Conference
The Irish Language in Europe

Europe has long served as a refuge for Irish literature and learning, with the Irish language, an Ghaeilge, being spoken across the continent for centuries, particularly in the network of Irish Colleges which educated generations of priests and lay people from penal times. The Collège des Irlandais in Paris, now serving as the Centre Culturel Irlandais, is one of the finest monuments to this enduring cultural link between Ireland and Europe. The publication of the first ever English-Irish Dictionary in Paris in 1732 (Begly's Dictionary) is testament to the importance of the city in the development of our native language.

To mark the presentation of a rare copy of this seminal work to the Centre Culturel Irlandais, this event will explore the history of Irish on the continent, celebrate the vibrancy of an Ghaeilge in today's multi-lingual Europe and look to its future in Paris, Brussels and beyond.

The evening will begin with a keynote speech from the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD. This will be followed by a panel discussion examining the history of the Irish language in Europe, including the Irish Colleges and the background to the Begly Dictionary. Our second panel will feature members of the vibrant Irish-speaking communities in Paris and Brussels today, with Irish as an official language of the EU for nearly 20 years. This will be followed by an opportunity for attendees to view the newly acquired copy of the 1732 English-Irish dictionary.

The panel discussions will take place in Irish. Simultaneous translation to English will be provided.

Presentation of the dictionary in English

Présentation du dictionnaire en Français