A search of the Statistics Canada site (http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/themes/ListProducts.c fm?Temporal=2001&APATH=3&THEME=41&FREE=0) shows that there are 45 speakers of Gaelic languages in Newfoundland. However, there are only 10 mother-tongue speakers of Gaelic languages. All are male and all are over 65 years of age. There is not breakdown for Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic separately. Apparently, Irish settlers in Newfoundland nearly all came from Waterford.

In Nova Scotia, the Gaelic language has fared better. There are 1,035 speakers of Gaelic in Nova Scotia. 415 of these are mother-tongue speakers, of whom 300 are over the age of 65, 125 males and 170 females (I don't know why the total does not add to 300!)

I was just discussing this subject on a different site today. I am actually surprised that there are 10 speakers left in Newfoundland. Interesting stuff.

Scríobh David:

of whom 300 are over the age of 65, 125 males and 170 females (I don't know why the total does not add to 300!)

Maybe there are 5 hermaphrodite Irish speakers there?

Here's an interesting website on Newfoundland Irish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_Irish. It states that there are less than 100 irish speakers left mostly in the Avalon peninsula. I would be really grateful if anyone could tell me of a website or book about Newfoundland Irish. Thanks!!

Finally confirmation on a website that there is a small Gaelic (irish or scots i don't know)speaking community in Newfoundland!!!!!!
http://archives.tcm.ie/waterfordnews/2005/04/07/story17579.asp.

Don't forget Nova Scotia isn't so far from Newfoundland..it wouldn't be surprising that some of those Gaidhlig speaking Scots settled would have settled there..

I doubt there would be Irish speakers there..most of the emigration to Newfoundland was from the Southeast of Ireland from the area of east Co.Waterford/south Co. Kilkenny/west Co. Wexford..the Nore valley basically..their accent indeed is similar to that accent even 200 years after their settlement there!! Maybe there would have been Irish speakers among them but I would say most were English speakers..

http://www.irishdiaspora.net/vp01.cfm?outfit=ids&requesttimeout=500&folder=158&p aper=159

(Message edited by diarmo on March 01, 2006)

diarmo I would have to disagree with you on your last point of most of the emigrants from the south east being english speakers.

the last irish speaker in south wexford died c 1910. forth bargy area.

the last irish speaker of ossary irish died in kilkenny in 1947.

irish is still spoken in waterford as we all know and was spoken widely in waterford county up until the end of the 19th century.

one of the last speakers of tipperary irish was labhras o cadhla the well known sean nos singer from sliabh gceal gua outside clonmel in tipp he only died in the 1950s.

irish as the colloquial in this region probably died out on a similar time frame to the rest of munster ie the mid to late 19 th century. albiet it probably wasnt spoken as first language in wexford by the end of the 19 century. It should be noted that letters correspondence and legal documents were nearly allways in english but this merely reflected the low status of irish not its absence as the colloquial. It should be noted at this time that most of the sermons in south wexford were in irish. It is also thought that the well known lament to bishop stafford was written in wexford irish rather than cork irish as is commonoly supposed.

I didnt know that..Have you any references for these claims as I would like to know more about it obviously!

well Ill try but most of them are snippets ive read over the years.
Ive just found this one today

http://www.irishdiaspora.net/vp01.cfm?outfit=ids&requesttimeout=500&folder=158&p aper=159