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Newfoundland Irish (Irish: Gaeilge Talamh an Éisc) is a dialect of the Irish language specific to the island of Newfoundland and widely spoken until the mid-20th century. It is very similar to the language heard in the southeast of Ireland centuries ago, due to mass immigration from the counties Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Cork.
The Irish language was commonly spoken among the Newfoundland Irish until the middle of the 20th century. There is direct evidence to suggest that as high as 90% of the Irish in Newfoundland spoke only Irish as their mother tongue. Records from Newfoundland's courts, where defendants often required Irish-speaking interpreters, indicate that the dominant language of the Avalon Peninsula was Irish rather than English. Ecclesiastical documents from previous centuries bolster this case—for example, in letters to Dublin requesting a Franciscan missionary for the parishes of St. Mary's and Trepassey, Bishop James O'Donel indicated that it is absolutely necessary that he should speak Irish. A 2001 census report in Newfoundland indicates a very minor number of people whose primary language is Irish; however, Newfoundland Irish is slowly being revived as Irish language classes are taught at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Memorial is the only university in Atlantic Canada to teach courses in the Irish language.
Both the Irish language and Hiberno-English have had a clear and noticeable impact on the dialect of English spoken in Newfoundland, known as Newfoundland English. Newfoundland is the only place outside Europe with its own distinctive name in the Irish language, Talamh an Éisc, literally "Land of the Fish *".
See also
External links
"Newfoundland Irish"