by Kimberly Napier

Created on: January 03, 2011

The Irish Language (Gaeilge) is one of the oldest languages spoken in Europe.  It derives from the same source as Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Manx.

It is only secondary language for a small percentage of people and the primary language for an even smaller number of Irish people. Despite this, it fills an important roll in Irish culture and its heritage.  It is the official language of the Republic of Ireland and is one of the official languages in the European Union.

However, where did this language originate and how has it changed to become the language that is used today?  The Gaelic language has been traced back as far as 600 B.C..  The Greek merchants, at that time, came across a king of a group of people called the Keltoi.  This name for this group of people was derived from the named that they called themselves, the Celts, according to Julius Caesar in De Bello Gallico (Gallic War).  It is believed that this word derives from the Indo-European root kel- meaning “hidden”.  So, it is believed, when they were asked who they were, they may have answered, “the hidden people”.

Before this time, records have not been found of the Celts, however, there are links in the language to ancient Sanskrit.  Some examples of similar words found in the Vedic Laws of Manu and the Irish legal text of the Laws of the Fénechus are:
Sanskrit - Old Irish
Arya (freeman) - aire (noble)
Naith (good) - noeib (holy)
Badhira (deaf) - bodhar (deaf)
Names (respect) - nemed (respect/privilege)

The Celtic people actually were spread throughout most of Europe and there were records of their trading with India.  This led to a mixture of cultures and some division in the language.   When the Celts came to what we now call Ireland, Wales, and England, they were cut off from many of the other groups.  They were even cut off from each other by geographical boundaries.  This is why Irish Gaelic (Old Irish) and Welsh sound so different and someone speaking in Irish Gaelic might have difficulty understanding someone speaking Welsh.

Ogham is the written form of the Old Irish language.  It’s alphabet consists of 20 letters that are created by different placement of lines or gouges.  The remnants of this form of writing can be seen on stone monuments throughout the land.

In the 6th century, the Irish were introduced to creating manuscripts using Roman script.  This allowed the Irish to experience

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