Irish Language
The Irish language is spoken in the Gaeltacht areas of Counties Mayo and Galway, the largest being in the west of County Galway. The Galway Gaeltacht is the largest Irish speaking region in Ireland covering Cois Fharraige, parts of Connemara, Conamara Theas, Aran Islands and Dúithche Sheoigeach. Irish speaking areas in County Mayo can be found in Iorras and Acaill. According to the 2011 census Irish is spoken outside of the education system on a daily basis by 14,600 people.
There are between 40,000-55,000 Irish speakers in the province, 30,978 in the Galway Gaeltacht and 6,667 Mayo Gaeltacht. There is also the 4,265 attending the 18 Gaelscoils (Irish language primary schools) and 3 Gaelcholáiste (Irish language secondary schools) outside the Gaeltacht across the province. See also:
- Connacht Irish
- History of the Irish language
Read more about this topic: Connacht
Famous quotes containing the words irish and/or language:
“Louise, something in me tightens when an American intellectual’s eyes shine, and they start to talk to me about the Russian people. Something in me says, Watch it, a new version of Irish Catholicism is being offered for your faith.”
—Warren Beatty (b. 1937)
“I do not speak with any fondness but the language of coolest history, when I say that Boston commands attention as the town which was appointed in the destiny of nations to lead the civilization of North America.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)