Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Census: Perceptions and Reality

Danny_

Is Irish still widely spoken in the Gaeltacht? How many people speak it habitually outside of school?
A close look at 2006 Census data at a local [Electoral Division] level can provide the answer with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

(So as not to completely bog people down with statistics, I've provided a SUMMARY. Those who want to read on and check out the raw numbers are welcome to do so.

There is also a TABLE OF CONTENTS for those who just want to focus in on specific data or regions.)

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The Census of 2006 differed from all previous censuses in terms of the Irish language question in that it made a distinction between those who speak Irish daily within the education system only and those who use it outside of school. For the first time ever, it allowed for more than one box to be ticked in the frequency part of the question (which was first introduced in the Census of 1996). In other words, it now gives us a solid idea of just how many people still speak Irish on a regular basis. The best way to do this is to look at how many people speak Irish daily outside of the education system. What percentage of the population in each Gaeltacht District do so?

The results will be covered in detail in the post below.

Over the past few weeks, I've been piecing together information relating to the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht. Bit by bit. Not based on conjecture. Not based on bias. But based on the very information provided by Irish people themselves. The data from the census forms the basis of this essay.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent research and analysis undertaken by people such as Donncha Ó hÉallaithe in Foinse and elsewhere. Or the work of the team led by Conchúr Ó Giollagáin and Seosamh Mac Donnacha from NUI who were behind the Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the use of Irish in the Gaeltacht. Released in 2007, it was the result of two years of research and is the most detailed sociolinguistic study of the Gaeltacht ever.

The difference between my own 'research' and that of Mr. Ó hÉallaithe is that he has based his figures around the number of 'daily Irish speakers' and Irish speaking households with school age children receiving the SLG (Irish Speaking Scheme) grant in each Electoral District in the Gaeltacht. The frequency and context with which people actually speak Irish is not taken into consideration.

As far as the Linguistic Study is concerned, the census data in the report is based on 2002 figures which make no distinction between those who use Irish daily in school and those who speak it outside of the classroom.

The information needed to ascertain the number of daily speakers is freely available. It's just a matter of seeking it out.

The entire Irish Language Volume of the 2006 Census is available HERE. (CSO - Central Statistics Office Ireland - Central Statistics Office, Skehard Road, Cork).

One only need look at the Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) to find census data at a Electoral Division level.

For the purposes of this essay, HABITUAL SPEAKER is defined as a daily speaker outside of the education system.

With all that said....on to the SUMMARY.
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Danny_

(For the purposes of this essay, HABITUAL SPEAKER is defined as someone who speaks Irish daily outside of the education system.)

Summary

- Habitual Irish speakers make up 25% of total Gaeltacht population

- Habitual Irish speakers make up the majority of residents in only 22 of 155 District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) in the Gaeltacht

- 35% of Irish speakers resident in the Gaeltacht are habitual speakers

- 22,515 habitual Irish speakers in Gaeltacht. Circa 72,000 in State as a whole.

- Approximately 20,000 people live in DEDs where habitual speakers make up the majority of the population. This is the fíor-ghaeltacht. [historically defined as 80%+....my definition is 50%+]

- Habitual speakers make up circa 62% of inhabitants in these areas collectively (22 EDs)

- Approximately 10,000 people live in DEDs where between 30-50% of inhabitants are habitual speakers. This is the breac-ghaeltacht. [my definition]

- Habitual speakers make up approx. 33% in these areas collectively (15 EDs)

- Population levels outside of Galway suburbs remained remarkably stable between 2002 & 2006

- Percentage of daily speakers (and sheer total) largely stable in the Gaeltacht as a whole

- Largest and most vibrant Gaeltacht in the country is in south Conamara, comprising 13 contiguous Electoral Divisions (and Árainn) with a population of about 12,000. Over 80% speak Irish daily. About 64% of inhabitants speak it habitually outside of school.

- Strongest District in the country in terms of % of habitual speakers is 'Sailearna' (An Cnoc, Cois Fharraige) in Conamara. 71.7%.

- Evidence that habitual Irish use amongst 3-4 years age group is significantly higher than other child & adolescent age groups in the Gaeltacht.

- Mayo Gaeltacht has all but collapsed. Revision of borders urgently needed as habitual Irish speakers make up only 12% of the overall population there.

- Resurgence of Irish usage amongst 10-14 year olds in Waterford Gaeltacht (An Rinn)

- Evidence of almost total lack of young, habitual speakers in central Donegal Gaeltacht (An Ghaeltacht Láir).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Irish Speakers and the 2006 Census:
- Irish Language usage in the State as a whole
- Recap

- Irish Language usage in the Gaeltacht specifically
- Recap

2. The Gaeltacht:
- Intro
- What are the proposed Category 'A, B and C' Gaeltachtaí?

- The Gaeltacht as historically defined vs. modern realities
- Comparing Census 2002 data w/ Census 2006
- The fíor-ghaeltacht/Category 'A' EDs as outlined in the Sociolinguistic Report

3. Fíor-ghaeltacht Electoral Divisions:
- Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe (13 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall (4 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Chiarraí (5 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo (1 ED)
- Recap
- Conclusions

4. Breac-ghaeltacht Electoral Divisions:
- Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe (4 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall (6 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Chiarraí (1 ED)
- Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo (2 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Chorcaí (4 EDs)
- Gaeltacht Phort Lairge (1 ED)
- Gaeltacht na Mí (1 ED)
- Recap
- Conclusions

5. MAP only showing DEDs where 30%+ of residents are habitual speakers

6. Gaeltacht Regions & Communities (see list near bottom of thread)

7. Notable communities with daily usage under 30%

8. Raw Numbers

- Daily speakers of Irish outside the education system in the Gaeltacht, as a percentage of relevant age group total

- Daily speakers of Irish outside the education system as a percentage of total population in each Gaeltacht area (excluding 'not stated')

- Daily speakers of Irish outside the education system, as a percentage of relevant age group total (excluding 'not stated'), based on each County with a Gaeltacht


1. Irish Speakers and the 2006 Census:

2006 Census - Irish Language usage in the State as a whole (Census Table 3, 30 & 31)



State population age 3 years and over on Census night = 4,057,646

Total Age 3+ = 3,956,964 who answered Irish language census question
100,682 did not state whether or not they could speak Irish.

'Can you speak Irish?'

YES = 1,656,790 (*41.9% of State population)
*excluding 'Not Stated'

Usage breakdown:

Daily within education system only = 453,207 (27.4% of Irish speakers)
Daily within and also outside education system = 31,605 (18,677 daily, 5,772 weekly, 4,523 less often, 2,633 never)

Outside education system 'less often' = 581,574 (35.1% of Irish speakers)
Outside education system 'Never' = 412,846 (24.9%)
Outside education system 'Weekly' = 97,089
Outside education system 'Daily' = 53,471
Outside education system 'Not stated' = 26,998

Grand Total = 1,656,790 (100%)


Recap:

Daily habitual Irish speakers make up 1.8% of total State population. They make up 4.4% of Irish speakers in the Census.

Weekly habitual Irish speakers make up 2.6% of total State population. They make up 6.2% of Irish speakers in the Census.

Active Irish speakers: Daily habitual 72,148 (53,471 + 18,677) + Weekly habitual 102,861 (97,089 + 5,772) = 175,009

What I term 'Active Irish speakers' make up 4.4% of total State population. They make up 10.6% of Irish speakers in the Census.

Almost 90% of self-reported Irish speakers in the Census speak it only at school, 'less often', or no longer speak it at all.


2006 Census - Irish Language usage in the Gaeltacht (Census Table 7A, 37A & 38A)

Gaeltacht population age years 3 on Census night = 91,862

Total Age 3+ = 90,804 who answered Irish language census question
1,058 did not state whether or not they could speak Irish

'Can you speak Irish?'

YES = 64,265 (*70.8% of Gaeltacht population)
*excluding 'Not Stated'

Usage breakdown:

Daily within education system only = 13,982 (21.8% of Irish speakers in Gaeltacht)
Daily within and also outside education system = 5,179 (4,828 daily, 238 weekly, 94 less often, 19 never)

Outside education system 'Daily' = 17,687 (27.5% of Irish speakers in Gaeltacht)
Outside education system 'less often' = 15,150 (23.4%)
Outside education system 'Weekly' = 6,564
Outside education system 'Never' = 4,313
Outside education system 'Not stated' = 1,390

Grand Total = 64,265 (100%)


Recap:

Daily habitual Irish speakers make up 24.8% of total Gaeltacht population. They make up 35.0% of all Gaeltacht Irish speakers in the Census.

Weekly habitual Irish speakers make up 7.5% of total Gaeltacht population. They make up 10.6% of all Gaeltacht Irish speakers in the Census.

Active Irish speakers: Daily habitual 22,515 (17,687 + 4,828) + Weekly habitual 6,802 (6,564 + 238) = 29,317

What I term 'Active Irish speakers' make up 32.3% of total Gaeltacht population. They make up 45.6% of Gaeltacht Irish speakers in the Census.

Just over HALF of self-reported Gaeltacht Irish speakers in the Census speak it only at school, 'less often', or no longer speak it at all.

2. The Gaeltacht

The Present-Day Official Gaeltacht

At present, the official Gaeltacht comprises 155 District Electoral Divisions (DEDs). 93 of these are entirely within the Gaeltacht, while in the remaining 62, only part of the ED has Gaeltacht status.

The County breakdown is as follows:

Donegal: 49
Galway: 35
Kerry 26
Mayo: 22
Cork: 10
Meath: 5
Galway City: 5
Waterford: 3

= 155

Daily speakers of Irish outside of the education system make up the majority of the population in only 22 of 155 EDs. That's 14% of all EDs. The population of these EDs make up 22% of the Gaeltacht population overall, however.

This is the core of the Gaeltacht. The present day fíor-ghaeltacht.

Of the 22 EDs, 14 are found in Galway, 4 in Donegal and 4 in Kerry. In each of these counties, aside from the islands ED of Árainn, they are contiguous. They form one unit.

There are a further 15 EDs where 30% or more of the population speak Irish daily outside of the education system. 5 are found in Donegal, 3 in Mayo, 2 in Galway, 2 in Kerry, 1 in Cork, 1 in Waterford and 1 in Meath. The population of these EDs make up about 9% of the Gaeltacht population overall.

This is my own definition of a breac-ghaeltacht. It is more strict that one suggested by Donncha Ó hÉallaithe, for example. His so-called Category C districts (see NUI Sociolinguistic report) would be areas where at least 30% of residents are daily Irish speakers and where at least 10% of households with school age children receive the full SLG [Irish speaking scheme grant]. The difference between his analysis and mine, is that I base the concept of daily Irish speaker on frequency of speaking it outside of the education system. Even today, around half of all districts in the official Gaeltacht contain populations where 30% or more of people are "daily Irish speakers". This is simply because most kids speak it in some form at school. That's why it's important to go beyond that and dig a little deeper to see how many people actually speak it habitually outside of the classroom.

To summarise, approximately 20,000 people live in Electoral Divisions where the majority of locals speak Irish outside of school (i.e. habitually). This is the fíor-ghaeltacht.

A further 10,000 or so live in what is best described as legitimate breac-ghaeltachtaí.

Areas where a large minority of inhabitants speak Irish day-to-day. My own definition is those EDs where 30-50% of residents speak Irish habitually outside of the education system.

Combined, these areas constitute about 25% of all EDs in the Gaeltacht (37 of 155), and approximately 30% of the official Gaeltacht population as a whole.

If Gaeltacht status was to be limited to only those Electoral Divisions where at least 30% of residents speak Irish daily outside of school, the county by county breakdown would look like this:

Galway: 16 EDs out of 35
Donegal: 9 out of 49
Kerry: 6 out of 26
Mayo: 3 out of 22
Cork: 1 out of 10
Meath: 1 out of 5
Waterford: 1 out of 3
Galway Urban: 0 out of 5
Total = 37 EDs out of 155

What are the proposed Category 'A, B and C' Gaeltachtaí?

The NUI Sociolingustic Report linked in the Summary brought forth a system whereby Gaeltacht Districts were labelled either Category A, B or C. (Page 17)

Category A Districts: Electoral Divisions (EDs) where more than 67% of the total population are daily speakers of Irish.

Category B Districts: Electoral Divisions where 44-66% of the total population are daily speakers of Irish.

Category C Districts: Electoral Divisions where less than 44% of the total population are daily speakers of Irish.

Donncha Ó hÉallaithe published his analysis in the newspaper Foinse with the following criteria:

Category A: 67%+ daily speakers and 65%+ eligible households receiving the full Scéim Labhair na Gaeilge [SLG, Irish Speaking Scheme Grant][SLG, Irish Speaking Scheme Grant].

Category B: 44-66% daily speakers and30-64% of eligible households receiving the full SLG grant.

Category C: 30-43% daily speakers and 10-29% of eligible households receiving the full SLG grant.

Category 'No-Status': EDs where less than 30% of the total population are daily speakers and/or where less than 10% of eligible households receiving the full SLG would have their Gaeltacht status removed, under this system.

Based on these criteria, Mr. Ó hÉallaithe concluded that 54% of Gaeltacht residents were living in EDs which fall into the 'No-Status' category as set out above.

Once again, this fails to take into account the number of habitual speakers specifically. It only looks at the number of 'daily speakers' which includes many people who only use Irish inside the confines of a school.

The Gaeltacht as historically defined vs. modern realities

The Gaeltacht Commission in 1926 defined the 'fíor-ghaeltacht' as Districts where 80%+ of residents could speak Irish. How many Electoral Divisions (EDs) would qualify as such today? Below are the EDs which did, based on 2002 Census returns. I've grouped together all EDs classified as 'Category A' by the NUI Sociolinguistic report team. Based on 2002 data, 12 EDs registered daily use above 80%. Based on 2006 census data, 11 EDs would qualify based on 1926 standards.

However, the modern proposed standard ( 'Category 'A) is daily use of 67%+. As mentioned earlier, this is based on daily speakers, regardless of whether Irish is only spoken in the schools or not.

Below is a comparison between 2002 and 2006, along with my own calculations of the number of 'habitual speakers' (daily speakers outside of the education system).

Included is the ED #, the total Age 3+ population, the number of daily speakers and their percentage of the total population in the ED. D.O.E.S. stands for daily outside the education system ('habitual speaker', in other words).

Electoral District (ED): (80%+ as Listed based on 2002 Census)

Fíor-ghaeltacht Electoral Divisions:

Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe (13 Electoral Districts)

#27154 Garmna: 1,237 people (1,111 Daily Speakers) = 89.8% (2002 = 92.2%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 785/1,237 = 63.5% habitual speakers

#27039 Scainimh: 595 (521 Daily) = 87.6% (2002 = 92.1%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 409/595 = 68.7%

#27149 Camas: 358 (323 Daily) = 90.2% (2002 = 90.9%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 236/358 = 65.9%

#27158 Leitir Móir: 843 (711 Daily) = 84.3% (2002 = 88.9%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 549/843 = 65.1%

#27152 An Crompán: 2,178 (1,843 Daily) = 84.6% (2002 = 88.2%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 1,418/2,178 = 65.1%

#27161 An Turlach: 536 (466 Daily) = 86.9% (2002 = 85.7%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 348/536 = 64.9%

#27054 Cill Chuimín: 1,239 (1,042 Daily) = 84.1% (2002 = 84.4%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 802/1,239 = 64.7%

#27061 Sailearna: 1,306 (1,088 Daily) = 83.3% (2002 = 82.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 936/1,306 = 71.7%

#27053 Árainn: 1,183 (937 Daily) = 79.2% (2002 = 81.9%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 762/1,183 = 64.4%

#27033 An Cnoc Buí: 767 (632 Daily) = 82.4% (2002 = 81.4%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 483/767 = 63.0%
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#27055 Cill Aithnín: 908 (676 Daily) = 74.4% (2002 = 78.4%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 542/908 = 60.0%

#27035 Abhainn Ghabhla: 300 (230 Daily) = 76.7% (2002 = 75.2%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 175/300 = 58.3%

#27063 An Spidéal: 1,286 (857 Daily) = 66.6% (2002 = 68.0%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 649/1,286 = 50.4%


Total Population of these Districts
= 12,736 (2006 Census)
= 12,569 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers
= 10,437 (2006)
= 10,553 (2002)

10,437/12,736 = 81.9% (2006)
10,553/12,569 = 84.0% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

8,094/12,736 = 63.6%

Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall (4 Electoral Districts)

#33038 Mín an Chladaigh: 1,259 (1,049 Daily) = 83.3% (2002 = 85.6%
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 800/1,259 = 63.5%

#33036 Gort an Choirce: 1,529 (1,247 Daily) = 81.6% (2002 = 83.4%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 1,055/1529 = 69.0%

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#33037 Machaire Chlochair: 2,550 (1,976 Daily) = 77.5% (2002 = 79.2%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 1,499/2,550 = 58.8%

#33035 Dún Lúiche: 661 (508 Daily) = 76.9% (2002 = 73.1%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 389/661 = 58.9%

Total Population of these Districts

= 5,999 (2006 Census)
= 6,060 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 4,780 (2006)
= 4,906 (2002)

4,780/5,999 = 79.7% (2006)
4,906/6,060 = 81.0% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

3,743/5,999 = 62.4%

Gaeltacht Chiarraí (5 Electoral Districts)

#19039 Cill Chuáin: 442 (353 Daily) = 79.9% (2002 = 79.7%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 289/442 = 65.4%

#19035 Dún Urlann: 432 (332 Daily) = 76.9% (2002 = 77.9%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 271/432 = 62.7%

#19038 Cill Maoilchéadair: 494 (371 Daily) = 75.1% (77.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 277/494 = 56.1%

#19042 Márthain: 227 (151 Daily) = 66.5% (67.6%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 111/227 = 48.9%

#19034 Dún Chaoin: 144 (109 Daily) = 75.7% (63.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 89/144 = 61.8%

Total Population of these Districts

= 1,739 (2006 Census)
= 1,826 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 1,316 (2006)
= 1,376 (2002)

1,316/1,739 = 75.7% (2006)
1,376/1,826 = 75.4% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

1,037/1,739 = 59.6%

Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo (1 Electoral District)

#29060 Cnoc an Daimh: 346 (220 Daily) = 63.6% (2002 = 67.2%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 151/346 = 43.6%

Total Population of this District

= 346 (2006 Census)
= 375 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 220 (2006)
= 252 (2002)

220/346 = 63.6% (2006)
252/375 = 67.2% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

151/346 = 43.6%


Total = 23 'Category A' Electoral Districts. Fíor-ghaeltachtái.

Cumulative Age 3+ Population for these Districts

= 20,820 (2006 Census)
= 20,830 (2002)

Cumulative Daily Irish Speakers in these Districts

= 16,753 (2006)
= 17,087 (2002)

16,753/20,820 = 80.5% (2006)
17,087/20,830 = 82.0% (2002)

Overall population decrease of 10 persons. Overall decrease of 334 daily Irish speakers as per Census returns.

Cumulative Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

13,025/20,820 = 62.6% (2006)

Conclusions:

Daily (habitual) speakers of Irish outside of the education system make up the majority of the population in 21 of 23 Electoral Districts which were classified as 'Category A' Gaeltachtaí. This is based primarily on the % of daily speakers in each district.

80% of fíor-ghaeltacht residents are daily Irish speakers, irrespective of frequency. A little over 60% of all residents in these areas are habitual Irish speakers.

Approximate breakdown by region:

South Conamara: 7,400
NW Donegal + Oileán Thoraí: 3,700
Iarthar Chorca Dhuibhne, Kerry: 1,000
Oileáin Árann: 750
North Mayo: 150

Total = c.13,000 habitual Irish speakers in fíor-ghaeltacht

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4. Breac-ghaeltacht Electoral Divisions:

'Category B & C' Electoral Districts. Breac-ghaeltachtaí

The Sociolinguistic report alluded to earlier defined Category B areas as areas where between 44-66% of residents speak Irish daily. Category C is <44%.

Gaeltacht na Gaillimhe (4 Electoral Districts)

#27060 An Ros: 102 (64 Daily) = 62.7% (2002 = 61.0%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 56/102 = 54.9%

#27151 Conga: 544 (247 Daily) = 45.4% (2002 = 40.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 182/544 = 33.5%

#27155 Cill Chuimín (Gleann Trasna): 116 (72 Daily) = 62.1% (2002 = 52.6%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 43/116 = 37.1%

#27051 Na Forbacha: 1,171 (511 Daily) = 43.6% (2002 = 39.3%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 282/1,171 = 24.1%


Total Population of these Districts

= 1,933 (2006 Census)
= 1,923 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 894 (2006)
= 801 (2002)

894/1,933 = 46.2% (2006)
801/1,923 = 41.7% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

563/1,933 = 29.1%

Gaeltacht Dhún na nGall (6 Electoral Districts)

#33040 Árainn Mhór: 514 (317 Daily) = 61.7% (2002 = 62.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 215/514 = 41.8%

#33042 Cró Bheithe: 154 (82 Daily) = 53.2% (2002 = 60.6%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) = 69/154 = 44.8%

#33039 Anagaire: 2,145 (1,189 Daily) = 55.4% (2002 = 55.7%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) = 775/2,145 = 36.1%

#33048 Baile na Finne: 303 (174 Daily) = 57.4% (2002 = 59.1%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 97/303 = 32.0%

#33051 Gleann Léithín: 182 (83 Daily) = 45.6% (2002 = 57.5%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 47/182 = 25.8%

#33053 An Ghrafaidh: 201 (106 Daily) = 52.7% (2002 = 56.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 81/201 = 40.3%

Total Population of these Districts

= 3,499 (2006 Census)
= 3,492 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 1,951 (2006)
= 2,006 (2002)

1,951/3,499 = 55.8% (2006)
2,006/3,492 = 57.4% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

1,284/3,499 = 36.7%

Gaeltacht Mhaigh Eo (2 Electoral Districts)

#29047 Abhainn Bhrain: 243 (107 Daily) = 44.0% (2002 = 55%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 82/243 = 33.7%

#29052 An Geata Mór Theas: 882 (411 Daily) = 46.6% (2002 = 40.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 275/882 = 31.2%

Total Population of these Districts

= 1,125 (2006 Census)
= 1,136 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 518 (2006)
= 498 (2002)

518/1,125 = 46.0% (2006)
498/1,136 = 43.8% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

357/1,125 = 36.7%

Gaeltacht Chiarraí (1 Electoral District)

#19045 Ceann Trá: 400 (237 Daily) = 59.3% (2002 = 55.6%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 162/400 = 40.5%

Total Population of these Districts

= 400 (2006 Census)
= 448 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 237 (2006)
= 249 (2002)

237/400 = 59.3% (2006)
249/448 = 55.6% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

162/400 = 40.5%

Gaeltacht Chorcaí (4 Electoral Districts)

#18206 Gort na Tiobratan: 398 (217 Daily) = 54.5% (2002 = 53.0%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 183/398 = 45.6%

*#18199/108 Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh: 758 (341 Daily) = 45.0% (2002 = 44.0%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 208/758 = 27.4%

*#18290 Cléire: 307 (77 Daily) = 25.1% (2002 = 48.8%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 44/307 = 14.3%


Total Population of these Districts

= 1,463 (2006 Census)
= 1,215 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 635 (2006)
= 542 (2002)

635/1,463 = 43.4% (2006)
542/1,215 = 44.6% (2002)

*Number of persons on Cléire on Census night 2006 was 307. In 2002 it was 127.
*Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh comprises parts of two Electoral Districts.

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

435/1,463 = 29.7%

Gaeltacht na Mí (1 Electoral District)

*#11090 An Ráth Mhór: 797 (260 Daily) = 32.6% (2002 = 52.4%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 150/797 = 18.8%

Total Population of these Districts

= 797 (2006 Census)
= 372 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 260 (2006)
= 194 (2002)

260/797 = *32.6% (2006)
194/372 = 52.4% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

150/797 = *18.8%

*Part of Ráth Mhór ED is outside the Gaeltacht. The village of Ráth Cairn has a population of about 450. Around 33% might be a more representative figure. (150/450 = 33.3%)

Gaeltacht Phort Láirge (1 Electoral District)

#25034 An Rinn: 1,146 (588 Daily) = 51.3% (2002 = 43.1%)
Daily outside education system (D.O.E.S.) 382/1,146 = 33.3%

Total Population of these Districts

= 1,146 (2006 Census)
= 1,026 (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers

= 588 (2006)
= 442 (2002)

925/1,146 = 80.7% (2006)
442/1,026 = 43.1% (2002)

Total Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

382/1,146 = 33.3%

Total = 20 'Category B & C' Electoral Districts. Breac-ghaeltachtái.

Cumulative Age 3+ Population for these Districts

= 10,363 (2006 Census)
= 9,612 (2002)

Cumulative Daily Irish Speakers in these Districts

= 5,083 (2006)
= 4,732 (2002)

5,083/10,401 = 48.9% (2006)
4,732/9,612 = 49.2% (2002)

Overall population increase of 751 persons. Overall increase of 351 daily Irish speakers as per Census returns. (Category 'B & C')

Cumulative Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System:

3,333/10,401 = 32.0% (2006)

Conclusions:

Daily (habitual) speakers of Irish outside of the education system make up approximately one-third of the population in these 20 Electoral Districts which were classified as 'Category B' or 'C' Gaeltachtaí.

About half of breac-ghaeltacht residents are daily Irish speakers, irrespective of frequency. However, only about 30% of all residents in these areas are habitual Irish speakers. That is, those who speak it daily outside of the education system.

Approximate breakdown by region:

Donegal:
Na Rosa/The Rosses + Árainn Mhór: 1,000
Central Donegal (Baile na Finne etc): 225

Cork:
Múscraí (Cúil Aodha) + Oileán Chléire: 450

Galway:

North Conamara (Corr na Móna): 250
Na Forbacha: 300

Waterford:
An Rinn: 375

Mayo:
Mullet Peninsula (Eachléim, Fód Dubh): 300
South Mayo (Fionnaithe): 100

Kerry:
Ceann Trá,Chorca Dhuibhne: 170

Meath:
Ráth Cairn: 150

Total = c.3,300 habitual Irish speakers in the breac-ghaeltacht

===============================================================

GRAND TOTAL

23 classified Fíor-ghaeltacht EDs and 20 Breac-ghaeltacht EDs...
= 43 'Category A, B & C' Electoral Districts...

Cumulative Age 3+ Population for these Districts:

20,820 'Category A' + 10,363 'Category B & C'

= 31,183 (2006 Census)
= 30,442 (2002)

Cumulative Total of Daily Irish Speakers in these Districts:

16,753 'Category A' + 5,083 'Category B & C'

= 21,836 (2006)
= 21,819 (2002)

21,836/31,183 = 70.0% (2006)
21,819/30,442 = 71.7% (2002)

Daily Irish Speakers Outside of the Education System in these Districts:

13,025 'Category A' + 3,333 'Category B & C' = 16,358
Overall population increase of 741 persons. Overall increase of 17 daily Irish speakers as per Census returns. (Category 'A B & C')

Comparing the Census returns of 2002 with 2006

2002: Population of Gaeltacht (Age 3+) = 90,804
2006: Population of Gaeltacht (Age 3+) = 85,590

2002: Irish speakers in Gaeltacht = 62,157
2006: Irish speakers in Gaeltacht = 64,265

2002: Daily Irish speakers in Gaeltacht (irrespective of frequency) = 33,789
2006: Daily Irish speakers in Gaeltacht (irrespective of frequency) = 36,848

2002-2006: Overall population increase of 5,214 persons. Overall increase of 3,059 daily Irish speakers in the entire Gaeltacht.

5.MAP only showing DEDs where 30%+ of residents are habitual speakers



Gaeltacht Regions & Communities

1. Galway

Conamara:

- Cois Fharraige: An Spidéal, An Cnoc, Lochán Beag, Indreabhán, Baile na hAbhann, Ros a' Mhíl
- Casla, An Cheathrú Rua, Béal an Daingin, Camas, Ros Muc
- Iorras Aithneach: Cill Chiaráin, Carna
- Ceantar na nOileán: Leitir Móir, Eanach Mheáin, Garmna, Leitir Mealláin, Fornais
- Dúiche Sheoigheach: Corr na Móna

Oileáin Árann:

Árainn/Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, Inis Oírr

2. Donegal

- Gaoth Dobhair agus Cloich Cheann Fhaola: Gaoth Dobhair, An Bun Beag, Doirí Beaga, Dún Luiche, Gort an Choirce, Cnoc Fola, Mín an Chladaigh
- Na Rosa: Anagaire, Rann na Feirste
- Oileán Thoraí
- Árainn Mhór
- An Ghaeltacht Láir: Baile na Finne

3. Kerry

Iarthar Corca Dhuibhne:

- Dún Chaoin, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh/An Buailtín, Baile na nGall, Muiríoch, Feothanach, Ceann Trá

4. Mayo

Dún Chaocháin

- Ceathrú Thaidhg, Ros Dumhach

- Eachléim, Fód Dubh
- Fionnaithe

5. Cork

Múscraí: Cúil Aodha

6. Waterford

- An Rinn

7. Meath

- Ráth Chairn



PAGE 2

7. Notable communities with daily usage under 30%

#19033 An Daingean = 17.6% (Dingle-Dangle)
#19005 Baile an Sceilg = 15.5% (Uíbh Ráthach)

#18218 An Sliabh Riabhach (Baile Bhuirne, Múscraí, Corcaí) = 24.9%
#18290 Oileán Chléire = 14.3%

#27959 Maigh Cuilin = 8.5%
#26003 Bearna = 5% ('Galway City Gaeltacht')
#26044 *Bearna = 10.3% ('Galway County Gaeltacht', Cois Fharraige)
#27051 Na Forbacha = 24.1%

#33032 Na Croisbhealaí = 28.9% (An Fál Carrach)
#33056 Cill Ghabhlaigh = 22.3% (Gleann Cholm Cille)
#33049 Gleann Cholm Cille = 26.4% (Teileann)

#29124 Acaill = 12.7% (northeast Acaill & Inis Bigil)
#29136 Dumha Éige = 14.0% (southeast Acaill)
#29035 Baile Óbha = 15.2% (Tuar Mhic Éadaigh)


8.Raw Numbers

Daily speakers of Irish outside the education system in the Gaeltacht, as a percentage of relevant age group total (excluding 'not stated')

3-4 years = 21% (501 speakers out of 2,387 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 22.1% (1,425 out of 6,449)
10-14 years = 23% (1,516 out of 6,733)
15-19 years = 21.5% (1,519 out of 7,067)
20-24 years = 18% (1,159 out of 6,589)
25-34 years = 21% (2,578 out of 12,561)
35-44 years = 24.2% (3,250 out of 13,437)
45-54 years = 27.3% (3,556 out of 13,003)
55-64 years = 29% (3,006 out of 10,403)
65 years+ = 33% (4,005 out of 12,175)

Total = 22,515 out of 90,804 = 24.8%

Daily speakers of Irish outside the education system as a percentage of total population in each Gaeltacht area (excluding 'not stated')

'in/out' = daily speaker within and outside the education system

Cork Gaeltacht:
Daily outside = 622 + Daily in and out = 245 = 867 speakers / 3,631 (total population)
= 23.9%

Donegal Gaeltacht:
Daily outside = 5,851 + in and out = 1,105 = 6,956 / 22,710
= 30.6%

Galway City Gaeltacht
Daily outside = 474 + in/out 97 = 571 / 13,562
= 4.2%

Galway County Gaeltacht
Daily outside = 7,382 + 2,272 in/out = 9,654 / 29,149
= 33.1%

Kerry Gaeltacht
Daily outside = 1,810 + 584 in/out = 2,393 / 8,159
= 29.3%

Mayo Gaeltacht
Daily outside = 1,031 + 250 in/out = 1,281 / 10,447
= 12.3%

Meath Gaeltacht
Daily outside = 213 + 123 in/out = 336 / 1,583
= 21.2%

Waterford Gaeltacht
Daily outside = 304 + 152 in/out = 456 / 1,563
= 29.2%

Gaeltacht Total:

17,687 daily outside education system only
4,828 daily within and outside education system

= 22,515 habitual speakers in Gaeltacht


Daily speakers of Irish outside the education system, as a percentage of relevant age group total (excluding 'not stated'), based on each County with a Gaeltacht:

Cork Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 24.7% (23 speakers out of 93 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 31.9% (86 out of 270)
10-14 years = 22.3% (59 out of 264)
15-19 years = 21.3% (56 out of 263)
20-24 years = 22.2% (57 out of 257)
25-34 years = 17.3% (94 out of 543)
35-44 years = 24.5% (139 out of 568)
45-54 years = 26.5% (130 out of 490)
55-64 years = 23.3% (88 out of 378)
65 years+ = 26.7% (135 out of 505)

Total = 867 out of 3,631 = 23.9%

Donegal Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 25.2% (153 speakers out of 606 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 24.9% (408 out of 1,636)
10-14 years = 23.6% (392 out of 1,659)
15-19 years = 25.4% (405 out of 1,596)
20-24 years = 24.6% (286 out of 1,161)
25-34 years = 28.8% (756 out of 2,622)
35-44 years = 31.4% (1,020 out of 3,244)
45-54 years = 31.2% (954 out of 3,062)
55-64 years = 32.4% (953 out of 2,940)
65 years+ = 38.9% (1,629 out of 4,184)

Total = 6,956 out of 22,710 = 30.6%

Galway City/Suburban Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 3.2% (12 speakers out of 373 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 4.2% (36 out of 867)
10-14 years = 2.9% (24 out of 836)
15-19 years = 3.0% (38 out of 1,274)
20-24 years = 2.6% (55 out of 2,094)
25-34 years = 3.5% (102 out of 2,946)
35-44 years = 4.7% (93 out of 1,975)
45-54 years = 5.4% (87 out of 1,610)
55-64 years = 8.2% (74 out of 899)
65 years+ = 7.3% (50 out of 688)

Total = 571 out of 13,562 = 4.2%

Galway County Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 27.9% (228 speakers out of 816 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 26.3% (581 out of 2,207)
10-14 years = 28.9% (661 out of 2,287)
15-19 years = 31.7% (721 out of 2,278)
20-24 years = 29.7% (546 out of 1,841)
25-34 years = 30.2% (1,206 out of 3,997)
35-44 years = 29.5% (1,352 out of 4,577)
45-54 years = 36.1% (1,617 out of 4,481)
55-64 years = 39.2% (1,308 out of 3,334)
65 years+ = 43.1% (1,434 out of 3,331)

Total = 9,654 out of 29,149 = 33.1%

Kerry Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 27.9% (43 speakers out of 154 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 30.3% (157 out of 519)
10-14 years = 28.4% (166 out of 585)
15-19 years = 28.7% (167 out of 581)
20-24 years = 25.6% (118 out of 461)
25-34 years = 24.4% (256 out of 1,049)
35-44 years = 31.7% (375 out of 1,184)
45-54 years = 32.6% (430 out of 1,319)
55-64 years = 28.3% (315 out of 1,115)
65 years+ = 30.7% (366 out of 1,192)

Total = 2,393 out of 8,159 = 29.3%

Mayo Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 8.5% (20 speakers out of 235 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 11.4% (74 speakers out of 650)
10-14 years = 10.6% (84 out of 792)
15-19 years = 8.4% (68 out of 813)
20-24 years = 9.2% (55 out of 600)
25-34 years = 9.1% (94 out of 1,030)
35-44 years = 11.4% (153 out of 1,344)
45-54 years = 13.9% (219 out of 1,579)
55-64 years = 14.2% (204 out of 1,451)
65 years+ = 15.9% (310 out of 1,953)

Total = 1,281 out of 10,447 = 12.3%

Meath Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 17.7% (11 speakers out of 62 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 32.1% (53 out of 165)
10-14 years = 30.1% (40 out of 133)
15-19 years = 19.9% (28 out of 141)
20-24 years = 13.6% (12 out of 88)
25-34 years = 12.8% (23 out of 179)
35-44 years = 18.6% (52 out of 280)
45-54 years = 22.5% (56 out of 249)
55-64 years = 15.2% (21 out of 138)
65 years+ = 27.0% (40 out of 148)

Total = 336 out of 1,583 = 21.2%

Waterford Gaeltacht:

3-4 years = 22.9% (11 speakers out of 48 inhabitants)
5-9 years = 22.2% (30 out of 135)
10-14 years = 50.8% (90 out of 177)
15-19 years = 29.8% (36 out of 121)
20-24 years = 34.5% (30 out of 87)
25-34 years = 23.6% (46 out of 195)
35-44 years = 24.9% (66 out of 265)
45-54 years = 29.6% (63 out of 213)
55-64 years = 29.1% (43 out of 148)
65 years+ = 23.6% (41 out of 174)

Total = 456 out of 1,563 = 29.2%

Grand Total = 22,515 daily speakers of Irish outside the education system

22,515 out of 90,804 = 24.8% of total age 3+ Gaeltacht population

dlofnep

Is mór an trua é..

conor2007

ach , laistigh den gaeltacht?
laistigh den Éireann?
is mór an trua é, cinnte ach an scéal iomlán níl sé ró donna

an trua is mó atá ann, níl páipéar láethúil gaeilge anois agus páipéar ámhain seachtainiúl!

Danny_

What I find most surprising is that less than half of those resident in the Gaeltacht and who say they can speak Irish actually do so. Less than half speak it habitually.

Why are so many people leaving Irish in the classroom? Why aren't they 'bringing it home' with them?

The Gaeltacht borders need to be redrawn as a matter of urgency. Ó Cuív first announced plans to do so back in 2003. Here we are in 2009 and still nothing...

Grudaire

Danny_ wrote: »

What I find most surprising is that less than half of those resident in the Gaeltacht and who say they can speak Irish actually do so. Less than half speak it habitually.

Why are so many people leaving Irish in the classroom? Why aren't they 'bringing it home' with them?

The Gaeltacht borders need to be redrawn as a matter of urgency. Ó Cuív first announced plans to do so back in 2003. Here we are in 2009 and still nothing...

Hmmmm just because people can speak Irish, doesn't mean that they do. Lots of reasons for this - being fair to non-Irish speakers, laziness even because it's easier to communicate in English.

Tá liosta fhada do na rudaí nach nearna an rialtas....