This paper addresses the role of adult Lx learners in minority language revitalisation and the promotion of active bilingualism in Ireland. It outlines perspectives from which researchers, as well as practitioners, may approach the learning of Irish among adults. In doing so, it sets out a research agenda for realising the potential of this cohort in terms of language revitalisation. The importance of late (adult) bilinguals in strengthening minority languages has been recognised in similar contexts, e.g. Wales (Baker et al. 2011) – this has not been the case in the Irish context, however. Such a discussion is needed, particularly in light of a recent increase in adult Irish language provision and important research on this cohort (Flynn, 2020; Flynn & Harris, 2016).
Irish is the first official language of the Republic of Ireland. However, the decline of the traditional speech community has resulted in it being learned as a second language in school by a very large majority of the population. Consequently, over time bilingualism in Ireland has become the product of state language revitalisation policies implemented in the educational system, and not intergenerational transmission. More recently, however, Ireland has experienced a drastic increase in multilingualism resulting from multiple waves of immigration from other European countries, as well as from further afield. These demographic and linguistic changes have also motivated discussions surrounding minority and community language learning in Ireland (Carson & Extra, 2010).
In this paper I will discuss pertinent issues for adult minority language learning in Ireland, and similar contexts, from psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic, applied linguistic and pedagogical perspectives. I will use each of these perspectives to raise question that should be considered in any attempt to increase active minority language use, particularly among adult L2 learners.