The Role of the Irish Language in Irelands Economy.

deise go deo

We have all heard the usual rants of how Irish is useless and a waste etc etc. However, from an economic viewpoint, Can Irish be an Asset to Ireland?

Arts and the Economy

Arts and culture are important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries, also known as “creative industries,” provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. These industries also provide an array of other benefits, such as infusing other industries with creative insight for their products and services and preparing workers to participate in the contemporary workforce. In addition, because they enhance quality of life, the arts and culture are an important complement to community development, enriching local amenities and attracting young professionals to an area.

Contests and Contexts, The Irish Language and Ireland's Socio-Economic Development

The dominant discourse has long dismissed the Irish language as irrelevant or even an obstacle to Ireland's progress. This book critiques that discourse and contends that the promotion of Irish and sustainable socio-economic development are not mutually exclusive aims.
The author surveys historical and contemporary sources, particularly those used by the Irish historian J.J. Lee, and argues that the Irish
language contributes positively to socio-economic development

Fullbright

The promotion of Irish has a positive influence on Ireland’s socio-economic development and the language should have a central role in the effort now needed to rebuild the country, that’s according to the author of a new book entitled Contests and Contexts: The Irish Language and Ireland’s Socio-Economic Development.

Capitalising on Culture, Competing on Difference

The implications of identity as central to innovation and development
are profound. Yet, the nearly exclusive use of English as the language
of Ireland today has led to a restricted and shallow world-view stripped
of tradition. This means the country has the tendency to absorb secondhand
ideas, values, and concepts developed elsewhere (indeed, often
discarded there) without making adjustments essential for a genuinely
innovative culture.

The Irish language, in particular, offers an ideal medium to help root
resources in place, a source for emotions that help people discover and
explore their complex identities. As Michael Cronin argues, Irish has a
crucially important role in self-knowledge, a resource be squander at our
peril

And just to put something tangible in at the end:

The Connacht Sentinel

THE Irish language is worth in excess of €136 million annually to the economy of Galway city and county, supports over 5,000 jobs and more than 90% of Galway City businesses believe that it is a unique selling point for Galway’s image and cultural identity.

So, what do you think? Has the Irish language got economic potential? Is it a resourse that can help Ireland and the Irish Economy? Or are you of the opinion that Irish is still 'Useless'?

Eliot Rosewater

What with calling all arguments against your position "rants", putting useless in quotation marks and throwing multiple sources out to give an answer to the question you propose, this thread isn't intended for discussion but rather to push your views on others. And it was obviously set up now because the other place you were doing that, up to this afternoon, was locked.

Banned for a week for soapboxing.

Thread closed.

/mod.