Languages of Ireland

Common card · No. 273161

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...

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