The languages question is topical following Catherine Connolly’s commitment to make the promotion of the Irish language a prominent theme of her presidency. The 2022 census shows 40 per cent of people could speak Irish, 10 per cent very well, 32 per cent well and 55 per cent not well. Only about 5 per cent can speak at least two foreign languages here, compared to the EU average of 28 per cent. These figures map the Irish languages question and the opportunities it presents. Structurally, Ireland has a real opportunity to make this multilingual leap; but we still need the political will and cultural skills to do it successfully.
