The Emergence of the Global Irish-Speaking Population in the Nineteenth Century
Implications and Impacts
Pádraig Ó Beirn (1857-1927)
Source: An Gaodhal, April 1882
Máire Ní Thuathail (1871-1954)
Source: "Coláiste Connacht," colaistechonnacht.com, 2017
Máire Uí Dhuinnshléibhe ("Méiní," 1876-1967)
Source: Leslie Matson, Méiní: The Blasket Nurse (1996)
Tomás “Bán” Ó Concheannain (1870-1961)
Source: Tom Kenny, "Tomás Bán Concannon," Kennys.ie
Irish Speakers, 1830-1910: A Global Population
Approximately 1 in 3 Irish speakers resided in the United States by 1910: 21% of 1.37 million Irish-born in that year
Of these 250,000 - 275,000 in the U.S., over half lived in the stretch between Massachusetts and Pennsylvania (NY, NJ, PA, CT, MA)
By 1900, approximately 4 out of every 10 speakers of Irish resided outside of Ireland, or over 400,000 individuals
Difference between % of Full Population under 20 and
% of Irish-Speaking Population under 20, 1851-91
Province | 1851 | 1871 | 1891 |
---|---|---|---|
Munster | .14 | .26 | .31 |
Ulster | .14 | .15 | .16 |
Connacht | .10 | .20 | .25 |
Leinster | .36 | .38 | .36 |
Source: L. A. Clarkson, et al., Database of Irish Historical Statistics: Age, 1821–1911 (Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive, 1997), https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-3574-1; L. A. Clarkson, et al., Database of Irish Historical Statistics: Language, 1851–1911 (Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive, 1997), http://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-3573-1.
Province | 1851 | 1871 | 1891 |
---|---|---|---|
Munster | .14 | .26 (-.12) | .31 |
Ulster | .14 | .15 | .16 |
Connacht | .10 | .20 (-.10) | .25 |
Leinster | .36 | .38 | .36 |
Source: L. A. Clarkson, et al., Database of Irish Historical Statistics: Age, 1821–1911 (Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive, 1997), https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-3574-1; L. A. Clarkson, et al., Database of Irish Historical Statistics: Language, 1851–1911 (Colchester, Essex: UK Data Archive, 1997), http://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-3573-1.
Difference between % of Full Population under 20 and
% of Irish-Speaking Population under 20, 1851-91
An Gaodhal Newspaper
Micheál Ó Lócháin, 1836-1899
(plus in Ireland The Nation, Tuam News, and more…)
Irish Language in America: Print & Societies
New York University / Hardiman Library An Gaodhal Project
Current-Stage Project Goals
Current-Stage Project Challenges
Data Release, December 2023 (CER < 2%)
doi.org/10.58153/5ya5n-mc504
Initial Findings: Cultural Continuity
An Gaodhal 1:1 (1881): “A Dhómhnaill Ui Chonnaill, a d-tuigeann tú Gaedhilge?”
c.f. International Folk Tale Type 1699, language misunderstandings
e.g. NFC 394 (1937, Galway):
“A Dónall Ó Conaill a d’igeann tú Gáedhilge?”
“Tá nimh eir do chopán, & mharóth sé céad ‘ear.”
“Má tá,” adeir Dónall, “ólaid siad héin é.”
“Má’s fíor do scéala tuirai mé spré’ dhuit.”
Initial Findings: Named Entity Recognition
Not yet there for the Irish-language tokens...
Initial Findings: Named Entity Recognition
But for the English language content:
Initial Findings: To Do