Languages of Ireland

Languages of Ireland
Languages of Ireland
Main	English (98%); Irish (RoI: 39.8% claim some ability to speak Irish); Ulster Scots (0.3%); Shelta
Immigrant	Polish, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Lithuanian
Foreign	French (20%), German (7%), Spanish (3.7%)
Signed	Irish Sign Language; Northern Ireland Sign Language
Keyboard layout	Irish or British QWERTY;
Source	ebs_243_en.pdf (europa.eu)

There are a number of languages used in Ireland. Since the late 18th century, English has been the predominant first language, displacing Irish. A large minority claims some ability to use Irish,^[2] and it is the first language for a small percentage of the population.

In the Republic of Ireland, under the Constitution of Ireland, both languages have official status, with Irish being the national and first official language.^[3]

In Northern Ireland, English is the primary language for 95% of the population, and de facto official language, while Irish is recognised as an official language and Ulster Scots is recognised as a minority language under the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.^[4]^[5]

^ "SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER 386 Europeans and their Languages" (PDF). Ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Irish Language and the Gaeltacht – CSO – Central Statistics Office". cso.ie. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
^ Book (eISB), electronic Irish Statute. "electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)". www.irishstatutebook.ie. Art. 8. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
^ "Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022".
^ "Language and identity laws could spell significant change". BBC News. 11 December 2022.

[1] "SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER 386 Europeans and their Languages" (PDF). Ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2016.

[CSO_Ir-2] "Irish Language and the Gaeltacht – CSO – Central Statistics Office". cso.ie. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

[3] Book (eISB), electronic Irish Statute. "electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)". www.irishstatutebook.ie. Art. 8. Retrieved 16 October 2024.

[4] "Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022".

[5] "Language and identity laws could spell significant change". BBC News. 11 December 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Languages of Ireland
Main	English (98%)^[1] Irish (RoI: 39.8% claim some ability to speak Irish)^[2] Ulster Scots (0.3%) Shelta
Immigrant	Polish, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Lithuanian
Foreign	French (20%), German (7%), Spanish (3.7%)
Signed	Irish Sign Language Northern Ireland Sign Language
Keyboard layout	Irish or British QWERTY
Source	ebs_243_en.pdf (europa.eu)