56-520: An Fál Carrach (anglicised as Falcarragh ), sometimes called Na Crois Bhealaí ('the Crossroads'), is a small Gaeltacht town and townland in the north-west of County Donegal , Ireland. The settlement is in the district and old parish of Cloughaneely . According to the 2016 census , of the 1,329 people over the age of 3 living in Na Crios Bhealaí electoral division, 70% of
112-614: A bean an tí , or Irish-speaking landlady. Popular Irish colleges/Gaeltachts include: Spleodar, Colaiste Sheosaimh and Uisce. Most Irish language summer colleges for teenagers in the Gaeltacht are supported and represented by CONCOS , who are based in Leitir Móir . Coimisi%C3%BAn na Gaeltachta Coimisiún na Gaeltachta (English: Gaeltacht Commission ), abbreviated CnaG , was an Irish government agency which worked from 2000 to 2002 to draft recommendations to strengthen
168-597: A Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe . A language revival has also taken place in southern County Londonderry, centred on Slaghtneill (Sleacht Néill) and Carntogher (Carn Tóchair), both outside Maghera . In 2022 the British Parliament passed the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 , which made Irish alongside English as the two official languages of Northern Ireland, it also repealed
224-540: A combined population of 50,570 (2016) and represent 50.8% of total Gaeltacht population. The Galway Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 1,225 km (473 sq mi). This represents 26% of total Gaeltacht land area. There is also a third-level constituent college of National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) called Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua and Carna . The national Irish-language radio station Raidió na Gaeltachta
280-404: A community language in the Gaeltacht within ten years. By the time of the 2022 census, the number of speakers using the language daily had declined to 20,261. The recent decline is in part attributed to the housing crisis, as young people who grew up within the Gaeltacht are unable to afford homes in the area and leave. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media , under
336-523: A crisis. It forecast that, without support, few of them would be teaching in Irish in 20 years' time. This would threaten the future of the Gaeltacht. Parents felt that the educational system did not support their efforts to pass on Irish as a living language to their children. The study added that a significant number of Gaeltacht schools had switched to teaching in English, and others were wavering. In 2002
392-664: A full-time capacity in Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies in the Donegal Gaeltacht. This region is particularly popular with students of the Ulster dialect ; each year thousands of students visit the area from Northern Ireland . Donegal is unique in the Gaeltacht regions, as its accent and dialect is unmistakably northern in character. The language has many similarities with Scottish Gaelic, which are not evident in other Irish dialects. Gweedore in County Donegal
448-403: A further decline in the use of Irish should lose their Gaeltacht status. The 2006 Census data shows that of the 95,000 people living within the official Gaeltacht, approximately 17,000 belonged to Category A areas, 10,000 to Category B, and 17,000 to Category C, leaving about 50,000 in Gaeltacht areas that did not meet the minimum criteria. In response to this situation, the government introduced
504-498: A geographical area of 1,502 km (580 sq mi). This represents 26% of total Gaeltacht land area. The three parishes of the Rosses , Gweedore and Cloughaneely constitute the main centre of population of the Donegal Gaeltacht. There are over 17,132 Irish speakers, 14,500 in areas where it is spoken by 30–100% of the population and 2,500 in areas where it is spoken by less than 30%. In 2006 there were 2,436 people employed in
560-436: A new language reinforcement strategy was required, one that had the confidence of the community itself. The Commission recommended, among many other things, that the boundaries of the official Gaeltacht should be redrawn. It also recommended a comprehensive linguistic study to assess the vitality of the Irish language in the remaining Gaeltacht districts. The study was undertaken by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge (part of
616-779: A plurality (43%) speaking Irish less than once a fortnight. There is an Irish-language centre Áras Chrónáin in Clondalkin and an Irish language GAA club Na Gaeil Óga CLG based in Lucan and the Phoenix Park. County Dublin has over 50 Gaelscoileanna including 10 Gaelcholáistí . In 2001, the British government ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages . Irish (in Northern Ireland)
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#1732771930924672-426: A population of 1,784 people (1,271 Irish speakers) and represents 2% of total Gaeltacht population. All education in Gaeltacht na nDéise is carried out through the medium of Irish. There are two Pre-schools, two Primary level national schools, one Secondary School, Meánscoil San Nioclás and Coláiste na Rinne, a private boarding school and summer college. The Meath Gaeltacht ( Irish : Gaeltacht [Chontae] na Mí )
728-568: A steady decline in the number of native Irish speakers in Ireland. These speakers are now concentrated in scattered rural areas known collectively as the Gaeltacht and recent reports claim that in several of these areas Irish is no longer effectively a community language. The establishment, subsequent reporting, and relative inaction on the recommendations of the Commission should be seen against this background. The Commission reported that it
784-464: A structure which they hoped would ensure an advisory process at planning level and which would be community friendly and language-centred at the operational level - this would include the establishment of a Board of Independent Commissioners and the restructuring of Údarás na Gaeltachta . Other recommendations of the Report were: There was an earlier Coimisiún na Gaeltachta in 1926, and in 1963 there
840-402: A variety of different activities games, music, art and sport. There are a number of different Irish colleges for students to choose from throughout the country. Many of the colleges while providing a number of activities and events for young people through the Irish language will be known for or specialise in a specific category. For example, Coláiste Lurgan is commonly known for its promotion of
896-486: Is Dingle and the largest in Iveragh Peninsula is Ballinskelligs . The Kerry Gaeltacht has a population of 8,729 (6,185 Irish speakers) and represents 9% of total Gaeltacht population. The Kerry Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 642 km (248 sq mi). The Mayo Gaeltacht ( Irish : Gaeltacht [Chontae] Mhaigh Eo ) as of 2011 has a total population of 10,886 and represents 11.5% of
952-469: Is a village, in the parish of Tullaghbegley, and partly of Raymunterdoney, barony of Kilmacrennan, situated on the summit of a small hill near to the coast; opposite here is the Island of Torrey, nine miles distant. The places of worship are the parish church and a Presbyterian meetinghouse. A dispensary and a school are the charitable institutions. Fairs are held on the last Thursday monthly. Population in 1861
1008-556: Is an area in Tamworth, Ontario in Canada. It has no permanent residents but serves as a resource centre for Irish speakers throughout North America. It was officially opened in 2007. Irish colleges are residential Irish language summer courses that give students the opportunity to be totally immersed in the language, usually for periods of three weeks over the summer months. During these courses, students attend classes and participate in
1064-538: Is being made to re-establish Irish-speaking communities, with varying levels of success. Such areas are both urban and rural. Most daily speakers of Irish now live outside the existing Gaeltacht areas, and are particularly numerous in Dublin . In 2018 Foras na Gaeilge announced that Carn Tóchair in County Londonderry was going to be one of the first five Líonraí Gaeilge (areas with Irish-speaking networks) on
1120-628: Is focused on promoting the Irish language and is based in the County Galway Gaeltacht. In March 2005, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív announced that the government of Ireland would begin listing only the Irish language versions of place names in the Gaeltachtaí as the official names, stripping the official Ordnance Survey of their English equivalents, to bring them up to date with road signs in
1176-761: Is located in Casla , the Tuairisc online newspaper is in Barna , and the national television station TG4 is in Baile na hAbhann . Galway city is home to the Irish language theatre Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe . The Kerry Gaeltacht ( Irish : Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chiarraí ) consists of two areas – the western half of Gaeltacht Corca Dhuibhne ( Dingle Peninsula ) and central and western parts of Iveragh Peninsula ( Uíbh Ráthach ). The largest settlement in Corca Dhuibhne
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#17327719309241232-399: Is spoken by less than 30%. The Cork Gaeltacht ( Irish : Gaeltacht [Chontae] Chorcaí ) consists of two areas – Muskerry and Cape Clear Island . The Muskerry Gaeltacht has a population of 3,895 people (2,951 Irish speakers) and represents 4% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Cork Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 262 km (101 sq mi). This represents 6% of
1288-503: Is spoken on a daily basis by two-thirds or more of the population in only 21 of the 155 electoral divisions in the Gaeltacht . Daily language use by two-thirds or more of the population is regarded by some academics as a tipping point for language survival. In 1926, the official Gaeltacht was designated as a result of the report of the first Gaeltacht Commission Coimisiún na Gaeltachta . The exact boundaries were not defined. At
1344-446: Is still used by local native Irish speakers when referring to the town. On some maps it shows up as 'Crossroads', deriving from its Irish language name Na Croisbhealaí , but older maps refer to it as Robinson's Town; however, it is now officially listed as An Fál Carrach . Falcarragh, the main commercial town between Letterkenny and Dungloe , was known in former times both as Crossroads and as Robinson's Town. An Fál Carrach ,
1400-439: Is the family and community language in the majority of the 156 Electoral Divisions of the Gaeltacht . The Gaeltacht districts have historically suffered from mass emigration. Being at the edge of the island they always had fewer railways and roads, and poorer land to farm. Other influences have been the arrival of non-Irish speaking families, the marginal role of the Irish language in the education system and general pressure from
1456-424: Is the largest Gaeltacht parish in Ireland, which is home to regional studios of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta . It has produced well-known traditional musicians, including the bands Altan and Clannad , as well as the artist Enya . All three have recorded music in Irish. The Galway County ( Irish : Gaeltacht Chontae na Gaillimhe ) and Galway City ( Irish : Gaeltacht Chathair na Gaillimhe ) Gaeltachtaí have
1512-439: Is the smallest Gaeltacht area and consists of the two villages of Ráth Cairn and Baile Ghib . Navan , 8 km (5 mi) from Baile Ghib, is the main urban centre within the region, with a population of more than 20,000. The Meath Gaeltacht has a population of 1,771 and represents 2% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Meath Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 44 km (17 sq mi). This represents 1% of
1568-476: The 1737 ban of Irish in Northern Irish courts. In January of 2024 Irish was spoken for the first time in a Belfast court since the repeal of the act. This is the first time in nearly 300 years. Parts of County Clare were recognised as Gaeltacht areas following recommendations made by Coimisiún na Gaeltachta 1925. In 1956, however, it was decided that there were too few traditional speakers to justify
1624-574: The Irish government recognises that the Irish language is the predominant vernacular , or language of the home. The Gaeltacht districts were first officially recognised during the 1920s in the early years of the Irish Free State , following the Gaelic revival , as part of a government policy aimed at restoring the Irish language. The Gaeltacht is threatened by serious language decline. Research published in 2015 showed that Irish
1680-700: The National University of Ireland, Galway ). On 1 November 2007 Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ("A Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Usage of Irish in the Gaeltacht") was published. Concerning Gaeltacht boundaries, it suggested creating three linguistic zones within the Gaeltacht region: The report suggested that Category A districts should be the State's priority in providing services through Irish and development schemes. It also said that Category C areas that showed
1736-513: The 1950s, another Gaeltacht Commission concluded that the Gaeltacht boundaries were ill-defined. It recommended that Gaeltacht status be based solely on the strength of language use in an area. In 1956, under the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956 , the position of Minister for the Gaeltacht (now the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media )
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1792-466: The English-speaking community. There is no evidence that periods of relative prosperity have materially improved the situation of the language. The Donegal (or Tyrconnell) Gaeltacht ( Irish : Gaeltacht [Chontae] Dhún na nGall or Gaeltacht Thír Chonaill ) has a population of 23,346 (Census 2016) and represents 23.4% of the total Gaeltacht population. The Donegal Gaeltacht encompasses
1848-520: The Gaeltacht Bill 2012. Its stated aim was to provide for a new definition of boundaries based on language criteria, but it was criticised for doing the opposite of this. Critics drew attention to Section 7 of the Bill, which stated that all areas "currently within the Gaeltacht" would maintain their current Gaeltacht status, regardless of whether Irish was used. This status could only be revoked if
1904-544: The Gaeltacht, which have been in Irish only since 1970. This was done under a Placenames Order made under the Official Languages Act . The 2022 census of the Republic of Ireland showed that the population of the Gaeltacht was 102,973, 2% of the total population; this figure represented an increase of 2% from 2016. 65,156 (66%) of the Gaeltacht population were Irish speakers. As of the 2022 census, English
1960-671: The Irish language through music, Coláiste Aodáin for water sports and team games, and others for GAA sports. As with the conventional schools, the Department of Education sets out requirements for class sizes and qualifications required by teachers. Some courses are college-based and others provide for residence with host families in Gaeltacht areas, such as Ros Muc in Galway, Ráth Cairn in County Meath, and Teileann and Rann na Feirste in County Donegal, with instruction given by
2016-627: The Laggan of East Donegal. Wilson was the Church of Ireland bishop's steward responsible for the collection of tithes to support the Church of Ireland clergy. He, apparently, received a hostile reception on arrival in Cloughaneely (parish) according to his account to the bishop: Slater's Directory of 1870 provides information about Falcarragh and its surrounding area: Crossroads or Falcarragh,
2072-475: The Olpherts were the main landlords in the district, Sir John Olphert being the last Olphert landlord, who died in 1917. The tallest Celtic cross in Ireland is located near Falcarragh. Gaeltacht A Gaeltacht ( / ˈ ɡ eɪ l t ə x t / GAYL -təkht , Irish: [ˈɡeːl̪ˠt̪ˠəxt̪ˠ] , pl. Gaeltachtaí ) is a district of Ireland, either individually or collectively, where
2128-517: The State to provide Irish-language services to Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht and elsewhere. The report said that Irish in the Gaeltacht was now at its most fragile and that the State could not expect that Irish would survive as a community language if the State kept forcing the use of English on Gaeltacht communities. A report published in 2015, Nuashonrú ar an Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht: 2006–2011 , said that on present indicators, Irish will cease to be used as
2184-472: The area failed to prepare a language plan (with no necessary relationship to the documented number of speakers). The Bill was also criticised for placing all responsibility for the maintenance of Irish on voluntary organisations, with no increase in government resources. The annual report in 2012 by the Language Commissioner for Irish reinforced these criticisms by emphasising the failure of
2240-791: The inclusion of An Clochán ( Cloghane ) and Cé Bhréanainn ( Brandon ) in County Kerry in 1974; the inclusion of a part of West Muskerry in County Cork (although the Irish-speaking population had decreased markedly from what it had been before the 1950s); and the inclusion of Baile Ghib ( Gibstown) and Ráth Chairn ( Rathcarran ) in Meath in 1967. A study in 2005 by the Educational Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-Medium Schools, said that Gaeltacht schools were facing
2296-621: The inclusion of Clare in the Official Gaeltacht. Since then there have been attempts to re-establish the language in the community, and it was claimed in 2012 that there were up to 170 people in County Clare who were daily speakers of Irish. The main activist group is Coiste Forbartha Gaeltachta Chontae an Chláir (The Gaeltacht Development Committee for County Clare), whose aim is to achieve Gaeltacht status for County Clare or for part of it. The Permanent North American Gaeltacht
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2352-780: The island of Ireland, along with Belfast, Loughrea in County Galway, Ennis in County Clare , and Clondalkin in Dublin. Dublin and its suburbs are reported to be the site of the largest number of daily Irish speakers, with 14,229 persons speaking Irish daily, representing 18 per cent of all daily speakers. In a survey of a small sample of adults who had grown up in Dublin and had completed full-time education, 54% of respondents reported some fluency in Irish, ranging from being able to make small talk to complete fluency. Only 19% of speakers spoke Irish three or more times per week, with
2408-488: The leadership of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media , is responsible for the overall Irish Government policy with respect to the Gaeltacht, and supervises the work of the Údarás na Gaeltachta and other bodies. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta is the Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) radio station serving the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers generally. TG4 is the television station which
2464-474: The official name, originally referred to a little hamlet south-east of the present town, at the foot of Falcarragh Hill - but gradually houses were built at the crossroads itself, mainly for the workers and tradespeople employed on the Olphert Estate, which was centred on Ballyconnell House. The first recorded reference to Falcarragh appears in a report written in 1822 by William Wilson, from Raphoe in
2520-406: The population are able to speak Irish while 34% claim to speak the language on a daily basis outside the education system. The name Falcarragh (lit. An (the) Fál (Wall) Carrach (Stone), Stone Wall / Boundary ) has been used since 1850, ascribed so by O'Donovan as he believed Na Crois Bhealaí , meaning 'the Crossroads', was too common in Ireland to allow distinction. Na Crois Bhealaí
2576-625: The role of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht , the Irish-language -speaking area of Ireland. It was established at the instigation of Éamon Ó Cuív , the then Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and its work completed under the guidance of his successor, Mary Coughlan . The Irish Government approved the publication of the Commission's report, without commitment. For centuries, there has been
2632-477: The same way in 1937, along with Baile Ailin (formerly Allenstown). In the early years, a large percentage of the population returned to Galway or emigrated, but enough Irish speakers remained to ensure that Ráth Cairn and Baile Ghib were awarded Gaeltacht status in 1967. The original aim of spreading the Irish language into the local community met with no success, and the colonists had to become bilingual. There are areas of Ireland, north and south, where an attempt
2688-482: The third Coimisiún na Gaeltachta stated in its report that the erosion of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht was now such that it was only a matter of time before the Gaeltacht disappeared. In some areas, Irish had already ceased to be a community language. Even in the strongest Gaeltacht areas, current patterns of bilingualism were leading to the dominance of English. Policies implemented by the State and voluntary groups were having no effect. The report recommended that
2744-423: The time, an area was classified as Gaeltacht if 80% or more of the population was Irish-speaking; however, partial- Gaeltacht status was also accorded to many areas that did not meet the threshold, so long as they were at least 25% Irish-speaking. The Irish Free State recognised that there were predominantly Irish-speaking or semi-Irish-speaking districts in 7 of its 26 counties, covering 22 districts. In
2800-486: The total Gaeltacht area. The largest Muskerry settlements are the villages of Baile Mhic Íre (Ballymakeera), Baile Bhuirne (Ballyvourney), Cill na Martra (Kilnamartyra), and Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary). The Waterford Gaeltacht (Gaeltacht na nDéise, Irish : Gaeltacht [Chontae] Phort Láirge ) is ten kilometres (six miles) west of Dungarvan . It embraces the parishes of Rinn Ua gCuanach (Ring) and An Sean Phobal (Old Parish). The Waterford Gaeltacht has
2856-532: The total Gaeltacht land area. The Meath Gaeltacht has a history quite different from that of the country's other Irish speaking regions. The Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht was founded in 1935 when 41 families from Connemara in West Galway were resettled on land previously acquired by the Irish Land Commission. Each was given 9 hectares (22 acres) to farm. Baile Ghib (formerly Gibbstown) was settled in
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#17327719309242912-408: The total Gaeltacht population. The Mayo Gaeltacht encompasses a geographical area of 905 km (349 sq mi). This represents 19% of the total Gaeltacht land area and comprises three distinct areas – Erris , Achill Island and Toormakeady . There are 6,667 Irish speakers, with 4,000 living in areas where the language is spoken by 30–100% of the population and 2,500 living in areas where it
2968-420: Was "of the view that it will not be possible to maintain the Gaeltacht as an area in which Irish remains a community language unless a fundamental change occurs in the way Irish is treated and in the status of Irish in the rest of the country." In its work, it focussed primarily on a strategic approach to finding an effective implementation structure which would allow its recommendations to be realised. It proposed
3024-460: Was 231. Slater's Directory of 1881 records that the population increased to 258 inhabitants in 1871 and also tells that there was a Protestant Episcopal church ( Church of Ireland ) in the town. Some information about the local post office situated at the crossroads is also given. Thomas Browne was the postmaster at the time and “letters from all parts arrive at ten minutes past eleven morning, and are dispatched at one afternoon.” From 1622 to 1921,
3080-451: Was created. The same legislation allowed the government to designate areas as being Gaeltacht districts. They were initially defined precisely and excluded many areas in which the number of Irish speakers had declined. Gaeltacht areas were recognised in seven of the state's 26 counties (nominally Donegal , Galway , Mayo , Kerry , and Waterford ). Since then, the Gaeltacht boundaries have been maintained with minor changes:
3136-505: Was specified under Part III of the Charter, giving it a status comparable to that of the Welsh language or Scottish Gaelic . This included undertakings in relation to education, translation of statutes, interaction with public authorities, the use of placenames, media access, support for cultural activities and other matters. Compliance with the state's obligations is assessed periodically by
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