Tá an Ghaeilge ar cheann de na teangacha scríofa is sine agus is stairiúla ar domhan agus is cuid lárnach dár n-oidhreacht agus dár gcultúr í anseo i nGaeltachct Mhúscraí. Is féidir blúirín a léamh faoi stair na Gaeilge ar shuíomh gréasáin Údarás na Gaeltachta anseo.

Leagtar amach in Airteagal 8 de Bhunreacht na hÉireann gur theanga náisiúnta í an Ghaeilge agus gur phríomhtheanga na tíre í. Glactar leis an mBéarla mar theanga oifigiúil eile.

Ceadaíonn an Bunreacht do gach duine gach gnó – agus gach cuid dá ngnó – a dhéanamh leis an stát trí Ghaeilge agus trí Ghaeilge amháin. Ciallaíonn an ceart bunreachtúil go bhfuil, dá réir sin, dualgais ar chomhlachtaí poiblí na tíre géilleadh don cheart sin. Go praiticiúil, áfach, is minic nach mbíodh aon soláthar éifeachtach déanta chun seirbhísí a sholáthar i nGaeilge chomh maith lena soláthar i mBéarla.

Tháinig Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 i bhfeidhm chun breis tacaíochta a thabhairt do lucht labhartha na Gaeilge agus dóibh siúd ar mian leo an Ghaeilge a úsáid ina gcuid gnóthaí laethúla leis an stát agus le comhlachtaí poiblí na tíre. Deimhníonn an tAcht go bhfuil réimse leathan cearta teanga ag an bpobal. Breis eolais ar shuíomh an Choimisinéara Teanga.

Foilsíodh an Sraitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 ar an 21ú Nollaig, 2010 ag leagan amach cur chuige comhtháite an Rialtais i leith na Gaeilge. Sonraíonn an Straitéis 9 réimse gnímh – oideachas, an Ghaeltacht, an teaghlach, seirbhísí poiblí, na meáin agus an teicneolaíocht, foclóirí, reachtaíocht, an eacnamaíocht agus tionscnaimh leathana.

The Irish language is one of the oldest and most historic written language in the world and is an integral part of our heritage and culture here in the Múscraí Gaeltacht. You can read a little about the history of the Irish language on the Údarás na Gaeltachta website here.

Article 8 of the Irish Constitution states the Irish language as the national language and the country’s first official language. English is recognised as a second official language.

The Constitution permits the public to conduct its business – and every part of its business – with the state solely through Irish. As a result of this constitutional right, public bodies have a duty to comply with this right. In practice, however, it often happened that no effective provision was made to provide services in Irish as well as providing services in English.

The Official Language Act 2003 came info effect to provide additional support to Irish language speakers and to those wishing to use the Irish language in their day to day dealings with the state and with the country’s public bodies. The Act confirms that the public has a wide range of language rights. Further information available on the Irish Language Commissioner’s website.

The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 was published on the 21st December, 2010 outlining the Government’s integrated approach to the Irish language. The Strategy specifies 9 areas of action – education, the Gaeltacht, the family, public services, the media and technology, dictionaries, legislation, the economy and cross-cutting initiatives.