Numbers of speakers of Irish
April 7, 2014
Sir, – Your Irish language columnist Caoimhe Ní Laighin misleadingly states in her article(“Cinniúint na Catalóine”, April 2nd) that there are “77,000 cainteoir ag an nGaeilge”.
This is not correct. The number of Irish speakers who claim to use Irish daily “outside the educational system only” should not be equated with the total number of Irish speakers, as your columnist has done. Many Irish speakers living outside Irish-speaking communities do not easily get opportunities on a daily basis to use Irish but they are still Irish-speakers.
In my opinion a better measure of the number of active Irish-speakers is the number of people who claim in census returns to use the language at least weekly outside education. This figure, according to the 2011 census is 188,000 for the 26 counties.
The 2011 census taken in Northern Ireland showed that there were 64,847 people who claimed to be able to understand, read, write and speak Irish. Unfortunately we don’t have figures for daily and weekly users but I would suggest a figure of approximately 16,000 would not be an exaggeration, giving a figure of a little more than 200,000 for the number of people who use Irish on a regular basis within the island of Ireland.
DONNCHA Ó hÉALLAITHE
Gaeltaighde,
Indreabhán,
Co na Gaillimhe
www.irishtimes.com
Brian Bóroimhe agus Cath Chluain Tarbh
April 3, 2014
Féile Scoldrámaíochta Bhéal Feirste
April 3, 2014
Iomainn i nGaeilge
April 2, 2014
Nuachainteoirí – Taighde ar bun
April 2, 2014
Reachtaíocht teanga le foilsiú gan mhoill
April 2, 2014
Advisory Committee on 20 Year Strategy Appointed
April 1, 2014
The first meeting of a newly appointed Advisory Committee for the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language will have its first meeting tomorrow.
Minister of State for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., has founded an Advisory Committee in conjunction with relevant Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations to deal specifically with the implementation of the Government’s 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language and the language planning process arising from the Gaeltacht Act 2012.
Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations have long since demanded such a committee, and have slammed the lack of progress to date in relation to the Strategy. Government bodies have been accused of deliberate procrastination in relation to the Strategy.
In October 2012, a seminar was held between the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Irish language and Gaeltacht organisations. During this seminar, it was strongly proposed that a structure be created whereby the voluntary sector could have input into the implementation of the Strategy.
Representatives of the following organisations will comprise the new advisory committee: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; Údarás na Gaeltachta; Foras na Gaeilge; Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge; Gaelscoileanna Teoranta; Conradh na Gaeilge; Gael Linn; Oireachtas na Gaeilge; Glór na nGael; Comhlachas na gComharchumann Gaeltachta; Muintearas; Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne; CONCOS; Comhar na Naíonraí Gaeltachta; Óige na Gaeltachta; Ealaín na Gaeltachta; and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.
In a letter to the organisations inviting them to the first meeting, Minister of State for the Gaeltacht expressed his desire for the Advisory Committee to foster co-operation and a shared understanding between all parties in relation to the Strategy and the language planning process.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Spraoicheisteanna Fhéile na Gaeilge i gCeatharlach
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