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The native language of Ireland is Irish (also known as Gaelic, a name shared with the Manx and Scottish versions). In the [[Republic of Ireland]], Irish has official status, but in [[Northern Ireland]] it has little or none, although it


Most records used in Irish research were begun in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries and were written in English. The other language you may have to deal with is Latin. Government records were written in Latin until 1733, some Catholic Church records used Latin until the mid-nineteenth century, and older records written in English often latinized names and relationships. Some knowledge of Latin will help you read these records.


== Irish language  ==
'''Language Information''':


Irish (Gaeilge, formerly written as Gaedhilge) is a member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages. It is closely related to [[Isle of Man Languages|Manx]] and [[Scotland Languages|Scottish Gaelic]], and more distantly to [[Wales Language and Languages|Welsh]], [[Cornwall Language and Languages|Cornish]] and [[Brittany Language and Languages|Breton]].  
''Irish language''<br>
Irish (Gaeilge, formerly written as Gaedhilge) is a member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages. It is closely related to [[Isle of Man Languages|Manx]] and [[Scotland Languages|Scottish Gaelic]], and more distantly to [[Wales Language and Languages|Welsh]], [[Cornwall Language and Languages|Cornish]] and [[Brittany Language and Languages|Breton]].<br>
*Irish was spoken natively in Northern Ireland into the twentieth century, in areas such as Rathlin Island, and the Sperrin Mountains. The 1901 & 1911 Censuses reveal that it was spoken by both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities.
*In the Republic of Ireland, formerly the Irish Freestate, Irish has been an official language since independence in the 1920s. One can see both Irish and English used on official documents from the ROI. The republic has also set up Gaeltachts, which are areas in which Irish is supposedly used by much of the community (the definition and the reality are often at odds) - these are generally scattered along the west coast.
*Irish gives rise to many Irish surnames, including any beginning with:
** Mac, Mc, M' or Mag- e.g. Maguire, McDonnell, MacGuinness. "Mac" means "son of".
** O' e.g. O' Dwyer, O' Higgins. "O" means "grandson of".
*It was quite common for many families to drop the Mac or O' from their surnames, so some of the surnames above might also reappear as Dwyer, Higgins, Guinness etc, in the same family. In certain names, "Mac" also became "Fitz" e.g. Fitzgerald.
*Many other Irish names also derive from Irish Gaelic, e.g. Branagh (Breathnach)
*The old Gaelic naming system is extremely complex, and exists mainly in oral tradition.
*Many personal names such as Shaun (John), Kevin, Conor, Neil, Maeve and Kathleen all ultimately derive from the language too. There are other, traditional, Gaelic names which have no direct equivalents in English: Domhnall, which is normally rendered as the unrelated Daniel or Donald; Grainne, for which there is nothing similar in English, and it is rendered as 'Grace'; Cathal, which is "matched" with Charles.
*In the last hundred years, many people have given their children Irish names in the original spelling, e.g. the actors Saoirse Ronan and Ciarán Hinds. This is more common in the Republic, and when it occurs in Northern Ireland is usually connected with people who come from a Roman Catholic or Nationalist/Republican background.


Irish was spoken natively in Northern Ireland into the twentieth century, in areas such as Rathlin Island, and the Sperrin Mountains. The 1901 & 1911 Censuses reveal that it was spoken by both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities.
''Ulster Scots''<br>
*Ulster Scots (also known as Ullans or Ulster-Scotch), is a vernacular used by a few people in County Donegal in the Republic and parts of Northern Ireland, especially County Antrim. *Although commonly portrayed as a "Protestant" language, it is in fact used by members of both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities.
*It has very limited official recognition.
*Genealogists may encounter an occasional word of Ulster Scots when looking at old documents, but the language is not distinct enough to cause major problems.


In the Republic of Ireland, formerly the Irish Freestate, Irish has been an official language since independence in the 1920s. One can see both Irish and English used on official documents from the ROI. The republic has also set up Gaeltachts, which are areas in which Irish is supposedly used by much of the community (the definition and the reality are often at odds) - these are generally scattered along the west coast.
''Latin''<br>
*Latin was used for written records in Ireland over a thousand years ago, prior to the Anglo-Norman, and even the Norse invasions.
*It continued to be used long after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.


Irish gives rise to many Irish surnames, including any beginning with:
''Shelta''<br>
 
* Mac, Mc, M' or Mag- e.g. Maguire, McDonnell, MacGuinness. "Mac" means "son of".
* O' e.g. O' Dwyer, O' Higgins. "O" means "grandson of".
 
It was quite common for many families to drop the Mac or O' from their surnames, so some of the surnames above might also reappear as Dwyer, Higgins, Guinness etc, in the same family. In certain names, "Mac" also became "Fitz" e.g. Fitzgerald.
 
Many other Irish names also derive from Irish Gaelic, e.g. Branagh (Breathnach)
 
The old Gaelic naming system is extremely complex, and exists mainly in oral tradition.
 
Many personal names such as Shaun (John), Kevin, Conor, Neil, Maeve and Kathleen all ultimately derive from the language too. There are other, traditional, Gaelic names which have no direct equivalents in English: Domhnall, which is normally rendered as the unrelated Daniel or Donald; Grainne, for which there is nothing similar in English, and it is rendered as 'Grace'; Cathal, which is "matched" with Charles.
 
In the last hundred years, many people have given their children Irish names in the original spelling, e.g. the actors Saoirse Ronan and Ciarán Hinds. This is more common in the Republic, and when it occurs in Northern Ireland is usually connected with people who come from a Roman Catholic or Nationalist/Republican background.
 
== Ulster Scots ==
Ulster Scots (also known as Ullans or Ulster-Scotch), is a vernacular used by a few people in County Donegal in the Republic and parts of Northern Ireland, especially County Antrim. Although commonly portrayed as a "Protestant" language, it is in fact used by members of both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities. It has very limited official recognition.
 
Genealogists may encounter an occasional word of Ulster Scots when looking at old documents, but the language is not distinct enough to cause major problems.
 
== Latin ==
Latin was used for written records in Ireland over a thousand years ago, prior to the Anglo-Norman, and even the Norse invasions. It continued to be used long after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.
 
== Shelta ==
This is the traditional language of Irish travellers. One is unlikely to ever come across this in records, much less so than Irish.
This is the traditional language of Irish travellers. One is unlikely to ever come across this in records, much less so than Irish.
   
   
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:IRELAND - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES
:IRELAND - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES
==Description==
In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland '''Republic of Ireland'''], under the Constitution of Ireland, both '''English''' and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language '''Irish or Gaelic'''] have official status, with Irish being the national and first official language.<br>
In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland '''Northern Ireland'''], '''English''' is the primary language for 95% of the population, and de facto official language, while '''Irish or Gaelic''' is recognized as an official language under the Identity and Language Act of 2022 and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Scots_dialect '''Ulster Scots'''] is recognized as a minority language. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Ireland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Ireland, accessed 24 May 2023.</ref><br>
Most records used in Irish research were begun in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries and were written in English. The other language you may have to deal with is Latin. Government records were written in Latin until 1733, some Catholic Church records used Latin until the mid-nineteenth century, and older records written in English often latinized names and relationships. Some knowledge of Latin will help you read these records.<br>
==Word List(s)==
'''Irish or Gaelic'''
'''Ulster Scots'''
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Irish or Gaelic'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_phonology Irish phonology (Wikipedia)]
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_orthography Irish orthography (Wikipedia)]
'''Ulster Scots'''
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Irish or Gaelic'''
'''Ulster Scots'''
==Additional Resources==
*[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ireland Ireland (Britannica)]
*[https://wikitravel.org/en/Ireland Ireland (Wikitravel)]<br>
'''Language Information''':
''Irish language''<br>
Irish (Gaeilge, formerly written as Gaedhilge) is a member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages. It is closely related to [[Isle of Man Languages|Manx]] and [[Scotland Languages|Scottish Gaelic]], and more distantly to [[Wales Language and Languages|Welsh]], [[Cornwall Language and Languages|Cornish]] and [[Brittany Language and Languages|Breton]].<br>
*Irish was spoken natively in Northern Ireland into the twentieth century, in areas such as Rathlin Island, and the Sperrin Mountains. The 1901 & 1911 Censuses reveal that it was spoken by both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities.
*In the Republic of Ireland, formerly the Irish Freestate, Irish has been an official language since independence in the 1920s. One can see both Irish and English used on official documents from the ROI. The republic has also set up Gaeltachts, which are areas in which Irish is supposedly used by much of the community (the definition and the reality are often at odds) - these are generally scattered along the west coast.
*Irish gives rise to many Irish surnames, including any beginning with:
** Mac, Mc, M' or Mag- e.g. Maguire, McDonnell, MacGuinness. "Mac" means "son of".
** O' e.g. O' Dwyer, O' Higgins. "O" means "grandson of".
*It was quite common for many families to drop the Mac or O' from their surnames, so some of the surnames above might also reappear as Dwyer, Higgins, Guinness etc, in the same family. In certain names, "Mac" also became "Fitz" e.g. Fitzgerald.
*Many other Irish names also derive from Irish Gaelic, e.g. Branagh (Breathnach)
*The old Gaelic naming system is extremely complex, and exists mainly in oral tradition.
*Many personal names such as Shaun (John), Kevin, Conor, Neil, Maeve and Kathleen all ultimately derive from the language too. There are other, traditional, Gaelic names which have no direct equivalents in English: Domhnall, which is normally rendered as the unrelated Daniel or Donald; Grainne, for which there is nothing similar in English, and it is rendered as 'Grace'; Cathal, which is "matched" with Charles.
*In the last hundred years, many people have given their children Irish names in the original spelling, e.g. the actors Saoirse Ronan and Ciarán Hinds. This is more common in the Republic, and when it occurs in Northern Ireland is usually connected with people who come from a Roman Catholic or Nationalist/Republican background.
''Ulster Scots''<br>
*Ulster Scots (also known as Ullans or Ulster-Scotch), is a vernacular used by a few people in County Donegal in the Republic and parts of Northern Ireland, especially County Antrim. *Although commonly portrayed as a "Protestant" language, it is in fact used by members of both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant communities.
*It has very limited official recognition.
*Genealogists may encounter an occasional word of Ulster Scots when looking at old documents, but the language is not distinct enough to cause major problems.
''Latin''<br>
*Latin was used for written records in Ireland over a thousand years ago, prior to the Anglo-Norman, and even the Norse invasions.
*It continued to be used long after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland.
''Shelta''<br>
This is the traditional language of Irish travellers. One is unlikely to ever come across this in records, much less so than Irish.
==References==


[[Category:Ireland Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]
[[Category:Ireland Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]
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