Young the most positive towards Gaeilge in class, report says
Younger people tend to have more positive attitudes towards Irish in the education system, a national report suggests.The 2025 edition of national public attitude survey ‘Céard é an Scéal?' launched by Irish promotion body Conradh na Gaeilge highlights what it describes as a “strong, positive shift in attitudes towards Irish”. Of the people surveyed, 60% agreed that Irish should be a core subject, that all students study it up until Leaving Certificate.A further 61% agreed that third-level courses through Irish or with an Irish component should be made more available to students.More than 70% agreed that every child should have the right to receive an education through Irish at every level of the education system, while a further 77% agreed the education system should aim to educate all pupils to become confident Irish speakers.However, this support tended to be higher amongst those in the younger age groups. For example, 82% of people in the 18-34 age group believe that more third-level Irish courses should be provided, compared with 68% of those in the 35-44 age group. A further 80% of this age cohort believed Irish should be a core Leaving Cert subject, and 82% agreed that the education system should aim to make all school pupils proficient speakers of Irish.Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, president of Conradh na Gaeilge, said the annual survey plays a vital role in debunking some of the myths surrounding public attitudes towards the Irish language.
"It is an essential resource in securing lasting progress for the Irish language." Cassie Ní Chatháin, research and analysis executive with Conradh na Gaeilge, said this year’s survey highlights the strong, positive shift in attitudes towards Irish, as well as the challenges that still face communities wishing to use it in their daily lives. "A process of language reclamation is well underway among the public, but persistent, long-term problems and the absence of comprehensive policies continue to hamper that growth."The findings show that stronger action is needed from governments, north and south, to provide better services, stronger supports, and more opportunities for people to use Irish in their daily lives, especially for Gaeltacht communities, young people, and learners across the island.”
