AGaeltacht (/ˈɡeɪltəxt/GAYL-təkht,Irish:[ˈɡeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠ],pl.Gaeltachtaí) is a district of Ireland, either individually or collectively, where theIrish government recognises that theIrish language is the predominantvernacular, or language of the home.[1]The Gaeltacht districts were first officially recognised during the 1920s in the early years of theIrish Free State, following theGaelic revival, as part of a government policy aimed at restoring the Irish language.[2]
The Gaeltacht is threatened by serious language decline.[3] 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 Gaeltacht. Daily language use by two-thirds or more of the population is regarded by some academics as a tipping point for language survival.[4][5]
An Ghaeltacht 1926; areas of the island of Ireland which would have qualified for Gaeltacht status according to the firstCoimisiún na GaeltachtaAn Ghaeltacht as defined from 1967 to 1974
In 1926, the official Gaeltacht was designated as a result of the report of the first Gaeltacht CommissionCoimisiún na Gaeltachta. The exact boundaries were not defined. At the time, an area was classified as Gaeltacht if 80% or more of the population was Irish-speaking; however, partial-Gaeltacht status was also accorded to many areas that did not meet the threshold, so long as they were at least 25% Irish-speaking. TheIrish Free State recognised that there were predominantly Irish-speaking or semi-Irish-speaking districts in 7 of its 26 counties, covering 22 districts.[6]
In the 1950s, another Gaeltacht Commission concluded that the Gaeltacht boundaries were ill-defined. It recommended that Gaeltacht status be based solely on the strength of language use in an area.[7]
From 1956 to 1993, the Minister for the Gaeltacht often simultaneously held another portfolio (i.e. charge of another Department of State). Since 1993, rearrangements have combined the Gaeltacht with other responsibilities in a single Department of State and ministerial portfolio. The ministers, and the relevant titles (Department of... and Minister for...) have been as follows:
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.[11]
In 2002 the thirdCoimisiún na Gaeltachta stated in its report[12] 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.
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.[14] 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).[15] The Bill was also criticised for placing all responsibility for the maintenance of Irish on voluntary organisations, with no increase in government resources.[16]
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.[17]
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.[18] 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.[19]
In March 2005,Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht AffairsÉamon Ó Cuív announced that the government of Ireland would begin listing only theIrish language versions of place names in the Gaeltachtaí as the official names, stripping the officialOrdnance 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 theOfficial Languages Act.[20]
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.[21] As of the 2022 census, English is the family and community language in the majority of the 156Electoral Divisions of the Gaeltacht.
The percentage of respondents who said they spoke Irish daily outside the education system in the2011 census.
The Gaeltacht districts have historically suffered from mass emigration.[22] 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.[23] There is no evidence that periods of relative prosperity have materially improved the situation of the language.
TheDonegal (or Tyrconnell) Gaeltacht (Irish:Gaeltacht [Chontae] Dhún na nGall orGaeltacht Thír Chonaill)[24][25] has a population of 23,346[26] (Census 2016) and represents 23.4% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Donegal Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 1,502 km2 (580 sq mi). This represents 26% of total Gaeltacht land area. The three parishes ofthe Rosses,Gweedore andCloughaneely 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 inÚdarás na Gaeltachta client companies in the Donegal Gaeltacht. This region is particularly popular with students of theUlster dialect; each year thousands of students visit the area fromNorthern 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.
Gweedore in County Donegal is the largest Gaeltacht parish in Ireland, which is home to regional studios ofRTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. It has produced well-known traditional musicians, including the bandsAltan andClannad, as well as the artistEnya. All three have recorded music in Irish.
TheGalway County (Irish:Gaeltacht Chontae na Gaillimhe) andGalway City (Irish:Gaeltacht Chathair na Gaillimhe) Gaeltachtaí[27] have a combined population of 50,570[28] (2016) and represent 50.8% of total Gaeltacht population. The Galway Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 1,225 km2 (473 sq mi). This represents 26% of total Gaeltacht land area.
TheKerry Gaeltacht (Irish:Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chiarraí)[29] consists of two areas – the western half ofGaeltacht Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle Peninsula) and central and western parts ofIveragh Peninsula (Uíbh Ráthach). The largest settlement in Corca Dhuibhne isDingle and the largest in Iveragh Peninsula isBallinskelligs. The Kerry Gaeltacht has a population of 8,729 (6,185 Irish speakers)[30] and represents 9% of total Gaeltacht population. The Kerry Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 642 km2 (248 sq mi).[31]
TheMayo Gaeltacht (Irish:Gaeltacht [Chontae] Mhaigh Eo)[32] as of 2011 has a total population of 10,886[33] and represents 11.5% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Mayo Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 905 km2 (349 sq mi). This represents 19% of the total Gaeltacht land area and comprises three distinct areas –Erris,Achill Island andToormakeady. There are 6,667[33] 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%.
TheCork Gaeltacht (Irish:Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chorcaí)[34] consists of two areas –Muskerry andCape Clear Island. The Muskerry Gaeltacht has a population of 3,895 people (2,951 Irish speakers)[35] and represents 4% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Cork Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 262 km2 (101 sq mi). This represents 6% of the total Gaeltacht area. The largest Muskerry settlements are the villages ofBaile Mhic Íre (Ballymakeera),Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney),Cill na Martra (Kilnamartyra), andBéal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary).
TheWaterford Gaeltacht (Gaeltacht na nDéise,Irish:Gaeltacht [Chontae] Phort Láirge)[36][37][38] is ten kilometres (six miles) west ofDungarvan. 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)[39] 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.
TheMeath Gaeltacht (Irish:Gaeltacht [Chontae] na Mí)[40] is the smallest Gaeltacht area and consists of the two villages ofRáth Cairn andBaile Ghib.Navan, 8 km (5 mi) 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[41] and represents 2% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Meath Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 44 km2 (17 sq mi). 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 fromConnemara in West Galway were resettled on land previously acquired by the Irish Land Commission. Each was given 9 hectares (22 acres) 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 toGalway 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.[42]
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 inDublin. In 2018Foras na Gaeilge announced that Carn Tóchair inCounty 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 inCounty Clare, andClondalkin in 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.[43] 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.[44]
There is an Irish-language centreÁras Chrónáin in Clondalkin and an Irish language GAA clubNa Gaeil Óga CLG based in Lucan and the Phoenix Park.
In 2001, the British government ratified theEuropean 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 theWelsh language orScottish 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 theCouncil of Europe.[45]
A language revival has also taken place in southern County Londonderry, centred on Slaghtneill (Sleacht Néill) and Carntogher (Carn Tóchair), both outsideMaghera.
Parts ofCounty 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.[48] 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.
ThePermanent North American Gaeltacht is an area inTamworth, 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.[49]
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 forGAA 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 asRos Muc in Galway,Ráth Cairn in County Meath, andTeileann andRann na Feirste in County Donegal, with instruction given by abean an tí, or Irish-speaking landlady.[50]Popular Irish colleges/Gaeltachts include: Spleodar, Colaiste Sheosaimh and Uisce.[citation needed] Most Irish language summer colleges for teenagers in the Gaeltacht are supported and represented byCONCOS, who are based inLeitir Móir.
