3,900,000 (1995). Irish Republic, Eire. Literacy rate 99%. Data
accuracy estimate: B. Christian. Deaf institutions: 36. The
number of languages listed for Ireland is 4. ENGLISH [ENG]
2,600,000 in Ireland (1983 estimate); 322,000,000 in all
countries (1995 WA). Indo-European, Germanic, West, North Sea,
English. Dialects: SOUTH HIBERNO ENGLISH, NORTH HIBERNO ENGLISH.
National language. Bible 1535-1989. NT 1525-1991. Bible portions
1530-1987. GAELIC, IRISH (IRISH, ERSE) [GLI] 260,000 fluent or
native speakers (1983 census), 13% of the population (1983
census); 31.6% of the population over 3 claim to be Irish
speakers (1981 census). Western isles northwest and southwest
coasts; Galway, part of Mayo, Kerry, Donegal. Also Northern
Ireland, Boston, USA. Indo-European, Celtic, Insular, Goidelic.
Dialects: MUNSTER, CONNACHT, DONEGAL, LEINSTER, ULSTER. It is
taught as an official language in schools and encouraged by the
government. National language. Typology: VSO. Braille code
available. Bible 1685-1989. NT 1602-1951