According to the Census results, Co Monaghan has the highest number of Irish speakers outside of the Gaeltacht areas. Monaghan is the fourth highest county across Ireland, which according to Castleblayney native and Green Party member, Tate Donnelly is "massive."
According to the Monaghan native, there are "many reasons" as to why the Irish speaking figure is so high across Co Monaghan - one of them being the popularity of local Gaelscoil's.
According to Tate, over 11% of primary school children attend Irish speaking schools across Monaghan. As a result, he believes there are "exciting times" ahead for Irish education in Monaghan and for all those who have worked so hard at a local level for the Irish language to thrive.
"Young people have more Irish now than maybe their parents did," explained Tate. We're definitely part of a generation where young people are choosing to learn and speak Irish, and that tradition is definitely very strong in Monaghan."
