Concern over ‘alarming drop’ in Gaeltacht’s native speakers

An “alarming” drop in the number of Irish speakers in a Kerry Gaeltacht parish which produced some of the best known writers in Irish is causing concern.

Daily Irish speakers in Dún Chaoin (Dunquin) fell from 86% of the population to 59% over a 10-year period, 1996 to 2006.

Located on the extreme western tip of the Dingle Peninsula, Dún Chaoin is the country’s most westerly settlement and the parish includes the famed Blasket Islands.