Conradh na Gaeilge was founded in Dublin back in 1893, with Douglas Hyde as its first president.
The group aims to promote Irish culture and is credited with the revival of the Irish language.
President
Michael D. Higgins has congratulated the Conradh na Gaeilge on the
milestone and thanked them for their efforts to promote the language and
encourage its uptake.
He said: “Irish is alive in
Gaeltacht areas, it is alive in naíonraí and Gaelscoileanna, it is alive
in summer camps, it is alive in families all over the country, it is
alive in the media and it is alive in conversation groups, in book
clubs, in “pop-up” Gaeltachtaí and in music sessions all over the
country and all over the world.
Niall Comer, President of Conradh na
Gaeilge, said: “On 31 July 1893, 125 years ago today, Douglas Hyde, Eoin
McNeill and seven others gathered together in Dublin to found an
organisation which would go on to profoundly influence the history of
this country from a linguistic, cultural, and social perspective.
"The
Irish language was in grave decline at that time, but through the
efforts of members of Conradh na Gaeilge at community and at national
level and those of other Irish language and Gaeltacht groups which have
since come into existence, the Irish language is still spoken and
thriving today.