Myth #1: 'Irish is a dead language'

There are many myths surrounding the Irish language; some of these are centuries old while others have only developed in more recent times. Conradh na Gaeilge is working with Colm Ó Broin to set the record straight about some of the most common misinformed 'alternative facts' about Irish.

Census figures from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland show that almost 2 million people have some knowledge of the Irish language. A Millward Brown survey from 2015 showed that 1.2 million people in Ireland are confident in their ability to speak Irish. In terms of fluency, the Irish Language Survey carried out by Amárach Research in 2013 showed that almost 500,000 people across Ireland can have a conversation in Irish and another 150,000 have “native speaker fluency.” Even this figure would give Irish more fluent speakers than most languages in the world. According to the linguistic project, Ethnologue, half of the world’s languages have 7,000 or less speakers. So by any rational definition, the Irish language is far from being a "dead language" - Irish is alive and kicking.

[jamesquinn]

Okay so just to clear this up do not believe this video yes 1.2 million out of the five million might be confident in their ability well I’m confident in my ability but that doesn’t mean that I can speak irish fluently I can probably have a very simple conversation with a stranger but I can’t speak it fluently so yeah most of the country can’t speak it fluently there are (Gaeltacht) areas that speak only irish but there are only a few of these areas where people only speak irish the rest speak English as their first language

[nakyer]

Thank you for posting this video.
Now...
Back to my Irish lessons...

[Inkdraft]

In the West of Ireland Gaeilge is still spoken as a first language with English spoken as a second language. Irish speaking areas are called Gaeltachts. There are several in Ireland as well as one in Quebec which is sanctioned by the Irish Government. There are a few more as well but I'm not certain where they are. Irish is taught in 11 different institutions in New York alone. Go raibh maith agat agus athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit ón U.S.!

[FingersKungfu]

If only 3% of the native population speak the language "fluently, " that language is at least dying, if not already dead. The number of people that can carry a short conversation (i.e. non-fluent secondary speakers) gives no one any comfort. They are there because of compulsory education.

[adammaloney]

This should be an optional thing to do in schools kids shouldn't be forced to this shit

[xephael]

All languages need to start morphing into a communal language across society... Languages like English are even at risk of dying off.

[STUNTS]

It's kept on nothing short of life support by the Irish government so it's not quite dead but it's on life support with no chance of ever waking up

[michaelmayen]

Save your language! Here in Mexico we love Irish people and they're our heroes. In our Parliament (Congreso de la Unión) it's written in gold letters
MÁRTIRES IRLANDESES
Ye gave us our fatherland and freedom
Erin Go Bragh
¡Viva Irlanda!

[AdrianODubhghaill]

Do chualas go mbeadh físeán ann fén t-ábhar "the pronunciation of Irish names makes no sense." Bheadh sé ana shuimiúl domsa. Bím ag smaoineamh fén t-ábhar sin go minic agus mise ag deanamh mo chuid taighde. Tá deartháir agam, Eoghan is ainm do. Ainm ana-shean is ea é, as an ogham, IVOGENI ᚔᚃᚑᚌᚓᚅᚔ, leis an brí, 'born of yew'. Tá a lán stair inár n-ainmneacha Gaelainne. Is mar sin is fear liom mo shloinne, Doyle, a litriú mar 'Ó Dubhghaill' nuar a usáideann mo dheartháireacha, 'Ó Dúill'.

[chiccachannel]

Irish is a fantastic language, I wish I could learn it but I can't find anybody to teach me here in Italy...