Belfast, United Kingdom – The government of the United Kingdom has introduced legislation to protect the Irish language in Northern Ireland for the first time.
The UK’s main representative in Northern Ireland said last week’s development was a “significant milestone” in what has been a long and tumultuous journey.
Irish, sometimes known as Gaelic, is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was the population’s primary language until the 19th century. Its use was widely suppressed and gradually declined during British rule.
Irish became an official language in the Republic of Ireland after independence in the 1920s, but remained marginalised in Northern Ireland.
While historically spoken by all sections of society, the language has also been tied to Irish nationalism and republicanism – both by its defenders and detractors.
Long-promised commitments for recognition have been blocked or stalled for decades, in large part due to opposition and hostility from Northern Ireland’s pro-British unionist parties.
The legislation will also grant rights to Ulster Scots,…
