Irish is UK’s ‘second-fastest growing language’, London college claims

Music, social media and Brexit are thought to be behind the rapid rise of Irish to become the UK’s “second-fastest growing language”.

Irish has grown 155% in five years, according to one of the UK’s largest online education providers, the London-based adult education college City-Lit.

The college, which offers in-person and online Irish learning among a range of courses for to up to 30,000 students annually, drafted a list of the UK’s fastest-growing languages based on its enrolment data from 2019 to this year, and found Gaelic was second only to Swedish, which had a 208% growth, in terms of popularity.

The top five also includes Korean in third place, and Celtic languages Welsh and Cornish in fourth and fifth place

The college said the rise in popularity of Celtic languages comes “as people reconnect with the British Isles’ heritage”.

“Brexit may have contributed to this interest, with discussions around identity and cultural ties fuelling a renewed passion for the language,” a spokesperson for the college said.

“Increased government and community support, including Irish-language schools and expanded media presence, has also played a role. Irish-language music, literature, and social media content have further driven engagement, particularly among younger generations.

The band are one of the most in-demand music acts in both Ireland and the UK thanks to sold-out concerts and appearances at festivals including Glastonbury, and the success of last year’s comedy movie biopic based on their rise to fame, which earned director Rich Peppiatt a Bafta award for Outstanding Debut.

City Lit’s School of Culture and Communication head Claudio Guasti added: “The rise of indigenous languages like Gaelic, Welsh, and Cornish is a testament to a growing cultural awareness and desire to preserve the rich linguistic heritage of the UK. Language is deeply tied to identity, and as people reconnect with their roots, they’re not just learning words, they’re embracing a vital part of history and culture.”