The Irish Language Revival in Northern Ireland
A P5–P7 resource on the revival of the Irish language in Northern Ireland — the growth of Gaelscoileanna, the political dimension of Irish in NI, the Identity and Language Act 2022, and community Irish language projects.
Preview
Page count: 2. Print-ready PDF — letter / A4 friendly. Click image to see all pages.
Irish in Northern Ireland
- 1 Irish language in NI — the numbers Approximately 184,000 people in Northern Ireland (10.4% of the population) have some ability in Irish, according to the 2021 census. About 6,000 speak it daily. Numbers have grown significantly since the Good Friday Agreement.
- 2 Gaelscoileanna in NI Over 30 Irish-medium primary schools in Northern Ireland. Enrollment has grown significantly — more families (including Protestant families) are choosing Irish-medium education. The demand for places exceeds supply.
- 3 Political dimension In NI, the Irish language has historically been associated with the nationalist/republican community. This is slowly changing — more people see Irish as a shared cultural heritage.
- 4 Foras na Gaeilge The cross-border body that promotes the Irish language on both sides of the border. Provides resources, training, and funding for Irish language organisations and schools.
- 5 Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022 Legislation giving the Irish language formal recognition in Northern Ireland for the first time. Requires public bodies to accommodate Irish speakers and promotes Irish language arts and culture.
- 6 Community Irish Irish language classes and community groups (e.g., Gaelic League/Conradh na Gaeilge) have operated in nationalist areas of Belfast and other NI towns for over a century. The Cultúrlann on the Falls Road is Belfast's Irish language arts centre.
Learning objective
Describe the current state of the Irish language in Northern Ireland; explain the significance of the Identity and Language Act 2022; and understand both the political and cultural dimensions of Irish in NI.
About this resource
Irish language in Northern Ireland resources
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For NI schools
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F Foras na Gaeilge resources — free at forasnagaeilge.ie
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U Ulster Irish — language guide for NI schools — Reg Maxwell
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