Irish: Knowledge strongest among the young and in the Catholic community

Linda Ervine is one of a growing number of people helping to bring the Irish language to Protestants in east Belfast

By Noel McAdam

January 30 2015 11:03 PM

Knowledge of Irish is highest among young people In Northern Ireland - the 12 to 15-year-olds - while Ulster-Scots tends to be used mostly by the over-55s, the Stormont studies reveal.

Census figures show that almost a third of Catholics have "some knowledge" of Irish compared to 2% of Protestants.

Regarding Ulster-Scots, while recognising it as an important part of their tradition, only a small fraction of Protestants have substantial knowledge of it.

The Stormont strategy cites the 2011 NI Census which showed that 184,898 people have some knowledge of Irish - though a higher proportion of Catholics (21%) than Protestants (2%) said they had some ability in Irish.

The 2011 Census also showed that knowledge of Irish was highest amongst 12 to 15-year-olds (20%); older people were less likely to have some knowledge of Irish, with 6% of people aged 75 and over saying they have some knowledge of Irish.

The documents also cite the 2011/12 Continuous Household Survey which showed just over one in every eight (13%) of the population had some knowledge of Irish. Approximately one in nine (11%) could understand spoken Irish, while fewer people could speak, read or write Irish (8%, 6% and 5% respectively).

Just under a fifth (18%) of the population was interested in learning more about Irish and there was a higher proportion of Catholics than Protestants who have knowledge of Irish (29% and 2%).

The strategy is aimed at:

Increasing the numbers acquiring the Irish language through Irish-medium education.
Increase the numbers learning Irish outside of formal education.
Increase in numbers of children being reared through Irish.
Increase positive attitudes to the Irish language throughout the community.

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Personally, I like to hear both Irish and Ulster-Scots spoken from time to time - though understanding them is another matter. Carál Ní Chuilín, the Culture Minister, is right to say the two tongues are "key aspects of our culture, heritage and identity" which should be preserved.