The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-03-29
The Gaelic Language Justly Boasts
A Most Respectable
Antiquity.
Strongest Colony Speaking the Irish
Language Found in
Nova Scotia.
1t is Now Taught in About One
Third of the Common Schools
of Ireland.

I'm it we sing our lays and love,
. In it we Groom our sorrow,
And When the night is dark above,
Twill cheer us till tomorrow;
In the old tongue alone we know
The way to seek salvation;
1t made nation long ago
And keeps it still a nation
hearts of the Irish people than the
mother tongue, with all its ancient
traditions, and notwithstanding the
fact that English supremacy made
the language official upon the Emer-
aid Isle, the use Of the old Gaelic ex-
pressions has never ..een eliminated
by it's inhabitants.
The Irish language can boast Of a
most respectable antiquity. It can
produce evidence of it's existence for
at least two thousand years; it has
by Irish invaders and colonists in
Britain.
The Gaelic language is divided
into five separate divisions, viz: Gel
tic-is the Gaelic of Ireland; Scottish
the Gaelic of Scotland; Manx-the
Gaelic Of the Tile of Man; !awe elelr--tl,e
Gaelic Of Wales, ana Breton the
Gaelic of West France, e.
1t was in 1853 that Prof. J. c. Zeuss
published the Grammatica Celtica,
which may be said to mark the be-
ginning of general study of Celtic
languages and of Gaelic in particular.
In 1877 the Society for the Preserva-
tion Of the Irish language was found
ed and still exists; in 1880 the Gaelic
Union was formed with the same OBJ
ject in view. and in 1898 the Gaelic
League came into existence.
According to the last census, the
number Of native Gaelic speakers in
ireland was $4,000, or about one
+. seventh of the population. 1t is esti-
mated that there are now in Great
Britain and Ireland at least million
people who claim Gaelic as their ma
tive language and speak it in prefer
cnce to any other.
In every large American city num-
bers Of people will be found who arc
continually striving to preserve the
language in all its purity. Largely
through the influence of Timothy
Frederick Halvey of Philadelphia,
who is widely known as the founder
OF Robert Emmett Day (March ~, the
first Gaelic schools were established
in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia
and Buffalo.
Mr.. Halvey worked in cooperation
with the Gaelic League, which has
Its headquarters in Dublin with
branch organizations in all parts of
the world.
The Gaelic language is taught in a
1tumber of the leading American uni
versitics. At Harvard. Professor Rob-
inson, one Of the recognized philolo-
gists Of the world, conducts Gaelic
classes and is an enthusiastic Gaelic
scholar. A special course in Gaelic
is provided in the University of Cali
fornia by Professor O'Hagerty, ma
tive of Donegal, who was brought
over from Ireland to take that posi-
tion. Professor O'Hagerty also con-
ducts Gaelic classes in San Francisco
Gaelic was taught for the first time
last year in the Summer School of the
University Of Chicago.
Where They Speak No English.
The strongest Gaelic colony in the
western hemisphere is in Nova Scotia
where the language is spoken by $780,
900 people, many of whom do not
speak any English, but have preserved
their native tongue in all its purity
Several newspapers printed in Gaelic
keep this colony in touch with what
transpires in the world. There are
two colleges in Nova Scotia attended
largely by Gaelic speaking students
in which the language is taught. One
of these is Presbyterian and the Other
Catholic.
There is a fourishing Gaelic so.
ciety in the National Capital. of which
Nonsignor Thomas ]. Shatan, recto