Editing Northern Ireland (section)

====Irish====

[[File:Map of those with some ability in Irish in the 2011 census in Northern Ireland.png|thumb|Percentage of people aged 3+ claiming to have some ability in Irish in the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]]]]

{{Main|Irish language in Northern Ireland|Ulster Irish}}

The Irish language ({{langx|ga|an Ghaeilge}}), or ''Gaelic'', is the second most spoken language in Northern Ireland and is a native language of Ireland.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ryan |first=James G. |title=Irish Records: Sources for Family and Local History |publisher=Flyleaf Press |year=1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/irishrecordssour0000ryan_s8k7/page/40 40] |isbn=978-0-916489-76-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/irishrecordssour0000ryan_s8k7/page/40}}</ref> It was spoken predominantly throughout what is now Northern Ireland before the [[Ulster Plantations]] in the 17th century and most place names in Northern Ireland are [[anglicised]] versions of a Gaelic name. Today, the language is often associated with Irish nationalism (and thus with Catholics). However, in the 19th century, the language was seen as a common heritage, with Ulster Protestants playing a leading role in the [[Gaelic revival]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2013 |title=Presbyterians and the Irish Language Roger Blaney (Ulster Historical Foundation/The Ultach Trust, £6.50) ISBN 0-901905-75-5 |url=https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/presbyterians-and-the-irish-language-roger-blaney-ulster-historical-foundationthe-ultach-trust-6-50-isbn-0-901905-75-5/ |access-date=12 June 2020 |website=History Ireland |archive-date=12 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612171721/https://www.historyireland.com/20th-century-contemporary-history/presbyterians-and-the-irish-language-roger-blaney-ulster-historical-foundationthe-ultach-trust-6-50-isbn-0-901905-75-5/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 2021 census, 12.4% (compared with 10.7% in 2011) of the population of Northern Ireland claimed "some knowledge of Irish" and 3.9% (compared with 3.7% in 2011) reported being able to "speak, read, write and understand" Irish.<ref name="Census 2011"/><ref name="2022 Language">{{cite web |title=Main statistics for Northern Ireland Statistical bulletin – Language |url=https://www.nisra.gov.uk/system/files/statistics/census-2021-main-statistics-for-northern-ireland-phase-1-statistical-bulletin-language.pdf |website=NISRA |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922093432/https://www.nisra.gov.uk/system/files/statistics/census-2021-main-statistics-for-northern-ireland-phase-1-statistical-bulletin-language.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In another survey, from 1999, 1% of respondents said they spoke it as their main language at home.<ref name = "Survey-NorthernIreland">Northern Ireland LIFE & TIMES Survey: [http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/MAINLANG.html What is the main language spoken in your own home?] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610101441/http://www.ark.ac.uk/nilt/1999/Community_Relations/MAINLANG.html |date=10 June 2011 }}</ref>

The dialect spoken in Northern Ireland, Ulster Irish, has two main types, East Ulster Irish and Donegal Irish (or West Ulster Irish),<ref name="pipex1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ultach.dsl.pipex.com/english/faqs.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416045904/http://www.ultach.dsl.pipex.com/english/faqs.htm |archive-date=16 April 2009 |title=Frequently-Asked Questions about the Irish Language |publisher=Ultach |access-date=7 February 2012}}</ref> is the one closest to [[Scottish Gaelic]] (which developed into a separate language from Irish Gaelic in the 17th century). Some words and phrases are shared with Scots Gaelic, and the dialects of east Ulster – those of [[Rathlin Island]] and the [[Glens of Antrim]] – were very similar to the dialect of [[Argyll]], the part of Scotland nearest to Ireland. The dialects of Armagh and Down were also very similar to the dialects of Galloway.

The use of the Irish language in Northern Ireland today is politically sensitive. The erection by some [[Local government in Northern Ireland|district councils]] of bilingual street names in both English and Irish,<ref>The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (No. 759 (N.I. 5))[http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Primary&PageNumber=25&NavFrom=2&parentActiveTextDocId=1011237&activetextdocid=1011254] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409203049/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1995/759/part/crossheading/street-names-and-numbering-of-buildings|date=9 April 2020}}</ref> invariably in predominantly nationalist districts, is resisted by unionists who claim that it creates a "chill factor" and thus harms community relationships. Efforts by members of the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] to legislate for some official uses of the language have failed to achieve the required cross-community support. In May 2022, the UK Government proposed a bill in the House of Lords to make Irish an official language (and support Ulster Scots) in Northern Ireland and to create an Irish Language Commissioner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 May 2022 |title=UK to make Irish an official language in Northern Ireland |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-moves-to-make-irish-language-official-in-northern-ireland/ |access-date=28 May 2022 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527151739/https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-moves-to-make-irish-language-official-in-northern-ireland/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Parliament3168"/> The bill has since been passed, and received royal assent in December 2022.<ref name=":0"/> There has recently been an increase in interest in the language among unionists in East Belfast.<ref>{{cite news |last=Keenan |first=Dan |title=Loyalists line up to learn cúpla focail at language classes in heart of east Belfast |work=Irish Times |date=9 January 2014 |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/loyalists-line-up-to-learn-c%C3%BApla-focail-at-language-classes-in-heart-of-east-belfast-1.1650239 |access-date=27 January 2016 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202020125/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/loyalists-line-up-to-learn-c%C3%BApla-focail-at-language-classes-in-heart-of-east-belfast-1.1650239 |url-status=live}}</ref>