Gaels

The Gaels are an ethnolinguistic group traditionally associated with the Gaelic-speaking populations of Ireland and Scotland, and with their distinct cultural traditions. The term denotes speakers of the Gaelic languages and their descendants, united by a common linguistic heritage within the Celtic family.

Two languages central to Gaeldom are Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge) and Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig). Irish Gaelic is spoken in parts of Ireland and, to varying degrees, in Northern Ireland; Scottish Gaelic is spoken in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles. These languages belong to the Goidelic (Goidelic) branch of the Celtic language family.

Historically, Gaelic-speaking communities formed political and social structures in Ireland from early medieval times, and later in Scotland after Gaelic-speaking groups from Ireland settled in the west and north. Gaelic culture produced a rich bardic literary tradition and distinctive legal and customary practices in both regions. Over the centuries, external pressures and political change reduced Gaelic political power, but the languages and many cultural elements persisted, especially in rural areas.

In the modern era, Gaelic languages survive as regional or minority languages. In Ireland, Irish is protected in Gaeltacht regions where it is promoted in education and public life; in Scotland, Scottish Gaelic receives official recognition and ongoing revival support. Gaelic culture remains evident in music, storytelling, festivals, and education. Diaspora communities, notably in Canada (Nova Scotia and Cape Breton), the United States, and Australia, maintain Gaelic language and heritage to varying degrees.