Irish · Gaeilge

About Irish

Language family

Indo-European, Celtic (Goidelic/Insular Celtic branch)

Where it's spoken

Ireland, especially the Gaeltacht regions

Speakers

the first official language of Ireland; daily speakers number in the tens of thousands, though over 1.7 million report some ability

Irish is one of Europe's oldest written vernacular languages, with texts surviving from as early as the 6th century AD and a continuous literary tradition through the medieval period. It belongs to the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages, closest to Scottish Gaelic and Manx, all three descending from Old Irish. Centuries of English-language dominance under British rule sharply reduced everyday use, but the Gaeltacht regions, immersion schools (Gaelscoileanna), and official-language status now anchor an active revival effort.