Did you know?

Various non-governmental organisations are engaged in the promotion of the Irish language throughout Ireland. Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League) is one of the best known and longest established of these. The organisation was founded in Dublin in July 1893 by a group of language activists, including Douglas Hyde, the son of a Church of Ireland rector from Roscommon who would later become the first president of Ireland.

Conradh na Gaeilge’s headquarters are located in Harcourt Street, Dublin. Conradh’s language classes are held there and the building also houses a bookshop and a social club.

Oireachtas na Gaeilge, the main Irish language festival, was established by Conradh in 1897, and still takes place annually in late October or early November. More than 10,000 people attend the event, which is held in a different location each year. Another Conradh na Gaeilge initiative, Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish language week), takes place in the days leading up to St Patrick’s Day and has grown greatly in popularity in recent years, both in Ireland and abroad.