Conradh na Gaeilge
Conradh na Gaeilge is an organization "for the purpose of keeping the
Irish language spoken in
Ireland." The league was founded in
Dublin on July 31, 1893 by
Douglas Hyde, a Protestant from Frenchpark, County Roscommon with the aid of Eugene O'Growney, Eoin MacNeill, Luke K. Walsh and others. The league developed from the earlier
Gaelic Union and became the leading institution promoting the Gaelic Revival. The league's first newspaper was
An Claidheamh Soluis and its most noted editor was
Patrick Pearse.
Though apolitical, the league attracted many Irish nationalists of different persuasions, much like the
Gaelic Athletic Association before it.
Encyclopedia
Conradh na Gaeilge is an organization "for the purpose of keeping the
Irish language spoken in
Ireland." The league was founded in
Dublin on July 31, 1893 by
Douglas Hyde, a Protestant from Frenchpark, County Roscommon with the aid of Eugene O'Growney, Eoin MacNeill, Luke K. Walsh and others. The league developed from the earlier
Gaelic Union and became the leading institution promoting the Gaelic Revival. The league's first newspaper was
An Claidheamh Soluis and its most noted editor was
Patrick Pearse.
Though apolitical, the league attracted many Irish nationalists of different persuasions, much like the
Gaelic Athletic Association before it. It was through the league that many future political leaders and rebels first met, laying the foundation for groups such as the Irish Volunteers. Most of the signatories of the
Easter Proclamation were members.
In recent years the organisation has assumed a quieter role in public life, although the organisation is the principal organisation responsible for co-ordinating the successful campaign to make Irish an official language of the E.U.
Most recently, the organisation has become embroiled in a dispute with Irish political party Fine Gael over the party's policy to end Irish's status as a required subject for the Leaving Certificate. Conradh na Gaeilge have responded by asking voters in the next general election to only vote for candidates who are in favour of Irish's required position remaining.
The organisation is strong in many parts of Northern Ireland, but only have active branches in several areas in the south of Ireland.
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