When the Romans invaded and conquered Britain, the Celts had to go west (Wales, Scotland or Ireland). Today in Ireland, people speak an old Celtic language (Irish Gaelic) that is similar to languages in Wales, Scotland or Brittany.These languages have nothing in common with English. If you were at school in Ireland, you would learn Gaelic!!! Many Irish pupils stop Gaelic later.

Irish is written on roadsigns (picture left), in particular in the west of Ireland. Some parts of the country speak Irish only: the "Gaeltacht" areas!! Nobody would speak to you in English in the Gaeltacht areas if you spoke English!

The Irish people are famous all over the world (=everywhere in the world) for their "gab". They have the "gift of the gab": they love talking!! They are great people for telling stories. In Blarney Castle, you can do an experiment: if you kiss the stone in the wall (see the picture), you will have the gift of the gab, you will get some "blarney". Do you want to try?