Irish Language

New language rights for Irish speakers and additional Irish language obligations on public bodies are to come into effect this week. The final provisions of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 will come into force on 21 December 2024 in line with a statutory deadline.

Matheson partner Mairéad Ní Ghabháin has been appointed to the board of Foras na Gaeilge, the body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland. Her appointment, along with that of Irish language broadcaster Gemma Ní Chionnaith, was

Legislation requiring jury summons to be issued bilingually has come into effect. Sections 12, 13, 14 and 16 of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 were commenced through a statutory instrument yesterday.

Major updates have been rolled out to the Achtanna.ie website, which provides access to the official Irish language versions of Acts of the Oireachtas enacted since 1922. The updated website was developed in conjunction with Rannóg an Aistriúcháin, the Irish language translation

The Irish language was spoken during legal proceedings in Belfast's Royal Courts of Justice yesterday in what language experts say was the first time in nearly 300 years. The First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) was hearing an appeal brought by Conradh na Gaeilge against a decision by the Inform

Legislation providing for official recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland for the first time has received royal assent. The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill grants official status to the Irish language as part of a package of measures to promote and respect Northern Irela

The Supreme Court has held that the State unreasonably delayed the publication of certain environmental legislation in the Irish language. The respondents were seeking to challenge a compulsory purchase order for lands in the Connemara Gaeltacht and claimed that they did not have reasonable access t

Northern Ireland’s High Court has, for the second time, declared that the Northern Ireland Executive is failing in its duty to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. There has been inaction on this point since the provisions were introduced in 2007. In this judicial review

Northern Ireland's High Court has ruled in favour of Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge in a judicial review regarding the failure of the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt an Irish language strategy. Mr Justice David Scoffield ruled that the Executive was in breach of its statutory duty under

Northern Ireland's only Irish language theatre company has launched legal action against the Arts Council over its decision to withdraw funding from the group. The theatre group, Aisling Ghéar, is challenging the decision on the basis that it is unfair and irrational. The annual funding from

A centuries-old ban on the use of the Irish language in the Northern Ireland courts will be repealed under language legislation introduced to Westminster today. The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill will grant official status to the Irish language as part of a package of measures to prom

Legislation aimed at making more public services available in the Irish language has been approved by the Oireachtas and will now be signed into law. Under the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019, the number of Irish speakers recruited to the public service will be increased to 20 per cent of n

Proposed legislation to promote the Irish language is set to be strengthened through 32 amendments approved by ministers. The government has published the heads of 32 amendments to the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill, which will be presented at report stage.

The family of an Irish-born woman have won the right to include an Irish language epitaph without an English translation on her gravestone in Coventry. Margaret Keane, who was born in Co Meath but lived in Coventry since the 1950s, was widely known for her dedication to the GAA in the UK.

An ecclesiastical court in England will this month hear an appeal from a woman who was refused the right to include an Irish language epitaph without an English translation on her mother’s gravestone. The family of the late Margaret Keane, who was born in Ireland but lived in Coventry, want to