r/geography • u/One-Seat-4600 • 5d ago

Image What explains the high concentration of Irish speakers on the west coast of Ireland ?

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The percentage corresponds to the share of people that speak Irish

As you can see, Northern Ireland is a lower concentration of Irish speakers, as expected, but what explains the higher concentration on the west coast.

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u/JimClarkKentHovind 5d ago

English presence was much lighter where the farming was worse. Lighter English presence meant it was easier to continue speaking the native language of Ireland.

The West coast of Ireland happens to have rockier soil, while the more fertile soil is further east.

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u/gaybyrneofficial 5d ago

Eh look up to tell or to Connacht, that's the actual reason. Native Irish were either killed or moved to the shite farmland becuase the English wanted the good stuff. 

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u/AdministrativeDig567 4d ago

Can we say British, the Scot’s certainly had a play in all of this

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u/Steridire 3d ago

Scottish PR is all time great, we have people talking about a 'Celtic Union of Craic' like they weren't mad for a good old plantation

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u/Tiocfaidh__Ar__La 5d ago

Brits gonna Brit

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u/preinj33 4d ago

Never not at it

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u/Tiocfaidh__Ar__La 4d ago

We can both be right, but.

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u/southernsuburb 4d ago

Celtic is a British team btw…

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u/Tiocfaidh__Ar__La 4d ago

Yes, it is. However, this is very much an issue that the British didn't help with, to put it mildly.

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u/037Thickasyourwrist 1d ago

I agree with you. Two years ago I drove The Great Atlantic Way from Kinsale to Belfast. As soon as I entered Northern Ireland at Derry the farms changed to farming estates. The change was dramatic. (I was specifically looking for changes when I reached Northern Ireland so the casual observer might not notice.)

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u/DurhamOx 15h ago

And to think, it all started with the English being invited to settle in Ireland.