What would have been the state of the Irish language in Gleann Maghair in the early 1820s?

Would the community have been mostly Irish-speaking? mostly anglicised? or mostly bilingual?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Go raibh maith agat!

I'm sure you know the famous red map of the distribution of Irish in 1871. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Irishin1871.jpg

I'm sure there was Irish in Gleann Maghair and diglossia was probably the order of the day - with Irish losing out even then.

I've seen that map before, although it's interesting how the Glens of Antrim and Rathlin are not highlighted, even though Irish would have been spoken by a significant minority of the population in the 1870s.

Maybe because these are small areas, and maybe the survey wasn't made there...

About fifty or sixty years ago a new urban Gaeltacht was established there. Two or three generations ago. I wonder how it succeeded? There were only a small number of families involved. Coláiste na bPiarsach, Gleann Maghair, is probably its monument if there are no Irish-speaking families left. Was it Gaedhalachas Teoranta that organised it? The idea was a good one and should be tried again -- and again ...

Yeah I was talking to a woman from the Ard Barra Gaeltacht last week. When I asked her about it she said it was still there and they were not involved in the setting up of Coláiste na bPiarsach. Methinks any city/large town could do thE same.

I agree. There are bodies like Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta charged with preserving Irish but would they ever look at this aspect of it: the social pressure exercised by neighbours on each other. Keeping up with Muintir Mhic Ascaill -- aka the Joneses --- would be very beneficial to the language.

Young couples starting a family need a home. Where can they buy, rent, or be given one. The State stands back. Leave it to "the market" i.e. "Money talks". In Gleann Maghair the owner of the plot of land wanted to establish a Gaeltacht and so it happened.

With all that NAMA land in its possession now the State could easily give a new additional role to Údarás na Gaeltachta and facilitate Irish-speaking couples to live near each other.

No rules! No interference! Just Irish speakers living relatively near each other. Make sure they are within the catchment area of a Gaelscoil. Give them an Áras Pobail so that they don't have to resort to the pub and alcohol for every social occasion. Give them Irish-speaking child-care at a minimal price. Appoint a Timire to organise events for Irish-speakers. No. You wouldn't HAVE to go. Yes. Outsiders with Irish would be welcome. Incorrigible English-speakers would not. Watch what happens.

When it was tried in Whitehall, Dublin, long ago one family surrounded their house with galvanised iron. So the story goes. There were too few Irish-speaking families to make a go of it then. Are there more now?

grma for the info...

I agree the that idea is great and should be imitated.

This site refers to "Árd Bharra" though:

http://homepage.eircom.net/~timbrackencourt/Gaeilge.html

...what's the correct spelling?

Also, why is Cork city and environs in a white enclave in the 1871 map? I guess, Irish was spoken by less than 10 % of the pop!?!

(Message edited by seanoconaill on April 15, 2011)

(Message edited by seanoconaill on April 15, 2011)

(Message edited by seanoconaill on April 15, 2011)