Irish Language

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The Irish language, also known as Gaelic, including its history, grammar, pronunciation, and common phrases.

Introduction to the Irish language: This topic covers the history and basic structure of the Irish language, including the alphabet, pronunciation, and grammar.
Irish literature and folklore: This topic includes the study of Irish literature and folklore, including the works of famous Irish poets and authors, as well as the rich history of Irish mythology and folk tales.
Irish history and politics: This topic explores the complex history of Ireland and the political struggles that have defined the country over the centuries, including the Irish War of Independence and the Troubles.
Irish music and dance: This topic covers the rich musical traditions of Ireland, including traditional Irish music and dance, as well as more modern forms of Irish music.
Irish art and architecture: This topic covers the rich artistic history of Ireland, including the iconic architecture of Dublin and other Irish cities, as well as the works of famous Irish artists.
Irish culture and society: This topic explores the unique culture and society of Ireland, including the social customs, traditions, and values of the Irish people.
Irish mythology and spirituality: This topic explores the rich tradition of Irish mythology and spirituality, including the Celtic pantheon of gods and goddesses and the ancient beliefs of the Irish people.
Irish language education and policy: This topic covers the current state of Irish language education and policy in Ireland, including efforts to promote the language and ensure its survival in the modern world.
Irish diaspora and global influence: This topic explores the impact of the Irish diaspora on the world, including the profound influence of Irish culture on the United States and other nations.
Irish food and drink: This topic explores the rich culinary traditions of Ireland, including famous Irish dishes like shepherd's pie and Irish stew, as well as famous Irish beverages like Guinness and Jameson whiskey.
Old Irish: Old Irish refers to the earliest form of the Irish Gaelic language, spoken from the 6th to the 10th centuries, and encompasses its linguistic and cultural evolution during that period.
Middle Irish: Middle Irish refers to the period of the Irish language from the 10th to 12th centuries, characterized by the development of a sophisticated literary tradition and strong influence from Old Norse and Latin.
Classical Irish: Classical Irish refers to the form of the Irish language used from the 6th to 10th centuries, characterized by its rich literature and extensive grammatical complexity.
Early Modern Irish: Early Modern Irish refers to the form of the Irish language spoken from the late 15th to the late 18th century, encompassing linguistic changes and cultural developments during this period.
Modern Irish.: Modern Irish refers to the contemporary development and usage of the Irish language in Ireland, focusing on its revitalization, promotion, and recognition as a vital aspect of Irish culture and identity.
"The standard Irish name in English is Irish, pronounced and sometimes written Gaelic, while Gaeilge (pronounced [ˈɡeːlʲɟə]) is the Irish name."
"Irish is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family."
"Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland."
"English gradually became dominant, particularly in the last decades of the century."
"Only 2% of Ireland's population lived in 2016."
"It is also spoken by a larger group of habitual but non-traditional speakers, mostly in urban areas where the majority are second-language speakers."
"The total number of persons (aged 3 and over) who claimed they could speak Irish in April 2022 was 1,873,997, representing 40% of respondents."
"472,887 said they never spoke it."
"A further 551,993 said they only spoke it within the education system."
"Linguistic analysis of Irish speakers is therefore based primarily on the number of daily users in Ireland outside the education system, which in 2016 was 20,586 in the Gaeltacht."
"In 2021, in response to the Northern Ireland census, 43,557 said they spoke the language on a daily basis."
"47,153 spoke it less often than weekly."
"Irish was the dominant language of the Irish people, who took it with them to other regions, such as Scotland and the Isle of Man, where Middle Irish gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx."
"Irish was also, for a period, spoken widely across Canada, with an estimated 200,000–250,000 daily Canadian speakers of Irish in 1890."
"With a writing system, Ogham, dating back to at least the 4th century AD."
"On the island, the language has three major dialects: Munster, Connacht, and Ulster."
"There is also a 'standard written form' devised by a parliamentary commission in the 1950s."
"The traditional Irish alphabet, a variant of the Latin alphabet with 18 letters."
"Irish has constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland."
"The public body Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the language throughout the island."