The use of Irish continues to decline: only 1.5% of population use it daily

​In an unprecedented move, over 40 Irish-language and Gaeltacht organizations across Ireland staged a half-day strike on February 26, 2025, protesting significant funding cuts and advocating for equitable investment in the Irish language by both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland governments.​

The strike was organized in response to a recent €820,000 budget reduction announced by Foras na Gaeilge, the cross-border body responsible for promoting the Irish language. This cut exacerbates a long-standing issue of underfunding, with Foras na Gaeilge’s budget reportedly decreasing by 45% in real terms over the past two decades.

A significant factor contributing to the current funding crisis is the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) repeated blocking of a proposal to amend the funding structure of An Foras Teanga (The Language Body), which oversees Foras na Gaeilge. Currently, 25% of Foras na Gaeilge’s budget comes from Northern Ireland and 75% from the Republic of Ireland. The proposed amendment, agreed upon by both Finance Ministers through the North-South Ministerial Council in September 2024, would allow either government to increase funding independently. However, the DUP has blocked this proposal from being added to the Northern Ireland Executive’s agenda multiple times since November, effectively vetoing additional funding for the Irish language on an all-island basis.

The striking organizations have outlined several key demands:​

• Immediate Adoption of the New Funding Model: Both governments should implement the proposed funding structure to ensure adequate core funding for Foras na Gaeilge grantees.​
• Reversal of the €820,000 Cut: Prioritize restoring the recent budget reduction in any additional funding received.
• Additional €20 Million Investment: Allocate at least €20 million to Foras na Gaeilge, as detailed in the Growth Plan, an investment strategy agreed upon by 130 groups.​
• Prioritization of Projects in the Growth Plan: Ensure that projects and grantees mentioned in the Growth Plan receive priority in any new funding allocations. ​

The strike underscores the critical need for sustainable funding solutions to support the Irish language, reflecting the community’s determination to preserve and promote their linguistic heritage. It should be noted that the number of Irish speakers continues to decline. Today, approximately 1.5% of the Irish population report to use Irish on a daily basis outside the formal educational settings. These figures are certainly concerning, as they highlight the ongoing struggle to maintain Irish as a living language beyond academic environments. Despite widespread support for its cultural significance, the limited daily use suggests that structural challenges—such as a lack of immersive opportunities, societal preference for English, and inadequate policy implementation—continue to hinder its revival. Without targeted intervention and increased practical applications in daily life, the number of regular Irish speakers may continue to dwindle, posing a risk to its long-term sustainability.