New Study Shows that while Attitudes Towards the Irish Language are Broadly Positive, this Does Not Translate into Significant use of the Language

A new research report addressing the attitudes to, and use of, the Irish language on the island of Ireland was published today (Friday, 7 August 2015) by the ESRI. The study was funded by Foras na Gaeilge and prepared by Dr. Merike Darmody (ESRI) and Tania Daly (Amárach Research).

According to the 2011 Census figures, the number of people in the Republic of Ireland who reported being able to speak Irish was 41 per cent. In Northern Ireland, 11 per cent of the population claimed to have some knowledge of Irish. However, the Census data provides limited information on the extent to which the Irish language is used. The Irish Language Survey 2013 sought to explore the levels of fluency in more detail by providing detailed information on fluency and frequency of use. The analysis showed that 57 per cent of the respondents in the Republic and 17 per cent from Northern Ireland have either basic or advanced fluency in Irish. The profile of Irish speakers in the two jurisdictions is different: Irish is more likely to be spoken by younger people in the Republic and Catholic respondents in Northern Ireland.

While the attitudes towards the Irish language among primary and post-primary students in the Republic of Ireland are often negative, the report finds considerable support for the language among adult population - 67 per cent of the respondents in the Republic of Ireland and 45 per cent from Northern Ireland felt positive about the Irish language. However, considerable proportion of respondents from Northern Ireland – 41 per cent – claim having ‘no particular feelings’ regarding the Irish language. Those more favourable towards the Irish language were significantly more likely to speak Irish more frequently than those who were indifferent or opposed to the language.

The analysis of the 2013 Irish Language Survey shows that attitudes to, and the use of the Irish language are influenced by a combination of factors: the education system, attitudes and language behaviour at home as well as opportunities to speak the language outside the school context.
Education System and Fluency in Irish

While the Irish language is one of the core subjects in the Republic of Ireland, the language is offered as an option only in some (mainly Catholic) schools in Northern Ireland. Both jurisdictions also have Irish-medium schools. Given the differences in Irish language education across the two jurisdictions, the level of Irish fluency is considerably higher in the Republic. In the Republic, 11 per cent reported being able to conduct most conversations in Irish, compared to two per cent in Northern Ireland.

Consequently, the incidence of ever speaking Irish is higher in the Republic of Ireland (33% ever; 13% more often than weekly) than Northern Ireland (12% ever; 2% more often than weekly).

Family Context and the Transmission of Language Attitudes

The respondents in the Republic of Ireland reported higher levels of fluency (basic or advanced) among their parents (mother: 33%; father: 30%) than those in Northern Ireland (mother: 11%; father:10%).

Those who grew up with Irish spoken in the home were more likely to use the Irish language as adults (ROI: 56%; NI: 45%) than those who were seldom or never exposed to Irish in the home (ROI: 18%; NI: 6%).

Respondents who grew up in households where parents supported learning Irish at school were more likely to have interest in learning the language themselves. Differences could be observed in motivation to do so: in the Republic the wish to study Irish ‘to pass the exams’ was prevalent, whereas in Northern Ireland the primary factor was ‘learning Irish for its own sake’.

The Use of the Irish Language Outside School Context

Having friends who use the Irish language socially was associated with language use and positive attitudes towards the language in both jurisdictions. Thirty three per cent of adult respondents in the Republic and 31 in Northern Ireland have at least one friend (in either jurisdictions) who speaks Irish outside the home. In addition, 38 per cent of adults in the Republic have ‘friends who are bringing up their children through Irish at home or who use a lot of Irish with their children’, which is only slightly higher than in Northern Ireland (31%).

Limited opportunities to speak the Irish language may be one of the reasons for not doing so more regularly. In the Republic 75 per cent of respondents with basic fluency and 45 per cent with advanced fluency indicated that people in their circle do not use Irish.

Not knowing whether other people speak the language seems to have an impact on using Irish. People with either basic or advanced fluency in both jurisdictions admitted ‘not liking speaking Irish when others who are present do not know Irish’.

A small minority of adults across the island of Ireland (ROI: 15%; NI: 11%) have tried to learn/improve their Irish as adults.

Support for the Irish language

Governments in both jurisdictions have provided legislative protection to the Irish language. In the Republic of Ireland, Irish has a central position in the education system. In addition, over the years, attempts have been made to improve the approach to teaching the language at school. This study has found that while 31 per cent of respondents in ROI and 24 per cent in NI feel that the respective governments do enough for the Irish language, others think that more could be done to promote it (government does too little: ROI 37 per cent; NI 29 per cent).

In terms of initiatives the government should focus on, residents in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland believe that their respective governments should give the greatest attention to teaching the Irish language well to school-going children (ROI: 53 per cent; NI: 34 per cent). There was also support for maintaining Irish-speaking households in Gaeltacht areas (ROI: 43 per cent; NI: 27 per cent). Respondents from Northern Ireland were somewhat more likely to regard the provision of public services in Irish for Irish speakers as important (ROI: 26 per cent; NI: 30 per cent).

Regarding the future of the language, the most desired outcome is that the country should remain bilingual, with English as the principal language (ROI: 43 per cent; NI: 34 per cent).

Lead author Dr. Merike Darmody said “The results of this study have shown that the use of, and attitudes to, the Irish language are rooted in three domains: the education system, the family and the wider community. While the inter-generational transmission of language attitudes and language use within the family context is important, it needs to be supported by the education system and having opportunities to use the language in other social contexts. Furthermore, despite the language policy development in recent decades, without the active engagement from people with regard to learning the language and using it in a variety of social contexts, it is hard to see how the Irish language can flourish in future”.

Responding to the report findings Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh, CEO of Foras na Gaeilge, said:

“This research helps us carry out our statutory duty to advise the governments, North and South, in relation to Irish language policy. The very positive attitudes throughout the general population confirm our own experience and the very real desire for Irish-medium education cannot be ignored.”

For further information please contact:
Dr. Merike Darmody, Research Officer, The Economic and Social Research Institute 

Email: merike.darmody@esri.ie