This was a headline in our local paper (London,Canada) yesterday. It concerned the replacing of all 35,000 existing speed signs in the Irish Republic. I quote from it:-
........ leaflets detailing the changes being mailed to 1.6 million households in the Republic of Ireland began to arrive yesterday. They were published in English, Arabic,Chinese,French,Portuguese and Russian... unquote.

Can I safely assume that it was a mistake on the part of the Associated Press for leaving out Irish?

Well, at this site at least, it's given in Irish and English:

http://www.gometric.ie/

More likely a mistake on the part of the Irish Government

Quite. English leaflets were, as usual, distributed in the Gaeltacht. The Irish ones will be available "in a few weeks..."

We really need th language act, in full force, as soon as possible. (The relevant provision is not yet law).

what specifically is that provision, and when is it to become law?

The provision that all statements to the public shall be in Irish or bilingual. (Alt 9 (3))
It comes into force by ministerial order or after three years from signing into law of the act, whichever is sooner.

The act is being slowly phased in to make sure all the relevant bodies are being brought on board.

On the radio this morning I heard that the Department of Transport is offering the lame excuse that there was "no time" to prepare an Irish version, even though the relevant Irish organisations were in touch with them two years ago to (try to) ensure that what has happened wouldn't.

At least part of the website has irish examples http://www.gometric.ie

http://www.acts.ie/ga.act.2003.0032.4.html

(3) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh comhlacht poiblí cumarsáid i scríbhinn nó leis an bpost leictreonach leis an bpobal i gcoitinne nó le haicme den phobal i gcoitinne chun faisnéis a thabhairt don phobal nó don aicme, cinnteoidh an comhlacht gur i nGaeilge, nó i mBéarla agus i nGaeilge, a bheidh an chumarsáid

(3) Where a public body communicates in writing or by electronic mail with the general public or a class of the general public for the purpose of furnishing information to the public or the class, the body shall ensure that the communication is in the Irish language or in the English and Irish languages.

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Alt 1.(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta, nach déanaí ná 3 bliana tar éis an tAcht seo a rith, a shocrófar chuige sin, le hordú nó le horduithe ón Aire faoin alt seo, i gcoitinne nó faoi threoir aon chríche nó forála áirithe agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a shocrú amhlaidh chun críoch éagsúil agus le haghaidh forálacha éagsúla.

(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days not later than 3 years after the passing of this Act as, by order or orders made by the Minister under this section, may be fixed therefor either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision, and different days may be so fixed for different purposes and different provisions.

well, perhaps this may prompt that "ministreal order"...

I always thought that the Irish language in Éire was offically the 1st language of the country not English. Was this the case in the time of Saorstát Éireann and then changed?

No. But it has remained an aspiration with very little effect. The language act is beginning to change that.