People in North ‘prouder’ to use Irish language

People here learn Irish “to pass exams” but in the North they are motivated by the love of it, an official study has found.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said the stark cross-border differences also showed that people who are passionate about their native tongue for reasons of identity are more likely to use it.

The State think-tank warned that Irish will not flourish unless ways are found to encourage people to learn it and use it in everyday life.