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A question of national identity or minority rights? The changing status of the I rish language in I reland since 1922
Author(s) -
Mac Giolla Chríost Diarmait
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
nations and nationalism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1469-8129
pISSN - 1354-5078
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8129.2011.00508.x
Subject(s) - legislation , politics , irish , statutory law , identity (music) , law , political science , linguistics , aesthetics , philosophy
When the I rish F ree S tate was founded in 1922, the I rish language was a substantial feature of the politics that led up to this event. Subsequently the language was recognised as the national and first official language of the I rish F ree S tate. Since then, the de jure position of I rish appears to have evolved. Most recently, legislation was introduced in the R epublic of I reland, and statutory duties were placed upon certain public bodies with regard to the I rish language in N orthern I reland. This article examines this historical shift in the status of I rish in the two political jurisdictions in I reland, the R epublic of I reland and N orthern I reland [as a part of the U nited K ingdom of G reat B ritain and N orthern I reland ( UK )], and explains its significance.