Uinsionn Mac Dubhghaill

THE District Electoral Division (DED) of Turlach (Ros Muc) is the most strongly Irish-speaking area in the country, according to an analysis of the 1996 census returns (see tables on facing page).

A total of 91.9% of adults over 19 years old said they spoke Irish on a daily basis, in response to a new census question which for the first time asked how often they spoke the language.

In second place was Scainimh DED (Cill Chiaráin), also in the Connemara Gaeltacht, with 90.3%. Mín an Chladaigh (Cnoc Fola) in the Donegal Gaeltacht came third, with 88.5% of daily adult speakers.

This robust performance contrasts strongly with that of many other DEDs, where the language has all but disappeared although the area remains within the official Gaeltacht boundaries.

Almost half of all the DEDs in the Gaeltacht – 68 out of 139 – returned daily usage levels for adults of under 20%. A further 29 DEDs returned levels of usage between 20% and 40%; while 12 DEDs fell between 40% and 60% and 16 between 60 and 80%.

This leaves only 14 DEDs remaining in the country where Irish is spoken on a daily basis by over 80% of the adult population. These 14 DEDs account for 17% of the total Gaeltacht population.

In general, the analysis shows the Fíor-Ghaeltacht has shrunk to a fraction of the size it was when the state was established.

In Kerry the Fíor-Ghaeltacht is now restricted to a small area around Dún Chaoin, and the area around Feothanach. On this evidence the prospect of Irish continuing as a community language in Kerry, beyond a generation or two, seems remote.

Irish is in full retreat in north Mayo. Most of the county’s official Gaeltacht areas – with the notable exception of Ceathrú Thaidhg at just under 70% – returned levels of daily adult usage which fell well below 20%.

A question mark hangs over the smaller Breac-Ghaeltacht areas of Ring in Co Waterford (40-60%); Múscraí in west Cork (20-40%); and Ráth Cairn in Co Meath (51%), despite valiant efforts by community leaders on the ground.

At the lower end of the scale, DEDs where less than 5% of adults said they spoke Irish every day included Na Muingí, Gleann na Muaidhe, Barr Rúscaí, Béal Deirg Mór and Guala Mhór (all in Mayo); Eanach Dhúin and An Leaca Bheag in Galway; and Ministir Gaoithe, Cathair Domhnall and Loch an Choireáin in Kerry.

The two least Irish-speaking DEDs in the official Gaeltacht are Loch an Choireáin in Kerry and Guala Mhór in Mayo.