Irish language

Irish (Gaeilge), a Goidelic language spoken in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA, is constitutionally recognised as the first official language of the Republic of Ireland. On 13 June, 2005, EU foreign ministers unanimously decided to make Irish an official working language of the European Union. The new arrangements will come into effect on 1 January, 2007.

Official status

Irish is given recognition by the Constitution of Ireland as the first official language of the Republic of Ireland (with English being a second official language), despite the limited distribution of fluency among the population of that country. Since the State was founded in the 1920s as the Irish Free State (see also History of the Republic of Ireland), the Irish Government required a degree of proficiency in Irish for all civil service positions, such as postal workers (note: proficiency in Irish for entrance to the public service ceased to be a compulsory requirement in 1974); and also the wider public service such as teaching and policing (the need for a pass in Leaving Certificate Irish for entry to the Gardaí was dropped in September 2005, although applicants are given lessons in the language during the two years of training) and required Irish be a required subject of study in all schools within the Republic which receive public money (see also Education in the Republic of Ireland). Most official documents of the Irish Government are published in both Irish and English.

Related Topics:
Constitution of Ireland - Irish Free State - History of the Republic of Ireland - Irish Government - Leaving Certificate - Gardaí - Education in the Republic of Ireland

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The National University of Ireland, Galway is obligated to appoint a person who is competant in the Irish language, so long as they meet all other respects of the vacancy they are appointed to. This requirement is laid down by the University College Galway Act, 1929 (Section 3) and recently was subject of a High Court case on the matterhttp://www.galwayindependent.com/news/3905.html - it is expected that the requirement may be repealed in due course.

Related Topics:
National University of Ireland, Galway - High Court

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As a treaty language of the European Union, the highest-level documents of the EU are translated into Irish; in addition, the language has also recently received a degree of formal recognition in Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom, under the Good Friday Agreement.

Related Topics:
European Union - Formal recognition in Northern Ireland - United Kingdom - Good Friday Agreement

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Furthermore, Irish will become an official working language of the European Union beginning January 1, 2007.

Related Topics:
January 1 - 2007

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