Shared Media Histories in the British Isles: Irish-Language Media, 1900–2018

Abstract

This analysis of content, forums, and writing styles in the Irish language press spans the creation of an Irish reading public in the Irish Revival and Revolutionary period to the literary advances in the mid-twentieth century and the challenges of journalism in a minority language in twenty-first century Ireland. The first Irish language newspaper An Claidheamh Soluis (1899-1932) created a forum for public discourse and literature. Professional recognition aided high standard journalistic practices while provincial periodicals, An Lóchrann (1907), An Crann (1916), An Stoc (1917) and An Branar (1919) also brought new vision to an embryonic Irish language press. Despite a minority reading public, the Irish language print press carved its niche during the twentieth century and the English language press was a valuable ally in creating a modern Irish literature. Transnational journalism re-emerged in the 1980s with Domhnall Mac Amhlaigh’s columns from Liverpool published in the Irish Times. Foinse (1996) and Lá (1980) demonstrate that professional and community journalism had come of age by the end of the twentieth century. A necessary change of direction ensured that online journals, Beo.ie, Nósmag and Gaelscéal flagged a new era in twenty-first century Irish language journalism providing international dimensions.