Gaeltacht

Gaeltacht (/ˈɡeɪltəxt/ GAYL-təkht, Irish: [ˈɡeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠ], pl. Gaeltachtaí) are the districts of Ireland, individually or collectively, where the Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular, or language of the home.[1] The Gaeltacht districts were first officially recognised during the 1920s in the early years of the Irish Free State, following the Gaelic revival, as part of a government policy aimed at restoring the Irish language.[2]

This article is about the Irish Gaelic-speaking area. For the Scottish Gaelic-speaking area, see Gàidhealtachd.

Official Gaeltacht regions in Ireland

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]

History
An Ghaeltacht 1926; areas of the island of Ireland which would have qualified for Gaeltacht status according to the first Coimisiún na Gaeltachta
An Ghaeltacht 1956

In 1926, the official Gaeltacht was designated as a result of the report of the first Gaeltacht Commission Coimisiún na Gaeltachta. The exact boundaries were not defined. At the time, an area was classified as Gaeltacht if 25% or more of the population was Irish-speaking; however, Gaeltacht status was also accorded to many areas that did not meet the 25% threshold. The Irish Free State recognised that there were predominantly Irish-speaking or semi-Irish-speaking districts in 15 of its 26 counties.

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.

In 1956, under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956, the position of Minister for the Gaeltacht (now the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media) was created. The same legislation allowed the government to designate areas as being Gaeltacht districts.[6] They were initially defined precisely[7] and excluded many areas in which the number of Irish speakers had declined. Gaeltacht areas were recognised in seven of the state's 26 counties (nominally Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Kerry, and Waterford).

Since then, the Gaeltacht boundaries have been maintained since then, with minor changes: the inclusion of An Clochán (Cloghane) and Cé Bhréanainn (Brandon) in County Kerry in 1974; the inclusion of a part of West Muskerry in County Cork (although the Irish-speaking population had decreased markedly from what it had been before the 1950s); and the inclusion of Baile Ghib (Gibstown) and Ráth Chairn (Rathcarran) in Meath in 1967.

21st century

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.[8]

In 2002 the third Coimisiún na Gaeltachta stated in its report[9] 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.

The study was undertaken by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge (part of the National University of Ireland, Galway). On 1 November 2007 Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ("A Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Usage of Irish in the Gaeltacht") was published.[10]

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.[11] 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).[12] The Bill was also criticised for placing all responsibility for the maintenance of Irish on voluntary organisations, with no increase in government resources.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

Administration
Traffic sign, meaning "Give Way" or "Yield", in Ring, County Waterford

The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, under the leadership of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is responsible for the overall Irish Government policy with respect to the Gaeltacht, and supervises the work of the Údarás na Gaeltachta and other bodies. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta is the Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) radio station serving the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers generally. TG4 is the television station which is focused on promoting the Irish language and is based in the County Galway Gaeltacht.

In March 2005, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív announced that the government of Ireland would begin listing only the Irish language versions of place names in the Gaeltachtaí as the official names, stripping the official Ordnance 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 the Official Languages Act.[16]

Gaeltachtaí in the Republic of Ireland

Demographics
An Ghaeltacht 2007, zones within Category A

The 2016 census of the Republic of Ireland showed that the population of the Gaeltacht was 96,090, 2% of the total population and a rise of 4.5% from 2006. 63,664 of the Gaeltacht population were Irish speakers, i.e. 63%.[17]

The percentage of respondents who said they spoke Irish daily outside the education system in the 2011 census.

The Gaeltacht districts have historically suffered from mass emigration.[18] 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.[19] There is no evidence that periods of relative prosperity have materially improved the situation of the language.

Donegal Gaeltacht

The Donegal (or Tyrconnell) Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht [Chontae] Dhún na nGall or Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill)[20][21] has a population of 23,346[22] (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 of the Rosses, Gweedore and Cloughaneely 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 in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies in the Donegal Gaeltacht. This region is particularly popular with students of the Ulster dialect; each year thousands of students visit the area from Northern 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.

Signs in Irish in Dungloe, County Donegal.

Gweedore in County Donegal is the largest Gaeltacht parish in Ireland, which is home to regional studios of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. It has produced well-known traditional musicians, including the bands Altan and Clannad, as well as the artist Enya. All three have recorded music in Irish.

Galway Gaeltacht

The Galway County (Irish: Gaeltacht Chontae na Gaillimhe) and Galway City (Irish: Gaeltacht Chathair na Gaillimhe) Gaeltachtaí[23] have a combined population of 50,570[24] (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.

There is also a third-level constituent college of National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) called Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua and Carna. The national Irish-language radio station Raidió na Gaeltachta is located in Casla, the Tuairisc online newspaper is in Barna, and the national television station TG4 is in Baile na hAbhann. Galway city is home to the Irish language theatre Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe.

Kerry Gaeltacht

The Kerry Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chiarraí)[25] consists of two areas – the western half of Gaeltacht Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle Peninsula) and central and western parts of Iveragh Peninsula (Uíbh Ráthach). The largest settlement in Corca Dhuibhne is Dingle and the largest in Iveragh Peninsula is Ballinskelligs. The Kerry Gaeltacht has a population of 8,729 (6,185 Irish speakers)[26] and represents 9% of total Gaeltacht population. The Kerry Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 642 km2 (248 sq mi).[27]

Mayo Gaeltacht

The Mayo Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht [Chontae] Mhaigh Eo)[28] as of 2011 has a total population of 10,886[29] 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 and Toormakeady. There are 6,667[29] 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%.

Cork Gaeltacht

The Cork Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chorcaí)[30] consists of two areas – Muskerry and Cape Clear Island. The Muskerry Gaeltacht has a population of 3,895 people (2,951 Irish speakers)[31] 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 of Baile Mhic Íre (Ballymakeera), Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney), Cill na Martra (Kilnamartyra), and Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary).

Waterford Gaeltacht

The Waterford Gaeltacht (Gaeltacht na nDéise, Irish: Gaeltacht [Chontae] Phort Láirge)[32][33][34] is ten kilometres (six miles) west of Dungarvan. 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)[35] 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. Gaeltacht na nDéise was one of the few Gaeltacht areas in which the percentage of daily Irish speakers increased in the recent updated comprehensive linguistic survey of the Gaeltacht.

Meath Gaeltacht

The Meath Gaeltacht (Irish: Gaeltacht [Chontae] na Mí)[36] is the smallest Gaeltacht area and consists of the two villages of Ráth Cairn and Baile 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[37] 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 from Connemara 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 to Galway 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.[38]

Revival and innovation
Main article: Neo-Gaeltacht

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 in Dublin. In 2018 Foras na Gaeilge announced that Carn Tóchair in County 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 in County Clare, and Clondalkin in Dublin.

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.[39] 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.[40]

There is an Irish-language centre Áras Chrónáin in Clondalkin and an Irish language GAA club Na Gaeil Óga CLG based in Lucan and the Phoenix Park.

County Dublin has over 50 Gaelscoileanna including 10 Gaelcholáistí.

Northern Ireland

In 2001, the British government ratified the European 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 the Welsh language or Scottish 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 the Council of Europe.[41]

A language revival has also taken place in southern County Londonderry, centred on Slaghtneill (Sleacht Néill) and Carntogher (Carn Tóchair), both outside Maghera.

In 2022 the British Parliament passed the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, which made Irish alongside English as the two official languages of Northern Ireland, it also repealed the 1737 ban of Irish in Northern Irish courts.[42]

West Clare

Parts of County 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.[43] 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.

North America

The Permanent North American Gaeltacht is an area in Tamworth, 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.[44]

Irish colleges

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 for GAA 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 as Ros Muc in Galway, Ráth Cairn in County Meath, and Teileann and Rann na Feirste in County Donegal, with instruction given by a bean an tí, or Irish-speaking landlady.[45] Popular Irish colleges/Gaeltachts include: Spleodar, Colaiste Sheosaimh and Uisce. Most Irish language summer colleges for teenagers in the Gaeltacht are supported and represented by CONCOS, who are based in Leitir Móir.

See also

References
  1. Webster's Dictionary – definition of Gaeltacht
  2. Maguire, Peter A. (Fall 2002). "Language and Landscape in the Connemara Gaeltacht". Journal of Modern Literature. 26 (1): 99–107. doi:10.2979/JML.2002.26.1.99. S2CID 161439552.
  3. Mac Donnacha, Joe, 'The Death of a Language', Dublin Review of Books, Issue 58, 16 June 2014: http://www.drb.ie/essays/the-death-of-a-language
  4. RTÉ News Report of Friday 29 May 2015
  5. NUASHONRÚ AR AN STAIDÉAR CUIMSITHEACH TEANGEOLAÍOCH AR ÚSÁID NA GAEILGE SA GHAELTACHT: 2006–2011
  6. Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956, s. 2: The Gaeltacht (No. 21 of 1956, s. 2). Enacted on 5 June 1956. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  7. Gaeltacht Areas Order 1956 (S.I. No. 245 of 1956). Signed on 5 June 1956 by Taoiseach, John A. Costello. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
  8. Walshe, John (11 June 2005). "Number of Gaeltacht schools using Irish 'in steep decline'". Irish Independent.
  9. "Report of the Gaeltacht Commission" (PDF). 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  10. pobail.ie Archived 17 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Census 2006 – Volume 9 – Irish Language". CSO. 2007.
  12. "Flawed Gaeltacht Bill in need of brave revision". The Irish Times. 3 July 2012.
  13. Ó hÉallaithe, Donncha (July 2012). "Teorainneacha na Gaeltachta faoin mBille Nua". Beo. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013.
  14. "Tuarascáil Bhliantúil 2012 Annual Report" (PDF). An Coimisinéir Teanga. 2012.
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  16. http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2003/en/act/pub/0032/index.html Irish Statute Book
  17. "7. The Irish language" (PDF). Census 2016. CSO. p. 69.
  18. Kearns, Kevin C. "Resuscitation of the Irish Gaeltacht" (PDF). pp. 88–89.
  19. For a description of this in a local area and the steps taken to counter it, see http://www.udaras.ie/en/faoin-udaras/cliant-chomhlachtai/cas-staideir/ceim-aniar-teo-caomhnu-teanga-i-ndun-na-ngall/.
  20. udaras.ie Archived 3 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  21. "Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill". Houses of the Oireachtas. 4 June 1975.
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  23. udaras.ie Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  24. "Galway". Údarás na Gaeltachta. 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013.
  25. udaras.ie Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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  27. udaras.ie
  28. udaras.ie Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  29. "Gaeltacht Area Mayo". Central Statistics Office. 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013.
  30. udaras.ie Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  31. "Gaeltacht Area Cork". Central Statistics Office. 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013.
  32. udaras.ie Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  33. Oireachtas, Houses of the (18 February 2010). "Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) – Thursday, 18 Feb 2010 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie.
  34. waterford-news.ie Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  35. "Gaeltacht Area Waterford". Central Statistics Office. 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013.
  36. udaras.ie Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  37. "Gaeltacht Area Meath". Central Statistics Office. 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  38. Stenson, Nancy (Spring 1986). "Language Report: Rath Cairn, the youngest Gaeltacht". Éire-Ireland: 107–118.
  39. "Profile 9 What We Know – Education, skills and the Irish language". CSO. 22 November 2012.
  40. Carty, Nicola. "The First Official Language? The status of the Irish language in Dublin" (PDF).
  41. Council of Europe Charter monitoring report, 2010
  42. "Language and identity laws could spell significant change". 11 December 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023 – via www.bbc.com.
  43. "Public Meeting on Clare Gaeltacht Revival". Cogar.ie. 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013.
  44. "Gaeltacht Cheanada – Canada's Gaeltacht". Foras na Gaeilge. 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  45. "Coláiste Aoidh Mhic Bhricne ag ceiliúradh 60 bliain". Meon Eile. 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
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