Still We Speak: The Story of Suppression and Survival of the Irish Language

The story of the Irish language—Gaeilge—is not one of passive decline but of active resistance. Its struggle for survival is deeply rooted in the colonial ambitions of the British Empire and the systemic attempts to dismantle the cultural identity of Ireland. To speak Irish, even today, is a quiet act of defiance and an enduring echo of centuries of resistance. I. The Machinery of Suppression The British Empire was not merely an economic or military juggernaut—it was a cultural colonizer. As the empire expanded, it learned quickly that true power came not only from occupying land, but from controlling language, memory, and identity. In Ireland, this manifested through laws, education, and deliberate erasure. The Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century marked a turning point. The old Gaelic order, with its complex network of kinship, law (Brehon Law), and bardic traditions, was systematically dismantled. The Statutes of Kilkenny (14th century) had already attempted to outlaw the use of Irish among the Anglo-Norman elite, but now the efforts were more widespread and strategic. The Penal Laws of the 17th and 18th centuries, while primarily aimed at Catholicism, struck at the heart of Irish cultural life. Irish-speaking communities—largely rural and Catholic—were economically and socially excluded, driving the language underground. Land was confiscated. Education in Irish was not only discouraged but made impossible through state policy. Hedge schools—unofficial and illegal places of learning—sprang up as acts of cultural resistance. There, children learned to read and write Irish, often at great personal risk. Language is power, and English became the language of courts, commerce, and social mobility. Irish, by contrast, was cast as backward and irrelevant—fit only for peasants and rebels. II. The Anglicisation of a Nation The 19th century saw the most aggressive phase of anglicisation. The National School System, introduced in 1831, mandated that English be the medium of instruction. While the intention may have seemed neutral—education for all—its design was brutally effective in further suppressing Irish. Children caught speaking Irish were punished with the infamous tally stick, notched for every offense and used to instil shame. The Great Famine (1845–1852) proved a linguistic catastrophe. It disproportionately affected Irish-speaking regions—especially the west of Ireland. Entire communities vanished through death or emigration. As Irish families fled to America, Australia, and Britain, many abandoned their native tongue in favor of English, hoping to spare their children from further marginalization. By the end of the 19th century, the anglicisation of Ireland seemed almost complete. The language that had once flourished across an entire island was now spoken fluently by a dwindling minority. III. The Cultural Revival And yet, in the face of cultural obliteration, the Irish spirit rallied. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a powerful resurgence of interest in Irish language and culture. The Gaelic Revival, led by figures like Douglas Hyde (founder of Conradh na Gaeilge), Lady Gregory, and W.B. Yeats, aimed not only to preserve Irish but to reposition it at the center of national identity. This movement wasn't simply linguistic—it was political. The revival fueled the growing push for independence, culminating in the 1916 Easter Rising and the eventual establishment of the Irish Free State. Irish was enshrined in the Constitution of 1937 as the first official language of the state—a symbolic restoration of dignity and heritage. But policy and practice diverged. While Irish was compulsory in schools, support structures were inconsistent. It remained a language many respected but few used. Irish was politicised, sometimes weaponised, and often tokenised. IV. Into the Modern Era: A Living, Breathing Language Despite centuries of repression, Gaeilge never died. It whispered across generations, in lullabies, in blessings, in the cadence of Hiberno-English. In the Gaeltacht, it endured. And now, in the 21st century, it's roaring back—with clarity, creativity, and confidence. Irish today is not just a school subject or a quaint relic. It’s a living, breathing language with podcasts, TikToks, novels, films, news broadcasts, tech startups, and meme pages. It is spoken in homes, on stages, and in streets. Its syntax shapes the identity of those who use it. Irish-language rappers, streamers, poets, teachers, software engineers, and activists are carving out space for the language not only in tradition, but in future-forward spaces. But to truly thrive, Irish must be supported with the same “bells and whistles” that other national languages receive: digital infrastructure, AI and machine learning integration, full governmental and legal parity, and a commitment to linguistic equity in public and private life. We need better supports for Gaelscoileanna, stronger investment in Gaeltacht areas, and normalization of Irish usage across all sectors. To speak Irish should not be a radical act—it should be an ordinary one. And yet, in every voice that chooses Gaeilge today, there is the strength of a history survived and a future imagined. V. Enter Cogar Enter Cogar—a social media platform aimed at connecting and promoting Irish language users, learners, and fostering cross-cultural and cross-community adoption and normalization of the Irish language in everyday life. Cogar isn’t just an app—it’s a space to reclaim what was denied. A space where Gaeilge is central, not supplemental. It is a tool of cultural continuity, creative collaboration, and linguistic empowerment. Cogar believes Irish deserves the same platforms, standards, and global support that any language enjoys—and it’s building that future now. Conclusion The suppression of the Irish language was no accident. It was a deliberate, strategic project of colonial control. But the resilience of the Irish people, and of Gaeilge itself, is a reminder that culture can never be entirely conquered. It may bend, it may bruise—but it does not break. Now, we are at a turning point. The survival of Irish is no longer in question. Its flourishing is. And for that, we must insist—not just on its preservation—but on its full empowerment. As a language. As an identity. As a birthright. Beo. Bríomhar. Ár dteanga féin.