The Irish Language

Irish is the native language of Ireland. It is also called Irish Gaelic. The Irish language is very old, going back more than 2,000 years. Today, most people in Ireland speak English, but many also learn Irish in school. Irish is the first official language of Ireland.

A Very Old Language

Irish is one of the oldest written languages in Europe. Monks wrote beautiful books in Irish long ago. One famous book is the Book of Kells. It is more than 1,200 years old and has amazing drawings. Irish was once spoken by everyone in Ireland.

Irish Today

In some parts of Ireland, people still speak Irish every day. These areas are called the Gaeltacht. Road signs in Ireland are often in both Irish and English. Kids learn Irish as a subject in school. There are also TV shows and radio stations in Irish.

Fun Facts

• The Irish word for Ireland is 'Eire.'
• Irish has only 18 letters in its alphabet.
• Saint Patrick's Day is a big Irish holiday on March 17.

Did You Know?

The Irish word 'craic' means fun or a good time. People say 'what's the craic?' to ask what is going on.