<P> Irish ( Gaeilge ) , also referred to as Gaelic or Irish Gaelic , is a Goidelic language ( Gaelic ) of the Indo - European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people . Irish is spoken as a first language by a small minority of Irish people , and as a second language by a larger group of non-native speakers . Irish enjoys constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland , and is an officially recognised minority language in Northern Ireland . It is also among the official languages of the European Union . The public body Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the language throughout the island of Ireland . Irish was the predominant language of the Irish people for most of their recorded history , and they brought it with them to other regions , notably Scotland and the Isle of Man , where Middle Irish gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx respectively . It has the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe . </P>
<P> Irish ( Gaeilge ) , also referred to as Gaelic or Irish Gaelic , is a Goidelic language ( Gaelic ) of the Indo - European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people . Irish is spoken as a first language by a small minority of Irish people , and as a second language by a larger group of non-native speakers . Irish enjoys constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland , and is an officially recognised minority language in Northern Ireland . It is also among the official languages of the European Union . The public body Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the language throughout the island of Ireland . Irish was the predominant language of the Irish people for most of their recorded history , and they brought it with them to other regions , notably Scotland and the Isle of Man , where Middle Irish gave rise to Scottish Gaelic and Manx respectively . It has the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe . </P>
where is irish spoken as a first language
where is irish spoken as a first language
Ireland
Ireland