Attitudes towards the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland August 2015 Merike Darmody, Tania Daly Attitudes towards the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland Merike Darmody (ESRI) Tania Daly (Amárach Research) August 2015 Available to download from www.esri.ie © The Economic and Social Research Institute Whitaker Square, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 ISBN 978 0 7070 0389 4 The Authors Dr. Merike Darmody is a Research Officer at the Economic and Social Research Institute and adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College, Dublin. Tania Daly is an Associate Director at Amárach Research. Acknowledgements This study has been funded by Foras na Gaeilge. The authors wish to express their thanks to Eleanor O’Dwyer-Duggan, Meabh O'Donnell and Michael McLoughlin at Amárach Research for their considerable contribution to the report. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the advice and useful comments from Foras na Gaelige, Gaelscoileanna Teo and two referees on earlier versions of this report. This report has been peer-reviewed prior to publication. The authors are solely responsible for the content and the views expressed. Table of Contents | i Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ VII CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION, LITERATURE REVIEW AND METHODOLOGY ........................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research Aims ..................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Data Sources and Methodology .......................................................................... 4 1.3.1 Phase 1 – Desk-Based Research ............................................................. 4 1.3.2 Primary Data: 2013 Irish Language Survey ............................................. 4 1.3.3 Secondary Data ....................................................................................... 6 1.4 Review of the Literature ...................................................................................... 9 1.4.1 Preservation and Maintenance of Minority Languages ......................... 9 1.4.2 Language Attitudes ............................................................................... 10 1.4.3 Factors Impacting Minority Language Preservation and Maintenance ......................................................................................... 11 1.4.4 Irish Research ........................................................................................ 12 1.5 Structure of the Report ..................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 2 THE IRISH LANGUAGE IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND ..................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Historical Overview and Current Situation ........................................................ 15 2.3 Policies and Legislation ...................................................................................... 17 2.4 Language Initiatives ........................................................................................... 20 2.5 Education ........................................................................................................... 21 2.6 Summary ............................................................................................................ 23 CHAPTER 3 THE IRISH LANGUAGE IN NORTHERN IRELAND ............................................................... 25 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Historical Overview and Current Situation ........................................................ 25 3.3 Policies and Legislation ...................................................................................... 26 3.4 Language Initiatives ........................................................................................... 28 3.5 Education ........................................................................................................... 29 3.6 Summary ............................................................................................................ 30 CHAPTER 4 MINORITY LANGUAGES IN SELECTED OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ........................... 31 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 31 4.2 Scottish Gaelic in Scotland ................................................................................. 32 4.2.1 Historical Overview and Current Situation ........................................... 32 4.2.2 Policies and Legislation ......................................................................... 34 4.2.3 Education .............................................................................................. 36 4.2.4 Language Initiatives .............................................................................. 38 4.3 Welsh in Wales .................................................................................................. 38 4.3.1 Historical Overview and Current Situation ........................................... 38 ii | Attitudes Towards the Irish Language on the Island of Ireland 4.3.2 Policies and Legislation ......................................................................... 41 4.3.3 Education .............................................................................................. 41 4.3.4 Language Initiatives .............................................................................. 42 4.4 Frisian in the Netherlands ................................................................................. 43 4.4.1 Historical Overview and Current Situation ........................................... 43 4.4.2 Policies and Legislation ......................................................................... 44 4.4.3 Education .............................................................................................. 45 4.4.4 Language initiatives .............................................................................. 45 4.5 Catalan in Spain ................................................................................................. 46 4.5.1 Historical Overview and Current Situation ........................................... 46 4.5.2 Policies and Legislation ......................................................................... 47 4.5.3 Education .............................................................................................. 47 4.5.4 Language Initiatives .............................................................................. 48 4.6 Summary ............................................................................................................ 49 CHAPTER 5 IRISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND: SURVEY FINDINGS .......................................................................................... 51 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 51 5.2 Irish Language Education Experiences - The Irish Language Survey 2013 ........ 51 5.2.1 Irish as a Subject in Primary and Post-Primary Education .................... 51 5.2.2 Irish as a Medium of Education in Primary and Post-Primary Education .............................................................................................. 52 5.2.3 Examination in Irish .............................................................................. 53 5.2.4 Incidence of Trying to Learn or Improve Irish Language After Finishing School. ................................................................................... 53 5.3 Irish Language in Primary and Post-primary Schools in the Republic of Ireland ................................................................................................................ 54 5.3.1 Primary School Characteristics ............................................................. 54 5.3.2 School Ethos .......................................................................................... 56 5.3.3 Attitudes Towards Irish in Primary Schools in ROI ............................... 58 5.3.4 Attitudes Towards Irish in Post-Primary Schools in ROI ....................... 59 5.4 Summary ............................................................................................................ 61 CHAPTER 6 CURRENT FLUENCY IN AND USE OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE: SURVEY FINDINGS ............. 63 6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 63 6.2 Fluency in the Irish Language ............................................................................ 63 6.3 Frequency of Speaking Irish ............................................................................... 65 6.4 Comparisons with the Census ........................................................................... 67 6.5 Exposure to the Irish Language in the Home During Respondents’ Childhood........................................................................................................... 69 6.5.1 Usage of Irish in the Home and its Impact on Current Use .................. 69 6.5.2 Parents’ Fluency Level and its Impact on Current