Conradh na Gaeilge

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Conradh na Gaeilge, Dublin.

Conradh na Gaeilge (Irish pronunciation: [ˈkɔn̪ˠɾˠə nə ˈgeːlʲɟə]; English: The Gaelic League) is an organization "for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland." The Gaelic League was founded in Dublin on July 31, 1893 by Douglas Hyde (Irish: Dubhghlas de hÍde), a Protestant from Frenchpark, County Roscommon with the aid of Eugene O'Growney, Eoin MacNeill, Luke K. Walsh and others. The league developed from Ulick Bourke's earlier Gaelic Union and became the leading institution promoting the Gaelic Revival. The league's first newspaper was An Claidheamh Soluis (The Sword of Light) and its most noted editor was Pádraig Pearse.

Though apolitical, the league attracted many Irish nationalists of different persuasions, much like the Gaelic Athletic Association. It was through the League that many future political leaders and rebels first met, laying the foundation for groups such as the Irish Volunteers (1913). However, the League did not commit itself entirely to the national movement until 1915, causing the resignation of Douglas Hyde, who felt that the culture of language should be above politics. Most of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation were members.

After the foundation of the State, the organisation had a less prominent role in public life. The organisation successfully campaigned for the enactment of the Official Languages Act, 2003 which gave greater statutory protection to Irish speakers and created the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga (The Languages Commissioner).

Conradh na Gaeilge was among the principal organisation responsible for co-ordinating the successful campaign to make Irish an official language of the European Union.^[1]

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 compulsory 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.^[2]

The organisation has branches in several parts of Ireland and is closely involved in the development of the annual cultural festival An tOireachtas as well as Seachtain na Gaeilge. Conradh na Gaeilge has recently opened free legal advice centres (Ionaid Saor Chomhairle Dlí) in Dublin and Galway in partnership with FLAC.

Most recently, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, has announced that he is to move the organisation out of its headquarters in Dublin and relocate the organisation to the heart of the Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht in Meath. He cited the reason that not many people are using the building as a cause.