The map (click to enlarge) shows the current state of the Gaeltachtaí (all-Irish speaking areas) in our country.

The ‘green’ areas will become even smaller if the current report into where Irish is and isn’t being spoken isn’t acted upon.

The report states that spoken Irish will die out as the primary language of the Gaeltacht within the next 20 years.

To save the Gaeltachtaí and revive the language, the report states that, amongst other radical measures, a complete overhaul of the education system in the Gaeltacht is needed.

The report for the Department of Community and Gaeltacht Affairs:

• Cost €550,000 to complete.
• Was carried out jointly by NUI Galway and Maynooth University.
• And took two years to complete.

Some facts from the report:

• Only 24% of schoolgoers in the Gaeltacht now use Irish among themselves.
• There has been a significant growth in the number of children born outside the Gaeltacht now living in the Irish languages regions.
• In total, 46% of Gaeltacht students of all ages cannot speak Irish or speak very little Irish.

Some recommendations from the report:

• A seven-year language plan should be drawn up for all Gaeltacht areas.
• The establishment of special schools to be attended by students who do not speak Irish.

It will be an awful pity if our own language dies.

Do something Irish ……. use the cúpla focal today!

Tabhair seans di agus mairfidh sí.

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