Emmett McIntyre's blog

The Irish Independent recently reported that the number of pupils being taught in Irish at the Primary level has reached record levels in the recent academic year. Cited were new figures published by the Irish Department of Education that show almost one in 12 schoolchildren at the primary level are receiving their education through Irish. The latest data represents a 27% increase over the past 18 years (A total of 45,278 students across 247 primary schools were taught through the medium of Irish in the recent school year - an annual increase of 1.5%).

Below are excerpts of the recently published review of “The Gaelic Athletic Association and the War of Independence”, by Tim Pat Coogan. The review appeared on the website “The Irish Catholic":

News From The Welsh Language Society:

" According to information received by a language group, the new Welsh Language Commissioner refused to investigate over seventy per cent of complaints relating to the lack of Welsh language services received during his first month in the post – the highest percentage of refusals since the Standards came into force.

The provincial government of Nova Scotia is advertising for teaching staff "with a high level of proficiency in the Gaelic language". The Strait School Board, who are offering the positions, have a catchment area roughly contiguous with the Gaelic speaking heartlands of northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Located in the northeastern part of Nova Scotia, the Centre's jurisdiction encompasses an area of approximately 11,000 square kilometers with a population of 54,972. 

The website "Journal.ie" reports on a radical call to action.  "A Donegal Councillor has said he encourages people to spray paint over English translations on signs in the Gaeltacht region he represents. Speaking to TheJournal.ie,councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig said that he refused to “condemn anyone who takes action to draw attention to the dying breaths of the Gaeltacht” and said he saw the actions as criticism of the government’s failure."

Darach Ó Séaghdha is an Irish writer, podcaster and Irish language activist. Interestingly his parents spoke to him English whilst they conversed in Gaelic. A sadly familiar root cause of Gaelic's demise. He is the author of " Motherfoclóir: Dispatches from a Not So Dead Language"which won the Ireland AM Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year in the 2017 Irish Book Awards.

45 schools in Galway are to benefit from 1.5 million euro in funding under the Irish Language Assistants Scheme, according to the website "Celtic Language News". The new funding comes as part of a national support of 3.6 million euro for the Irish language.

Gorsedh Kernow - the Gorsedh of the Bards of Cornwall - exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall. The tradition of preserving Celtic history and culture through poetry, song, dance, music, art and spoken word stretches back to the story tellers – the Bards of ancient Celtic countries. The bards of Gorsedh Kernow, who have each sworn allegiance to Cornwall as a Celtic nation, help maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall by studying their own Cornish history and the Cornish language and literature, art, music, dance and sport.

In July 2016 we reported on the then latest salvo in the battle between language activists and Dublin’s malevolent attitude towards Gaelic. Ireland’s President Michael Higgins had condemned the failure of the government to honor its responsibility to the Irish language.  In an address to a group of language activists in Dublin, Higgins questioned the goodwill of the Irish Government and lashed out at its failure to meet the increased demand for for Gaelic Medium Secondary education.

April 2019 marks the 5th anniversary of the recognition of Cornish as a UK minority. Cornish, a language that is “reawakening” according to most linguists. The anniversary has seen renewed efforts to foster the Cornish language.