“The Irish Language … it is well to remember that nations which submit to conquest or races which abandon their language in favour of that of an oppressor do so, not because of the altruistic motives, or because of love of brotherhood of man, but from a slavish and cringing spirit.” James Connolly, The Harp. April, 1908.”

The Irish language, which is of Celtic and Indo-European origin, has been spoken in Ireland for possibly 2,500 years. The English (Anglo-Norman) invasion of Ireland, which began in the late 12th century, was a major challenge to the status of Irish as the language of the country. English governments pursued policies against the Irish language. For example, an edict of Henry VIII in 1541 stated that “the King`s true subjects, inhabiting this land of Ireland, of what estate condition or degree shall use and speak commonly the English tongue and language..”. Irish maintained its dominance however until the destruction of the Gaelic leadership by the English crown in the 17th century. Plantations and further widespread confiscations of land as a result of the Cromwellian and Williamite wars created a powerful political and economic elite, which was English speaking. James Connolly stated that “Ireland, at the time she lost her ancient social system, also lost her language as the vehicle of thought of those who acted as her leaders. As a result of this twofold loss the nation suffered socially, nationally and intellectually from a prolonged arrested development.”

Irish became the language of the oppressed. For those seeking to climb the social or economic ladder a knowledge of English was a prerequisite. Nevertheless the numbers speaking Irish increased in the 19th century as the population of the poor rose rapidly. This pattern was painfully reversed by the devastation of An Gorta Mor 1845-1850 (The Great Famine.) Consequently a terrible blow was inflicted on the numbers speaking Irish. The English speaking education system and a predominantly English speaking Catholic Church contributed to this decline.

The Gaelic League, founded in 1893, flourished for a while into the 20th century as a language revival movement. These years coincided with the historic revolutionary activities of an empowered republican movement, which endorsed the centrality of Irish language revival.

Michael Collins stated “How can we express our most subtle thoughts and finest feelings in a foreign tongue ? Irish will scarcely be our language in this generation, not even perhaps in the next but until we have it again on our tongues and in our minds we are not free.”

The foundation of the Free State in 1922, as a result of counter-revolution, ushered in the policy of compulsory Irish in schools. Successive governments have carried forward this policy and other policies but with only with very limited success with regard to achieving their aim of a bilingual population. Probably the best hope of securing bilingualism rests with the increasingly numerous Gaelscoileanna. These are primary schools where Irish is the language of education. There is now a strong tradition of this type of education in parts of Dublin and Belfast but these schools are distributed throughout Ireland, including Laois. As voluntary schools they provide opportunities for those who have a positive attitude to Irish. Likewise T na G, the Irish medium television channel, provides an interesting and entertaining modern communications facility for Irish language learners and speakers alike. The all-island home of the language is emphasised by Foras na Gaeilge; the cross-border implementation body for Irish. This is as a result of the Good Friday Agreement and it is appropriate that it is part of the transitionary structures towards a united Ireland.

Sinn Féins objective is to secure a bilingual society in Ireland in which the Irish language is woven into the fabric of everyday life. Other countries, with similar historical experiences to our own, have proven that a nation can secure the survival and common usage of its native tongue. Finland is a case in point. The Finns were under the imperial jackboot of Sweden first and later Russia. All through the years of foreign control the Finns were determined to restore their language. Finland is now a republic with the Finnish language spoken by more than 90% of the population. Sinn Féin aims that one-day Ireland will boast a similar success.

Terence Mc Swiney, who died on hunger strike in 1920, stated that ” In subtle ways we cannot wholly understand that language gives the Irish mind a defence against every other mind, taking in comradeship whatever good the others have to offer, while retaining its own power and place. The Irish mind itself can do itself justice only in Irish.”

Acmhainní d’fhoghlaimeoirí / Resources for learners

If you’re learning Irish, there are some useful language tools and resources currently available that you may not know about. The online resources mentioned below are all available free of charge.

Beo! is a monthly magazine made accessible by its interactive glossaries which enable the reader to click on difficult phrases and get an English language translation. It contains a wide range of articles on such topics as current affairs, the arts, sport and technology.

Gaelport, a portal site for the Irish language, contains comprehensive information about events, language courses, job vacancies and a lot
more.
For those keen to develop their vocabulary, the Irish language terminology sites focal.ie and acmhainn.ie are invaluable resources. An Foclóir Beag is the online version of the popular pocket dictionary and it also acts as a searchable grammar.

Those writing Irish on a regular basis will find WinGléacht, the electronic version of Niall Ó Dónaill’s Irish-English dictionary, a useful tool. It is available from Conradh na Gaeilge’s bookshop and from the various online Irish language shops (see details below). The spellchecker GaelSpell and grammar checker Ceart have also become indispensable tools for those wishing to write correct Irish.

RTÉ’s multimedia course Turas Teanga remains a popular choice for intermediate level learners. It consists of a book, three audio CDs and two DVDs containing the 20 programmes in the TV series of the same name, presented by Sharon Ní Bheoláin, first broadcast on RTÉ in 2004. It will be shown again later this year. There have been several comprehensive language courses written for beginners in recent years as well, including Gaeilge agus Fáilte by Annette Byrne (2001) and Teach Yourself Irish by Diarmuid Ó Sé and Joseph Sheils (2002).

Eolaire / Directory

This directory contains information about Irish language organisations, publications, and online and other resources.

CD-ROMs in Irish
www.fiosfeasa.com (Fios Feasa)

Certification system for learners of Irish
www.teg.ie (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge / European Certificate in Irish)

Events / places to use Irish
www.araschronain.com (Áras Chrónáin, Dublin)
www.antoireachtas.ie (Oireachtas festival, various locations)
www.anclub.ie (Conradh na Gaeilge’s club, Dublin)
www.clubsult.com (Sult, Dublin)
www.culturlann.ie (Cultúrlann Mc Adam Ó Fiaich, Belfast)
www.gaelaras.ie (An Gaeláras, Derry)
www.ionad.org (Ionad Buail Isteach, Dublin)
www.merriman.ie (Merriman Winter School)
www.rathcairn.com (An Bradán Feasa, Ráth Cairn, Meath Gaeltacht)
www.snag.ie (Seachtain na Gaeilge, throughout Ireland)

Language classes
www.araschronain.com (Áras Chrónáin)
www.cnag.ie (Conradh na Gaeilge)
www.gaelchultur.com (Gaelchultúr)
www.gael-linn.ie (Gael Linn)
www.daltai.com (Daltaí na Gaeilge)

Language courses and cultural events in the Gaeltacht
www.acadamh.ie/ionaid/ceathru_rua.html (Áras Mháirtín Uí Chadhain)
www.corca-dhuibhne.com (Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne)
www.dailuladh.com (Dáil Uladh)
www.gael-linn.ie (Gael Linn)
www.gaelsaoire.ie (Gaelsaoire)
www.oideas-gael.com (Oideas Gael)
www.rathcairn.com (Ráth Cairn)

Language organisations
www.gaeilge.ie (Foras na Gaeilge: government body charged with promoting Irish)
www.glornangael.ie (Glór na nGael: annual competition for groups promoting Irish)
www.gaelport.com (Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge: umbrella group for various organisations)
www.cnag.ie (Conradh na Gaeilge: long-established organisation)
www.udaras.ie (Údarás na Gaeltachta: development agency for Gaeltacht areas)

Media
www.beo.ie (Beo!, monthly magazine)
www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/irish/index.shtml (BBC Northern Ireland)
www.foinse.ie (Foinse, weekly newspaper)
www.nuacht.com (Lá Nua, daily newspaper)
www.raidiofailte.com (Raidió Fáilte, Belfast)
www.rnl106.com (Raidió na Life 106.4, Dublin)
www.rte.ie/rnag (RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta)
www.rte.ie (RTÉ)
www.tg4.tv (TG4’s programmes online)
Online bookshops
www.cuplafocal.ie (Cúpla Focal)
www.evertype.com/siopa6 (An Siopa Leabhar)
www.litriocht.com (Litriocht.com)
www.oideas-gael.com/siopa (Oideas Gael)

Online resources
www.acmhainn.ie (terminology and dictionaries)
www.cruinneog.com (GaelSpell spelling checker and Ceart grammar checker)
www.csis.ul.ie/focloir (online dictionary and grammar)
www.focal.ie (terminology and dictionaries)
www.gaeltalk.ie (online language courses)
http://imeall.blogspot.com (An tImeall, podcasting through Irish)
www.ranganna.com (online language courses)
www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/liosta (Irish language email lists)
http://www.rte.ie/easyirish/index.html
http://nualeargais.ie/foghlaim/

Portal sites on the Web
www.gaeilge.ie (Foras na Gaeilge)
www.gaelport.com (Gaelport)
www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaeilge/gaeilge.html (Gaeilge ar an Ghréasán)

Publishers of books in Irish
www.cic.ie (Cló Iar-Chonnachta)
www.coisceim.ie (Coiscéim)
www.leabhar.com (Cló Mhaigh Eo)
www.coislife.ie (Cois Life)
Young people
www.colaistenabhfiann.ie (summer colleges and activities for young people)
www.comhluadar.ie (Comhluadar: organisation for parents and children)
www.concos.ie (Concos: summer colleges for young people)
www.feachtas.ie (Feachtas: activities for children aged 8-10)
www.fibin.com (Fíbín: puppeteers)
www.futafata.com (Futa Fata: songs in Irish for children)
www.gael-linn.ie (Gael Linn: competitions, language courses and transition year programmes)
www.ogras.ie (Ógras: youth clubs through Irish for 13-19 year olds)
www.spleodar.com (summer colleges and activities for young people)