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Gaelic League

Irish organization
Also known as: Conradh na Gaeilge

Quick Summary

The Gaelic League was an organization founded in 1893 that aimed to revive and promote the Irish language, literature, history, and folklore. This movement was inspired by the growing Irish nationalism of the early 19th century. At that time, Irish had largely disappeared as a spoken language, with English becoming dominant.

The discovery of how to read Old Irish and the translation of ancient manuscripts sparked renewed interest in Ireland's past. Literary figures began incorporating Irish themes and structures into their work, contributing to a broader cultural awakening. While political nationalism often took precedence, the Gaelic Revival laid the foundation for the Irish Literary Renaissance.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Gaelic Revival
  2. Gaelic football

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