Irish Is The Second Fastest Growing Language In The UK, A London College Has Claimed
Irish Is The Second Fastest Growing Language In The UK, A London College Has Claimed
“Brexit may have contributed to this interest”
According to City-Lit, one of the UK’s largest online adult education providers, the Irish language is the fastest growing language in the UK.
The college teaches up to 30,000 students a years. Based on enrolment figures from 2019 to 2024, they have revealed that those opting to learn the language has surged 155% in the last 5 years. Irish was listed just behind Swedish, which saw a 208% rise in enrolments. Korean was in third place, followed by Welsh then Cornish.
The college has speculated that the surge could be put down to Brexit. “Brexit may have contributed to this interest, with discussions around identity and cultural ties fuelling a renewed passion for the language,” said a spokesperson for the college.
“Increased government and community support, including Irish-language schools and expanded media presence, has also played a role. Irish-language music, literature, and social media content have further driven engagement, particularly among younger generations.”
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