Ireland

Summary

Official Name

Ireland

International Conventions

CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2015), FCPNM (1999), ICCPR (1989), UNCRPD (2018), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

4,854,000

Principal Languages

English

Literacy Rate

99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)

General References

Campbell and King 2011, McCrum et al 1986, Stephens 1976

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Ireland is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 4 are indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 3 are developing, 1 is vigorous, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 9 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: 512,540 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,540 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 510,000 (2018). 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: 1,200,290 (as L1: 170,290; 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

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). 512,540 in Ireland, all users. L1 users: 2,540 in Ireland (2016 census). L2 users: 510,000 (2018).

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: 1,200,290 (as L1: 170,290; as L2: 1,030,000).