The Use of Irish in Loughrea Results of a Sociolinguistic Survey MAIT Ó BRÁDAIGH November 2009 Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe The Use of Irish in Loughrea A Sociolinguistic Survey on the Use of Irish in Loughrea and opinions as to the Possibilities of Extending the Use A Report prepared in 2009 for Gaeilge Locha Riach in conjunction with Galway County Council by Mait Ó Brádaigh, postgraduate student on the MA course in Language Planning in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUIG, An Cheathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe. Head of Language Planning Course and Advisor to this Study: An Dr Conchúr Ó Giollagáin Other members of Project Committee: Páid Ó Neachtain, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe Pádraig Ó Baoill, Gaeilge Locha Riach Our Many Thanks to: Tamas Petervary, also a student on the MA in Language Planning course who carried out the questionnaire survey, Fiona Ní Chualáin, who assisted with the statistical programme SPSS, Muireann Ní Chuív and Anna Ní Choirbín who read the study and to all who participated in the Survey in any way. We also thank Foras na Gaeilge who provided funding so that this Report could be printed. Further details: Gaeilge Locha Riach, Old Galway Road, Loughrea. 091-870718. E-mail:
[email protected] Páid Ó Neachtain, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe, Áras an Chontae, Cnoc na Radharc, Gaillimh. 091-509325 E-mail:
[email protected] Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe 1 Introduction In 2008, as part of an Irish Language Planning strategy for East Galway, Gaeilge Locha Riach and Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe commenced a project to ascertain the levels of ability in Irish in Loughrea, the extent of the usage of Irish and people’s attitudes towards both the language and possible efforts to promote it in the future.