Valuing the Diversity of Languages in a Multicultural World: Lessons from Ireland

Réamonn Ó Ciaráin draws on personal experience as well as professional insights in regard to the revitalization of the Irish language since the early 1990s for this presentation. Thirty years of conflict in the Northern part of Ireland have led to aspects of culture such, as language, becoming contested to a heightened degree. While peace has brought a new dispensation some mindsets have proven to be more cautious in regards to recognizing and supporting cultural diversity. Ó Ciaráin outlines the huge advances gained in the promotion of the Irish language but does not ignore the areas where Ireland lags behind other jurisdictions in regenerating language and its heritage. The decline of Irish language usage as a community language in Gaeltacht areas, Irish-peaking regions, is an example of this. The socio-linguistic landscape has changed radically in Ireland as the country becomes increasingly ethnically diverse and multi-lingual. 12% of the population in the Republic of Ireland is made up of non-Irish citizens and 20% of the population was born outside Ireland. We find a similar demographic picture in the North of Ireland. It is no longer a question of Irish or English but Irish as the indigenous language in a linguistically rich and multi-ethnic society.

The talk outlines how language regeneration in Ireland can offer grounds for optimism for other countries across the globe where indigenous languages are in imminent danger. As with the growing need for climate justice, Ó Ciaráin will position the work to revitalise the Irish language and other endangered languages as one of the most pressing global issues. The world needs a change of consciousness with regard to language extinction which is as devastating as environmental destruction and the tragic reduction of bio-diversity. The talk demonstrates that the regeneration of the Irish language has led to impressive economic, social, and cultural growth. Significantly, support for the Irish language and its rich heritage is not confined to Ireland but is global and on the increase. Technology is assisting with this part of the story of this language which was once at an extremely low ebb.

Gael Linn for whom Ó Ciaráin has worked for over three decades have consistently demonstrated that embracing multi-lingualism enriches cognitive development, fosters cultural appreciation, and enhances social cohesion as well as generating and sustaining economic activity. In Ireland, we can and need to ensure that the constitutional protection of Irish is more than an aspiration while at the same time recognising the language rights of others in a more culturally diverse society in the 21st C. Language rights are human rights.

Réamonn Ó Ciaráin is CEO of Gael Linn. He is author of three books on Cúchulainn; Laoch na Laochra: Scéal Chúchulainn (2015), Cúchulainn, Ulster's Greatest Hero (2017) and Cú Uladh, Scéal Chúchulainn (2018). He is co-founder of Flash Fiction Armagh and co-editor of The Bramley, an anthology of Flash-Fiction. Réamonn is chairperson of Aonach Mhacha, the Irish language social enterprise behind the Irish language Cultural Centre in Armagh City which opened in March 2020 after a ten year Odyssey.

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Co-hosted with: Multicultural Student Services, Honors College, Literature Committee, Office of Student Opportunity & Excellence

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