Ireland

Summary

Official Name: Ireland
Population: 5,020,000
Principal Languages: English
Literacy Rate: 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, McCrum et al 1986, Stephens 1976
Deaf Population: 215,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Ireland is 9. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 4 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 1 is in trouble, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 18 unestablished languages.

Languages

Chinese zho: Users: 7,040 in Ireland (2006 census). Status: Unestablished.
English eng: Users: 4,761,000 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 4,470,000 in Ireland (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 291,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1937, Constitution, Article 8(2)). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Scattered. Users: 529,540 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,540 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 527,000 (2022). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 155,460 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 1,460 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 154,000 (2018 Eurostat). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Irish gle: Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, part of Mayo, Meath, and Waterford counties. Western isles northwest and southwest coasts. Users: 1,171,000 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Ireland (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 1,030,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,200,450 (as L1: 170,450; as L2: 1,030,000). Status: 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1937, Constitution, Article 8(1)). Alternate Names: Erse, Gaelic, Gaelic Irish, Irish Gaelic Autonym: Gaeilge Classification: Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Goidelic
Irish Sign Language isg: Scattered. Users: 50,000 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 5,000 in Ireland (2019 Deaf Village Ireland). Approximately 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 4,500 (2019 EUD), 21,000 (2014 IMB). L2 users: 45,000 (2014 Deaf Village Ireland). Total users in all countries: 51,550 (as L1: 6,550; as L2: 45,000). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2017, Irish Sign Language Act 2017), authorized for use and interpretation in courts, schools, and other public bodies. Alternate Names: Teanga Chomharthaíochta na hÉireann Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Italian ita: Users: 2,210 in Ireland (2016 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Lithuanian lit: Users: 1,020 in Ireland (2016 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Polish pol: Users: 4,030 in Ireland (2016 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Portuguese por: Users: 4,620 in Ireland (2016 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Romanian ron: Users: 2,900 in Ireland (2016 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus: Users: 25,000 in Ireland (Arefyev 2012), all users. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Scots sco: Donegal County. Users: 10,000 in Ireland (1999 B. Kay). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Ullans, Ulster-Scotch, Ulster-Scots Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Shelta sth: Major cities. Users: 27,000 in Ireland (2008 A. Redmond). Total users in all countries: 50,700. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Bog Latin, Cant, Gammon, Irish Traveler Cant, Sheldru, Shelter, Shelterorch, Tarri, The Cant, Tinker’s Cant, the Ould Thing Autonym: De Gammon Classification: Mixed language, Irish-undocumented
Spanish spa: Users: 146,920 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,920 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 144,000 (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Tagalog tgl: Users: 5,850 in Ireland (2006 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Yola yol: Wexford county : Forth and Bargy baronies. Users: 140, all users. L1 users: No known L1 speakers, but emerging L2 speakers. Jack Devereux, the last speaker, died in 1998, though the language went functionally extinct in the 1800s. L2 users: 140 (2022 A. Edwards). Status: 9 (Reawakening). Alternate Names: Forth and Bargy dialect Autonym: Yola Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1937, Constitution, Article 8(2)). 4,761,000 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 4,470,000 in Ireland (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 291,000 (European Commission 2012).

4 (Educational)

French

[fra] 4 (Educational). 529,540 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,540 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 527,000 (2022).

5 (Dispersed)

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 155,460 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 1,460 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 154,000 (2018 Eurostat).

5 (Developing)

Irish Sign Language

[isg] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2017, Irish Sign Language Act 2017), authorized for use and interpretation in courts, schools, and other public bodies. 50,000 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 5,000 in Ireland (2019 Deaf Village Ireland). Approximately 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 4,500 (2019 EUD), 21,000 (2014 IMB). L2 users: 45,000 (2014 Deaf Village Ireland). Total users in all countries: 51,550 (as L1: 6,550; as L2: 45,000).

Scots

[sco] 5 (Developing). 10,000 in Ireland (1999 B. Kay).

6a (Vigorous)

Shelta

[sth] 6a* (Vigorous). 27,000 in Ireland (2008 A. Redmond). Total users in all countries: 50,700.

6b (Threatened)

Irish

[gle] 6b (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1937, Constitution, Article 8(1)). 1,171,000 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Ireland (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 1,030,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,200,450 (as L1: 170,450; as L2: 1,030,000).

Unestablished

Chinese

[zho] Unestablished. 7,040 in Ireland (2006 census).

Italian

[ita] Unestablished. 2,210 in Ireland (2016 census).

Lithuanian

[lit] Unestablished. 1,020 in Ireland (2016 census).

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 4,030 in Ireland (2016 census).

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 4,620 in Ireland (2016 census).

Romanian

[ron] Unestablished. 2,900 in Ireland (2016 census).

Russian

[rus] Unestablished. 25,000 in Ireland (Arefyev 2012), all users.

Spanish

[spa] Unestablished. 146,920 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,920 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 144,000 (2018).

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 5,850 in Ireland (2006 census).

Maps

Ireland and United Kingdom

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Ireland with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Ireland is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Ireland with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Ireland is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Ireland in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Ireland ($149.95, 26 page PDF)

Ireland

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Ireland and United Kingdom

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action