Full official status for Irish: a success story
Channel: Acció Exterior i Unió Europea
Date: 2022-04-06

Gaeilge or Irish is Ireland’s national and first official language. Ireland became part of the European Community back in 1973, but Irish has not gained full official and working status in the European Union until very recently. Which part of that path was easy, and how the breakthrough happened has to do with mobilisation. We will hear from campaigners who will describe the pathway leading to this success. 

Mobilisation, though, is not always enough, as the campaign for the recognition of Catalan as a full EU official language continues to face challenges, and this despite sustained efforts over the past 40 years. 

Join us in this event co-organised with the European Language Equality Network (ELEN) for the latest developments in the struggle for more diversity in this united Europe. 

With the participation of: 
• Catalan Minister for Foreign Action and Open Government Victòria Alsina
• Catalan Minister for Justice Lourdes Ciuró 
• Representative of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union Gorka Knörr 
• ELEN Secretary-General Davyth Hicks Members of Conradh na Gaeilge, the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha and Dáithí Mac Cárthaigh 
• University of Barcelona professor Eva Pons Parera