Gaelic Gets a Boost - European Union Upgrades the Status of the Irish Language

By 2021 there will be an additional 180 highly paid professional positions within the EU bureaucracy for fluent Gaelic speakers.  This has come about as a result of the European Council policy for the upgrading of the Irish Language to “Fully Official EU Status”.

This is good news for the Irish Language.  No matter how you slice this, the Irish Tongue will benefit in a not insignificant way with the addition of 180 high profile EU officials who are dedicated to the Irish Language.  The individuals filling these new positions all have families who will be enriched from an increased exposure to a family member making a fine living out of dedication to Gaelic.  A small victory perhaps, but this will strengthen the position and status of the Celtic tongue in Ireland.

Rytis Martikonis, Direct General of Translation at the European Commission, is quoted by the Irish Times on the impact of the newly created demand for Gaelic speakers: “It’s a stimulating time for the Irish-speaking community. The EU institutions are fully committed and will work in close partnership with Ireland in meeting the challenges ahead.”

The Irish Times opined on the impact of the change in EU policy regarding the Gaelic language: “The news will come as a boost to those engaged in the debate about the usefulness of studying the Irish language in schools. A recruitment campaign seeking 62 translators has just been launched, with up to 180 jobs for those fluent in the Irish language expected to come up before the end of 2021. Those who want to apply for the jobs will need to be university graduates with “an excellent command” of Irish..."

Sean Kyne, the Irish Government’s Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs, stated: “Often, school students have felt there were only very limited careers arising out of Irish language studies. This is a wonderful opportunity to pursue a rewarding international career and to raise the profile of our national language across Europe.”

In a further ironic twist to the advance of the Irish Language, Minister Kyne, who represents County Galway’s Connermara Gaeltacht in the lower house of Ireland’s Parliament, had to “re-learn” Gaelic and now chair’s his party’s Irish Language Committee.  Good thing he did. Connemara is home to one of the largest Irish speaking communities in Ireland.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/fluent-in-irish-you-could-be-in-...

https://slator.com/demand-drivers/after-upgrading-irish-european-union-s...