The Irish language binds both countries together, whether the English and Scottish in Northern Ireland like it or not. The political division in Northern Ireland is shown in part by the Irish language, but it is this same language that binds the indigenous people in Northern Ireland to their family in the south.
The English immigrants and Scottish Protestants (many of whom considered themselves Unionists because they are in favor of Northern Ireland’s current standing as part of the UK) look down on the Irish and their language. They do not recognize it and “distrust and dismiss” the native Irish people, believing the language plays a part in dividing the country politically. This negative view has not stopped the Gaelic speakers.
For any culture, language is a key element and often at the core of every society. It allows a person to express thoughts, opinions, and ideas to their neighbor. It allows traditions and stories to be passed down from generation to generation. A language is what keeps a culture’s identity alive. While English is almost universally spoken in the six counties that make up Northern Ireland, there is a small, but important, population that speaks Irish - a population that is growing.
They understand the link between their past and future heritage and the language they speak. Many supporters of the language are labeled as Northern Nationalists; Roman Catholics who support one, unified Ireland. Continuing to speak Gaelic has provided the native people in Northern Ireland hope for peace and unity.
Because Northern Ireland is a constituent of Britain, its head of government is the British prime minister and its head of state is the reigning monarch. In 1920, the Government of Ireland Act was proposed in order to create separate parliaments to exercise jurisdiction over both north and south Ireland. To many, it was a step for unification with no borders, but the Northern Protestants strongly opposed being governed from Dublin, leaving the border as it is today.
Below the border lies the Republic of Ireland: mainly Irish and mainly Catholic. Some sources say as much as 95% of Ireland is made up of native Irish. Here, Gaelic is spoken freely and without worry. It is constitutionally recognized as the first and national language, with English being the second. Gaelic is also recognized as an official language by the European Union. All official documents are written and published in both languages, and there is even a network of Irish language schools.
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