Irish
Gaeilge
Amy says:
Dia duit! I'm Amy! Irish (Gaeilge) is one of the oldest living languages in Europe — and it's making a comeback! Once nearly lost, Irish is now taught in every school in Ireland and spoken daily in regions called the Gaeltacht. Irish mythology — from the Children of Lir to Cú Chulainn — is some of the most vivid storytelling in the world. Go raibh maith agat! (Thank you!)
Quick Facts
Speakers
~1.7 million
Language Family
Celtic (Indo-European)
Writing
Latin alphabet (with síneadh fada accents)
Region
Western Europe
Discover Irish
Irish (Gaeilge) is written in the Latin alphabet but has unique spelling rules — "mh" sounds like "v" and "bh" also sounds like "v". The greeting "Dia duit" literally means "God be with you"!
Writing System
Latin alphabet
Native Speakers
~1.7 million
Key Countries
For Educators
Language learning builds empathy and global understanding. Use this page to spark classroom discussions about cultural diversity and communication across borders.
Did You Know?
Irish is a compulsory subject in every school in the Republic of Ireland — all Irish students study it from primary school through to their school-leaving exams.
The Irish diaspora means Irish culture has spread across the world — particularly to the USA, Australia, and Argentina — through the Irish who emigrated during the Great Famine of the 1840s.
TG4 is Ireland's Irish-language television channel, broadcasting news, drama, and sport entirely in Gaeilge — helping to keep the language vibrant in modern daily life.
What Makes Irish Special?
Ancient Celtic Language
Irish is one of the oldest written languages in Europe — manuscripts dating back to the 6th century survive. The ancient Ogham script, carved into standing stones, represents some of the earliest Irish writing.
Gaeltacht — Living Language
The Gaeltacht regions along Ireland's western coast are where Irish is spoken daily as a community language — in Connemara, Donegal, and Kerry. These areas keep the ancient language vibrantly alive.
Mythology & Storytelling
Irish mythology — tales of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Cú Chulainn, and the Children of Lir — is among the richest in the world. These stories influenced Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and countless fantasy writers.
Keep Exploring the World!
Languages are windows into the world's cultures. Discover more languages and the countries where they are spoken.