Promoting Irish in Your Community
In many communities, minoritised languages – those spoken by only a small part of the population due to historical reasons like official discouragement and suppression – are at risk of disappearing. This can be alarming because languages are more than just words; they carry unique histories, cultures, and ways of seeing the world.
So how can a community help keep its minoritised language alive, especially when many people may not be familiar with the language or understand why it's important to save?
In South Kerry, and in Ireland in general, the Irish language is a unique and valuable part of our heritage. Yet, in many communities, fewer people are speaking it daily, and it risks becoming something only seen in books or museums. But Irish is so much more than just words – it’s a way of thinking and an important part of who we are.
You don’t need to be a language expert to make a difference – even small efforts help!
Why Bother Saving a Minority Language?
Imagine if your favourite music style, recipes, or traditions suddenly vanished from the world. Languages are like this – they’re deeply personal, containing things unique to the people who speak them. Each language is a treasure trove of its speakers' memories, humor, stories, and perspectives. When a minoritised language fades away, so do many parts of the culture that only it can express.
Saving a minoritised language is also about identity and pride. A language connects people to their ancestors and to each other, and it shows younger generations where they come from. If the language is lost, that important connection weakens, and the entire community can lose part of what makes it special.
Irish is more than just a language; it is part of our history, our culture, and our identity.
Irish is Unique to Ireland. Irish connects us to our heritage and sets us apart. When we speak or hear Irish, we are keeping a part of Ireland’s history and culture alive.
Irish is a Minoritised Language, Not Just a Minority Language. Irish isn’t widely spoken today, not just because it’s a small language, but because it faced years of discouragement and even outright suppression. Over generations, people were encouraged to leave Irish behind in favour of English. This is why Irish needs active support now—it needs a “boost” to overcome the challenges it faced in the past.
Irish is Valuable to Our Identity. The language carries traditions, humor, and wisdom passed down through generations. Losing it would be like losing a piece of ourselves.
It Benefits Our Minds. Learning and using Irish can improve memory, creativity, and even mental health. Knowing another language has lots of cognitive benefits, especially for children.
It’s Part of Our Future. Keeping Irish alive isn’t just about honoring the past; it’s about building a future where we’re proud of our culture and confident in our identity.
What Can We Do to Save It? (Even if we are not experts)
Saving a minority language doesn’t mean that everyone has to become a fluent speaker. It’s about creating ways to hear, see, and experience the language in everyday life. Here’s how a community can help its minority language thrive:
Create Spaces Where Irish is the Focus
Irish needs places where it can be spoken naturally without switching back to English. This is why you’ll see events and groups that focus on using only Irish. These spaces make it possible for people to learn and enjoy the language in a relaxed and supportive setting. For example:
· Irish-only social events, like coffee mornings or book clubs, allow people to use Irish together without needing to translate into English.
· Irish-language classes and workshops give learners a chance to build skills in an encouraging environment.
Why This Approach Matters: For Irish to feel like a real, living language, people need to experience it in a fully Irish-speaking space, even if it’s just a small event. Without these dedicated spaces, people would rarely get a chance to build fluency and confidence.
Keep It in Public Places
One way to help a language stay alive is to make it visible. Think about street signs, shop names, or even public event announcements in both languages. Community centers or local events that use Irish, even if only for certain announcements or greetings, also send the message that Irish belongs to everyone. Seeing the language regularly in familiar places reminds people it exists and invites them to learn a little bit here and there.
Why it helps: When people see and hear Irish in familiar places, they’re more likely to use it. It also introduces it to people who might be curious to learn more. It sends the message that Irish isn’t only for classrooms or special events—it’s a living language for everyone.
Encourage Everyone Who Knows Irish to Speak It
Even if you don’t feel fully comfortable in Irish, using it as much as possible helps to keep it alive. For example, greeting friends or family in Irish, or switching to Irish in conversation if both people know it, helps Irish become a more active part of daily life.
Overcoming the Awkwardness: It can feel a bit strange at first, especially if you’re used to speaking English together, but using Irish regularly builds confidence. The more it’s spoken, the more natural it feels, and the stronger it becomes.
Make the Language Fun for Kids
Languages survive best when passed on to younger generations. If kids grow up hearing and speaking it, they can carry it forward. Games, stories, cartoons, and songs in the language are great ways to make it fun for them.
Why it helps: Kids learn best when they’re enjoying themselves. Making the language part of playtime helps them see it as something they want to know – not just something they have to learn.
Build Positive Attitudes Towards Irish
Irish needs community support, and this means shifting from seeing it as just a school subject to valuing it as a part of everyday life. Encouraging positive attitudes can involve:
· Showing support for Irish-language initiatives, even if you don’t speak Irish yourself.
· Celebrating small wins in Irish-language learning—whether it’s picking up a new phrase or being able to follow a simple conversation.
Why This Approach Matters: Irish was once discouraged, which left some people feeling unsure of its value. By taking pride in the language and supporting its use, even in small ways, we’re creating an atmosphere where Irish is valued and appreciated.
Use It in Community Events
If your community has festivals, fairs, or even small gatherings, consider using the minority language as part of the event. This could mean having speakers give greetings in the language, using it in signage, or teaching a few phrases to attendees.
Why it helps: When a language is celebrated in events, it feels valuable. Even those who aren’t fluent can get involved and feel like they’re contributing to the language’s survival.
Encourage Basic Phrases for Everyone
You don’t have to become fluent to support the language. Simple phrases like “hello,” “thank you,” and “goodbye” can be a great starting point. If everyone in the community can learn just a few phrases, it creates a shared experience.
Why it helps: People feel good when they can say a few words in another language. This small connection with the language makes it more likely they’ll want to learn more over time.
Support Classes and Learning Groups
If classes or language groups exist, encourage people to join – even if they’re only learning a bit. These groups offer a relaxed way to learn together, without feeling like a full commitment.
Why it helps: People enjoy learning in groups, where they can help each other out. Language classes or groups also give the language a practical way to stay in use.
Why We Don’t Translate Everything Back to English
In Irish-only events, it’s common to see some people feeling unsure because they don’t understand everything. Here’s why these events are designed to stay fully in Irish:
· Creating a Full Irish Experience
Just like how you wouldn’t expect translations at a traditional music session, a full Irish-language event lets people experience the language fully. It creates a natural environment where Irish speakers can be fully immersed and practice without interruptions.
· Irish Speakers Need Spaces to Use Irish Fully
After years of being a minoritised language, Irish needs spaces where it can be used freely. These events allow speakers to enjoy the language without constantly switching back to English, which helps maintain and build their skills and confidence.
More detailed information on Irish-only events is available here.
Common Concerns
Some people might wonder why resources and time are being spent on promoting a language they don’t use. Here’s why every bit of support counts:
It benefits everyone. Studies show that knowing more than one language improves memory, problem-solving skills, and creativity. When young people learn a minority language, it can also improve their performance in other subjects.
It strengthens community pride. Speaking and understanding a minority language brings a sense of pride and togetherness. It makes the community feel unique and resilient, which benefits everyone who lives there.
It’s part of the community’s heritage. Just like historic buildings or landmarks, a language is part of what makes a place unique. Protecting it is like protecting a cultural treasure for future generations.
Ways to Show Your Support (Without Becoming a Language Expert)
Even if you don’t speak the language, there are simple ways to show support:
Attend events where the language is celebrated. Your presence matters and shows you care.
Use basic words and phrases when you can. This small effort can make a big difference.
Encourage local schools or clubs to include the language in their activities. Language learning doesn’t need to be formal to be meaningful.
Share social media posts or materials that highlight the language. It’s a simple way to show that you value the language.
Encourage and Respect Irish-Speaking Spaces If friends or family are using Irish, encourage them. Showing understanding and interest in their efforts, even if you don’t speak Irish yourself, makes a big difference. It helps create a positive atmosphere where people feel encouraged to keep Irish alive.
Remember: It’s a Team Effort!
Language survival isn’t the responsibility of a single group or a handful of speakers – it’s a collective effort. Each person who participates, even in small ways, is helping to keep the language alive for the next generation.
Promoting a minoritised language like Irish means giving it the time, space, and respect it needs to thrive again. By supporting Irish in small but meaningful ways, we’re helping keep alive an important part of Ireland’s culture, identity, and history. Every bit of support helps, and each person who speaks or supports Irish is part of its journey forward.
Whether you’re attending an event, learning a few words, or encouraging kids to play with the language, every little bit helps. Together, we can make sure that Irish doesn’t just survive, but that it flourishes for many years to come.