| Ireland has two official languages: English and
Gaelige (Irish Gaelic), commonly referred to simply as Irish. The
Constitution recognizes Irish as the national language and English as the
second official language. About a quarter of the population know enough
Irish to use it in everyday conversation, and about 1% use it as their
main language. The Irish-speaking parts of the country are known as the
Gaeltacht.
Gaelic was the country's main language for
more than 2,000 years. In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the Protestant
Reformation in England, the British persecuted Irish Catholics. Speaking
and teaching Irish Gaelic were outlawed. As a result, the English language
dominated. By 1850, less than a quarter of the Irish population could speak
the country's native language. |
|
Did you know? |
| Irish
words that have entered the English language include banshee, galore, bother,
smithereen, hooligan, tantrum and donnybrook. |
|
|
| In the 19th century, the Irish language became
a symbol of Irish independence. In 1893 Douglas Hyde and Eoin McNeill founded
the Gaelic League to promote the use of Irish Gaelic. By the early 20th
century, poets were writing in Irish and children were studying Irish in
schools.
Today, Irish Gaelic is taught in all schools and
it is a compulsory subject on the Leaving Certificate Examination. Some
students attend schools in which the whole curriculum is taught in Irish.
All government documents are published in both English and Irish. Ireland
also has an Irish radio service, Radio na Gaeltachta, and an Irish
television channel, Telifis na Gaeilge. |
|
|
English |
Irish |
| Good day |
Dia duit! |
| Good day (reply) |
Dia's muire duit |
| How are you? |
Conas atá
tú? |
| I am very well |
Tá mé
go maith |
| Thank you |
Go raibh maigh agat |
| You are welcome |
Tá fáilte
romhat |
| Excuse me |
Gabh mo leithsceal |
| Cheers/to your health |
Sláinte |
| Good luck |
Go n-éirí
an t-ádh leat |
| Goodbye |
Slán |
| Ireland |
Eire |
|
|
|
Did you know? |
| Rather
than saying "goodbye," an Irish person may say "safe home." Another common
expression is "God bless the work," a greeting used when entering the company
of a person who is working. When the Irish say "great craic" (pronounced
"crack"), they mean they are having fun. |
|
|