Conamara Theas (Irish for South Connemara) is a predominantly Irish-speaking district in the West of County Galway. There are around 7,000 people living in the area (excluding the Aran islands). Between 60% and 80% of residents are native Irish speakers. It is the part of the Gaeltacht that is west of Cois Fharraige. The Conamara Theas variety of Connacht Irish is different from that of Cois Fharraige.
Conamara Theas covers the area from Ros a Mhil, Casla, An Cheathrú Rua, Ceantar na nOileán, Camus, Rosmuc and The Iorras Aithneach peninsula.
The ferry port for the Aran Islands is in Ros a Mhil.
Casla is the location of the national Irish language station RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta.
An Cheathrú Rua is the biggest village in the area and the location of the Irish language newspaper Foinse. There is also the Department of Spoken Irish at the National University of Ireland, Galway which has a centre in the village offering third-level courses to both students and overseas learners.
The NUIG also has a second educational centre in Carna.
| Area | Population | Irish Speakers [1] |
|---|---|---|
| Garumna | 1,245 | 92% (1,148) |
| Leitir Móir | 791 | 88% (703) |
| An Crompán | 2192 | 88% (1,934) |
| Camas | 375 | 90% (341) |
| Cill Chuimín | 114 | 52% (60) |
| An Turlach | 460 | 85% (394) |
| Abhainn Ghabhla | 334 | 75% (251) |
| Scainimh | 625 | 92% (576) |
| An Cnoc Buí | 808 | 81% (658) |
| Cloch na Rón | 85 | 21% (18) |
| TOTAL | 7,029 | 6,083 |
See also
County Galway
County Donegal
County Kerry
County Mayo
References
- ↑ Ó Giollagáin, Conchúr; Mac Donnacha, Seosamh; Ní Chualáin, Fiona; Ní Shéaghdha, Aoife; O’Brien, Mary (2007). Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht: Príomhthátal agus Moltaí (Achoimre) [A Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht: Principal Conclusion and Recommendations (Summary)] (PDF) (in Irish). Baile Átha Cliath: Oifig an tSoláthair, Rialtas na hÉireann. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2015.
- Hickey, Raymond (2011). The Dialects of Irish: Study of a changing landscape. Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs, Volume 230. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. p. 432. doi:10.1515/9783110238303. ISBN 9783110238044.