Can he speak Irish?

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I've heard him speak a few phrases but don't know if he can carry a conversation. I do know that Gaelic is a required language in Irish schools. Road signs in Ireland are written in both English and Gaelic. I fear it will be a lost language before too long.

I heard Gaelic is making a comeback in Ireland.

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It is a required language there. About 3 years ago some politicians were trying to take it off the required list of subjects. That would be a tragedy. Gaelic is a beautiful language that needs to be preserved.

I agree. It is vital Gaelic is preserved.

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I can tell you that the majority of irish people don't speak irish. There are small communities in parts of Galway and mayo, called the gaeltacht, that would speak it daily. It is taught in schools, but because most kids don't continue it outside of school it's soon lost. Our language was banned by the British when they controlled our small country and a revival is starting. But I fear it will never return to a stage where every irish person is speaking it all the time. Also the way it was taught when I was a child didn't help. You were taught phrases through rote learning when conversational learning would have been better. I have my 3 children in Gaelscoil where all subjects are taught through irish.

Sorry for the rant. It's a touchy subject got me. :-)