The quiet recovery of Ireland’s ancient tongue.
16 March 2026
In the land of St Patrick, Irish is making a steady comeback.
A century ago just 18% of the country’s population spoke Irish; UNESCO has declared it endangered. Yet today 1.8m people in Ireland (around 40% of the population) claim some ability to speak the language, up 71% from 1991.
A century ago just 18% of the country’s population spoke Irish; UNESCO has declared it endangered. Yet today 1.8m people in Ireland (around 40% of the population) claim some ability to speak the language, up 71% from 1991.