Languages of Ireland
| Languages of Ireland | |
|---|---|
| Main | English (95%) Irish (RoI: 39.8% claim some ability to speak Irish) Ulster Scots (0.3%) Shelta |
| Immigrant | Polish, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Lithuanian |
| Signed | Irish Sign Language Northern Ireland Sign Language |
| Keyboard layout | |
| Source | ebs_243_en.pdf (europa.eu) |
There are a number of languages used in Ireland, where Irish and English serve as the two official languages, though the diversity of spoken languages is expanding due to increasing immigration. Since the late 18th century, English has been the predominant first language, displacing Irish. A large minority claims some ability to use Irish, and it is the first language for a small percentage of the population. In the 19th century, the Gaelic Revival, a cultural movement dedicated to reclaiming the Irish language, contributed to the constitutional recognition of the Irish language. A key aspect of the movement was the Gaelic League, established in 1893, which promoted Irish literature and Irish language in education.
In the Republic of Ireland, under Article 8 of the Constitution of Ireland (1937), both languages have official status, with Irish being the national and first official language, and English as the second official language. While, English is the dominant language in most of the country, Irish is the primary language in Gaeltacht areas, where it is used in everyday life. Most students learn Irish at school as a core subject, outside Gaeltacht areas.
The Official Languages Act was enacted in 2003 to support the use of Irish in public life. It requires public services to be provided in both Irish and English. Also, it established the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga (Irish Language Commissioner) to monitor compliance. Additionally, in 2021, the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services was passed aiming to have 20% of public servants be competent in Irish by 2030.
In Northern Ireland, English is the primary language for 95% of the population, and de facto official language, while Irish is recognised as an official language and Ulster Scots is recognised as a minority language under the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022. Irish language measures in Northern Ireland apply only within that jurisdiction, and are separated from the Republic of Ireland's Official Languages Act framework.