Over 50% of the country “able to speak Irish”
March 22, 2011
According to a recent opinion poll by Lastminute.com on language skills in Ireland, over half of those interviewed claimed to have fluent Irish.
The highest proficiency in Irish was observed amongst those in the 18-25 age group, with 56% claiming fluency.
1,000 participants were involved in this study, and the results showed that 54% of those in Connacht/Ulster were fluent in Irish, compared to 46% in Dublin,/Leintster. and 45% in Munster.
Of those who could speak Irish, 46% had spoken Irish in the past week, and 21% had spoken Irish in the past month. Of the 18-25 age group, 57% had spoken Irish the same week in which the survey was conducted.
This national survey conducted by Lastminute.com comes hot on the heels of an Ipsos/MRBI poll which was published in February, where 1,000 respondents over the age of 15 were interviewed about their attitude towards the Irish language, and its compulsory status at Leaving Cert level in particular.
57% of participants thought that it was important that children in Ireland are brought up learning Irish. Amongst the age group 25-34 69% thought it was important that children in Ireland are brought up learning Irish.
61% thought that Irish should be taught up to Leaving Certificate level. 65% felt that more subjects should be taught through Irish in primary schools to encourage children to use the language more often. And amongst the age group 15-24, 79% thought more subjects should be taught through Irish in primary schools.
In another question about the Leaving Certificate 61% thought that Irish should be compulsory up to Leaving Certificate Level.
The figures above demonstrate, that not only are Irish people supportive of the language, but that the majority support the teaching of Irish as a compulsory subject until Leaving Cert level, and that younger generations have a high level of fluency in the language. These results will give hope to the promotion of the Irish language in the future.
According to a recent opinion poll by Lastminute.com on language skills in Ireland, over half of those interviewed claimed to have fluent Irish.
The highest proficiency in Irish was observed amongst those in the 18-25 age group, with 56% claiming fluency.
1,000 participants were involved in this study, and the results showed that 54% of those in Connacht/Ulster were fluent in Irish, compared to 46% in Dublin,/Leintster. and 45% in Munster.
Of those who could speak Irish, 46% had spoken Irish in the past week, and 21% had spoken Irish in the past month. Of the 18-25 age group, 57% had spoken Irish the same week in which the survey was conducted.
This national survey conducted by Lastminute.com comes hot on the heels of an Ipsos/MRBI poll which was published in February, where 1,000 respondents over the age of 15 were interviewed about their attitude towards the Irish language, and its compulsory status at Leaving Cert level in particular.
57% of participants thought that it was important that children in Ireland are brought up learning Irish. Amongst the age group 25-34 69% thought it was important that children in Ireland are brought up learning Irish.
61% thought that Irish should be taught up to Leaving Certificate level. 65% felt that more subjects should be taught through Irish in primary schools to encourage children to use the language more often. And amongst the age group 15-24, 79% thought more subjects should be taught through Irish in primary schools.
In another question about the Leaving Certificate 61% thought that Irish should be compulsory up to Leaving Certificate Level.
The figures above demonstrate, that not only are Irish people supportive of the language, but that the majority support the teaching of Irish as a compulsory subject until Leaving Cert level, and that younger generations have a high level of fluency in the language. These results will give hope to the promotion of the Irish language in the future.
