultural heritage – something that simply can’t be lost forever.