Newfoundland Irish
Encyclopedia
Newfoundland Irish is an extinct dialect of the Irish language
specific to the island of Newfoundland, Canada
. It was very similar to Munster Irish
, as spoken in the southeast of Ireland
, due to mass immigration from the counties Waterford
, Wexford
, Kilkenny
, Tipperary
, and Cork
.
colonies were established by royal charter in Newfoundland between 1610 and 1628, and London
-based mercantile companies used Celtic
-speaking peasants to settle each one. The colonists were primarily Welsh
peasants but there were also many Irish peasants who usually only spoke Irish
. The language was commonly spoken in rural areas until the mid-20th century. There is evidence to suggest that as many as 90% of the Irish immigrants to Newfoundland in the 17th and 18th centuries only spoke Irish.
Court records show that defendants often required Irish-speaking interpreters, which indicates that the dominant language in many areas of the Avalon Peninsula
was Irish rather than English
. Ecclesiastical documents bolster this case; for example, in the mid-1760s a Methodist missionary named Reverend Laurence Coughlan converted virtually the whole North Shore to Methodism
. Observers credited the success of his evangelical revival at Carbonear and Harbour Grace to the fact that he was fluently bilingual in English and Irish. The Roman Catholic bishops also realized the importance of Irish-speaking priests - in letters to Dublin, Bishop James Louis O'Donel
requested a Franciscan
missionary for the parishes of St. Mary's
and Trepassey
, indicating that it was absolutely necessary that he should speak Irish.
. Scholars at Memorial University of Newfoundland
concluded that Newfoundland Irish became extinct during the 20th century.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
specific to the island of Newfoundland, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was very similar to Munster Irish
Munster Irish
Munster Irish is the dialect of the Irish language spoken in the province of Munster. Gaeltacht regions in Munster are found in the Dingle Peninsula Gaeltacht of west Kerry, in the Iveragh Peninsula in south Kerry, in Cape Clear Island off the coast of west Cork, in West Muskerry; Coolea,...
, as spoken in the southeast of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, due to mass immigration from the counties Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, and Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Irish settlement of Newfoundland
Seven EnglishKingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
colonies were established by royal charter in Newfoundland between 1610 and 1628, and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based mercantile companies used Celtic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
-speaking peasants to settle each one. The colonists were primarily Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
peasants but there were also many Irish peasants who usually only spoke Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. The language was commonly spoken in rural areas until the mid-20th century. There is evidence to suggest that as many as 90% of the Irish immigrants to Newfoundland in the 17th and 18th centuries only spoke Irish.
Court records show that defendants often required Irish-speaking interpreters, which indicates that the dominant language in many areas of the Avalon Peninsula
Avalon Peninsula
The Avalon Peninsula is a large peninsula that makes up the southeast portion of the island of Newfoundland.The peninsula is home to 257,223 people, which is approximately 51% of Newfoundland's population in 2009, and is the location of the provincial capital, St. John's. It is connected to the...
was Irish rather than English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Ecclesiastical documents bolster this case; for example, in the mid-1760s a Methodist missionary named Reverend Laurence Coughlan converted virtually the whole North Shore to Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
. Observers credited the success of his evangelical revival at Carbonear and Harbour Grace to the fact that he was fluently bilingual in English and Irish. The Roman Catholic bishops also realized the importance of Irish-speaking priests - in letters to Dublin, Bishop James Louis O'Donel
James Louis O'Donel
James Louis O'Donel was the first Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland....
requested a Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionary for the parishes of St. Mary's
St. Mary's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. Mary's is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 482 in the Canada 2006 Census, in 199 dwellings....
and Trepassey
Trepassey, Newfoundland and Labrador
Trepassey , is a small fishing community located in Trepassey Bay on the south eastern corner of the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was in Trepassey Harbour where the flight of the Friendship took off, piloted by Amelia Earhart...
, indicating that it was absolutely necessary that he should speak Irish.
Current status
A 2001 census report indicated that ten men in Newfoundland had a Gaelic language as their mother tongue . However, the report does not specify which languages are included in this figure, and 'Gaelic' includes Scottish Gaelic in CanadaScottish Gaelic in Canada
Canadian Gaelic or Cape Breton Gaelic , locally just Gaelic or The Gaelic, refers to the dialects of Scottish Gaelic that have been spoken continuously for more than 200 years on Cape Breton Island and in isolated enclaves on the Nova Scotia mainland...
. Scholars at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
concluded that Newfoundland Irish became extinct during the 20th century.
See also
- Irish language outside IrelandIrish language outside IrelandThe Irish language originated in Ireland, and has spread to other countries at different periods.Irish was historically the dominant language of the Irish people and they brought their Gaelic speech with them to numerous other countries. An early example was the widespread use of Irish in Wales,...
- Irish NewfoundlandersIrish NewfoundlandersIn modern Newfoundland , many Newfoundlanders are of Irish descent. According to the Statistics Canada 2006 census, 21.5% of Newfoundlanders claim Irish ancestry...
- List of extinct languages of North America
- Scottish Gaelic in CanadaScottish Gaelic in CanadaCanadian Gaelic or Cape Breton Gaelic , locally just Gaelic or The Gaelic, refers to the dialects of Scottish Gaelic that have been spoken continuously for more than 200 years on Cape Breton Island and in isolated enclaves on the Nova Scotia mainland...
- Newfoundland EnglishNewfoundland EnglishNewfoundland English is a name for several accents and dialects thereof the English found in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Most of these differ substantially from the English commonly spoken elsewhere in Canada...