Hi!
Does irish is essential to live and work in Ireland (Dublin and Cork)?
2007-06-20 09:47:36 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It is only compulsory to learn Irish if you go to school there. 99% speak English all the time.
2007-06-20 09:51:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
There are some areas of Ireland called Gaeltacht regions, where Gaelic is officially the major language.
The current population of the Gaeltacht regions is approximately 85,000 with major concentrations of Irish speakers in the western counties of Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry, and Cork.
There are smaller concentrations in the counties of Waterford in the south and Meath in the east.
In Ireland and Northern Ireland there is an established network of Gaelic speaking schooling.
The following areas of County Cork are Gaeltacht regions
Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh-- Ballingeary
Cúil Aodha-- Coolea
Oileán Chléire-- Clear Island
If you are going to live and work in these areas, the locals would expect you to show interest in learning their language.
Everyone speaks "The Queens English" as well though as they were forced to by oppression---but we'll not get into that.
You will be fine in Dublin as it is a large metropolitan city.
2007-06-20 10:10:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
Why is everyone attacking the asker? If one can't be nice when answering a question one shouldn't be on Yahoo! Answers. Thank you Ruben for your question. It is a good one. :-)
Irish IS a language. The language is called 'Irish' or 'Irish Gaelic'. Around 40% of the population of Ireland (the Republic of) and 10% of Northern Ireland have some knowledge of Irish. Around 80,000 people are native Irish speakers. Knowing Irish is not a neccessity to work or live in Ireland. Around 3 and a half million people say they have no knowledge of the language.
However it would be common courtesy to know how to speak some Irish (like pleasanteries and greetings etc.) when visiting Gaeltacht (Irish Speaking) areas in: Meath, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Galway, Donegal, Mayo and Antrim. Go here to find out where they are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaeltacht http://www.udaras.ie/udaras/priontail.asp?priontail=oifigb
BTW: Gaelic is in fact THREE languages: Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Manx Gaelic. However when people just say 'Gaelic' on their own they generally mean 'Scottish Gaelic'.
And Irish people DO NOT speak Queen's English or RP. In fact not many people in England do either. Irish people speak Hiberno-English, Irish Gaelic and Ulster Scots.
2007-06-20 10:22:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 0⤋
Asking if you have to speak irish to live in ireland is a lot like asking if you have to speak Mexican in Mexico. While the mexican people have slang, the Language is still called Spainish. The same goes for Ireland. Does that answer your question, President Bush?
2007-06-22 10:09:03 · answer #4 · answered by Lucky Donovan 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes it would be better if you knew some basic words in Irish!The official languages are Irish and English..so all the people obviously speak English... Road signs are usually bilingual, except in Gaeltacht regions, where they are in Irish only. ;)
2007-06-20 12:10:05 · answer #5 · answered by Erina♣Liszt's Girl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No of course not. I have many friends in ireland and they all speak perfect English. If you want to get to know the culture then by all means learning Irish is the best way. However you can cope just fine without knowing Irish!
2007-06-20 09:51:35 · answer #6 · answered by jemmyxjellyxbean 1 · 2⤊ 4⤋
No, but it would be better for you, you would be accepted into the society more easily if you spoke Gaelic.Some parts of Ireland still have Gaelic strongholds so if you don't intend to learn the language, don't go there.
2007-06-20 11:34:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You should,just as you should learn English if you want to live in England.
2007-06-21 11:27:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No - English is the first language in Ireland. If you really want to learn Irish it may help you read a few old sign-posts in the back of the beyonds, but as long as you know Caid Mille Faillte means a hundred thousand welcomes, corcoran is a teapot and Pogue Mahone is not just the name of an Irish pub but needs researching (kiss my ----) then you will do very well in the auld country - and if you don't then you can either drown your sorrows in Guiness or Bushmills Blackbush !!l Enjoy!
2007-06-20 11:05:00 · answer #9 · answered by Helen S 7 · 1⤊ 7⤋
no .
unless you want to be a primary school teacher , an elected politician or work for TnaG the irish language broadaster . so if its for carpentry or waitressing , ar aghaidh libh isteach , theres a welcome on the mat for you
2007-06-22 11:04:43 · answer #10 · answered by thatchy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋