By Fionnuala Holohan

2013 is fast becoming the year of everything Irish. The diaspora abroad are being invited back to Ireland as part of The Gathering 2013 and also, closer to home, organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting Irish as a living language are rowing in behind Bliain na Gaelige 2013 – the Year of the Irish Language.

Over 80 organizations have signed up to-date – universities, teacher groups, student groups from all levels, radio, television and print media, local and national community groups, training organizations, governmental supports and the usual list of national agencies that promote the language, such as Conradh na Gaeilge (CnaG).

Síne Nic an Ailí, a development officer in CnaG, spoke to theCity.ie about the plans for the year, and theCity.ie reporters Fionnuala Holohan and Patrick Gormley went in search on the streets of Dublin of some of the reported 1.7 million Irish residents who say they can speak the language:

Le haighaidh níos mó eolais, téigh go dtí http://gaeilge2013.ie/