GAELIC, IRISH: a language of Ireland

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: GLI

ISO 639-1: ga

ISO 639-2: gle

Population	260,000 fluent or native speakers (1983 census), 13% of the population (1983 census). 13% of the population over 3 claim to be Irish speakers (1981 census). Population total all countries 260,000 or more.
Region	Western isles northwest and southwest coasts; Galway, part of Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Meath, Cork, Waterford, Scotland (Albain), Isle of Mann. Also spoken in Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, USA.
Alternate names	IRISH, ERSE, GAEILGE
Dialects	MUNSTER, CONNACHT, DONEGAL, LEINSTER, ULSTER.
Classification	Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Goidelic.
Comments	Bilingualism in English. It is taught as an official language in schools and encouraged by the government. National language. VSO. Bible 1685-1989.

Also spoken in:

United Kingdom

Language name	GAELIC, IRISH
Alternate names	IRISH, ERSE
Comments	Grammar. Bible 1685-1989. See main entry under Ireland.