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'''Conradh na Gaeilge''' (pronounced ) (commonly known in English as the 'Gaelic League' in earlier times) is an organization "for the purpose of keeping the Irish language spoken in Ireland." The league was founded in Dublin on July 31, 1893 by Douglas Hyde, a Protestant from Frenchpark, County Roscommon with the aid of Eugene O'Growney, Eoin MacNeill, Luke K. Walsh and others. The league developed from the earlier Gaelic Union and became the leading institution promoting the Gaelic Revival. The league's first newspaper was ''An Claidheamh Soluis'' ("The Sword of Light") and its most noted editor was Pádraig Pearse.
Though apolitical, the league attracted many Irish nationalists of different persuasions, much like the Gaelic Athletic Association. It was through the League that many future political leaders and rebels first met, laying the foundation for groups such as the Irish Volunteers (1913). However, the League did not commit itself entirely to the national movement until 1915, causing the resignation of Douglas Hyde who felt that the culture of language should be above politics. Most of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation were members.
After the foundation of the State, the organisation had a less prominent role in public life. The organisation successfuly campaigned for the enactment of the Official Languages Act, 2003 which gave greater statutory protection to Irish speakers and created the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga (The Languages Commissioner).
Conradh na Gaeilge was among the principal organisation responsible for co-ordinating the successful campaign to make Irish an official language of the European Union.^[1]
Most recently, the organisation has become embroiled in a dispute with Irish political party Fine Gael over the party's policy to end Irish's status as a required subject for the Leaving Certificate. Conradh na Gaeilge have responded by asking voters in the next general election to only vote for candidates who are in favour of Irish's required position remaining.^[2]
The organisation has branches in several parts of Ireland and is closely involved in the development of the annual cultural festival An tOireachtas as well as Seachtain na Gaeilge. Conradh na Gaeilge has recently opened free legal advice centres (Ionaid Saor Chomhairle Dlí) in Dublin and Galway in partnership with FLAC.
Most recently, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, has announced that he is to move the organisation out of its headquarters in Dublin and relocate the organisation to the heart of the Ráth Cairn Gaeltacht in Meath. He cited the reason that not many people are using the building as a cause.

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References

External links

References

1. Cinneadh an AE: Céim fhíorthábhachtach stairiúil don Ghaeilge, go hidirnáisiúnta agus in Éirinn (Irish language) Foras na Gaeilge press release, 13 June 2005.
2. CAITH DO VÓTA AR SON PÁIRTITHE ATÁ AR SON NA GAEILGE (Irish language) — Conradh na Gaeilge press release, 22 May 2006

External links

★ Conradh na Gaeilge official site (in Irish)

★ An Coimisinéir Teanga / Languages Commissioner

★ An tOireachtas

★ Seachtain na Gaeilge

★ Conradh na Gaeilge Shasana Nua (Gaelic League of New England)

★ Conradh na Gaeilge Craobh Bhaile Phitt (Gaelic League of Pittsburgh)

★ The Gaelic League, Friendship Branch (Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas)

★ Conradh na Gaeilge Craobh (Washington, D.C.)

★ The New Jersey Gaelic League

★ Craobh Thír na gCnoc (Austin, TX)