Read about your rights regarding the Irish language and how to start exercising them.
Irish in the South #
Human and civil rights protect our right to choose the language we use in the public sphere. Language rights safeguard our right to use Irish when dealing with official bodies in the state, helping preserve the language’s official status.
You have the right to use Irish instead of English when dealing with the state. State services, including essential services such as health care, must be available in and through Irish. Thanks to the Official Languages Act 2003, there are many more services now able to provide their services through Irish.
If you have trouble getting accessing a state service through irish, contact Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga for help and advice.
Irish in the North #
An Dream Dearg has been campaigning hard in the North for Irish-language language rights, and although they have achieved a lot for their Irish-speaking community, they recognize that there is still work to do to secure a proper Irish Language Act.
Follow An Dream Dearg on social media to learn more about the #AchtAnois campaign and to get involved.
How to start exercising your rights #
A good place to start is to start using your name in Irish.
You have the right to use your name in its Irish form in this country, on some or all documents, as you wish.
