Ireland As A Non English Speaking Country.

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The English language is probably the only benefit we got from the Brits under the famous 800 years of oppression. What if Ireland had remained. largely Gaelic speaking or with a successful Spanish Armada, Spanish speaking or with a successful French invasion post revolution, predominantly French speaking. How does Ireland and the world change?
 
Even if England/Britain doesn't take control of Ireland, the presence of such a larger, wealthier neighbour is inevitably going to see English become widely used although it wouldn't supplant Gaelic as the de facto as opposed to de jure first language. Ireland would probably be more Anglophile today as without the colonial legacy things like football wouldn't have the stigma of being "foreign games," so there would be more everyday use of Gaelic but Dublin Airport would still be crowded most Saturday mornings with football fans heading to England for the day! :)

The idea of Spanish or French colonialism is really interesting, I guess that having Catholic overlords would remove the religious conflict which was what really drove a wedge between Britain and Ireland. If the Spanish/French proved as bad as the British did or trying to impose their culture on the Irish then I imagine there will be a violent reaction at some point.
 
I doubt that this would happen, because then several other small European countries should have started to use the languages of their bigger (and wealthier) neighbors, but as you can see this did not happen.
 
Denmark did not become German speaking although Germany was the dominant force right from Charlemagne.

It probably goes with occupation for some hundreds of years.
 

CalBear

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The English language is probably the only benefit we got from the Brits under the famous 800 years of oppression. What if Ireland had remained. largely Gaelic speaking or with a successful Spanish Armada, Spanish speaking or with a successful French invasion post revolution, predominantly French speaking. How does Ireland and the world change?
Hmm...

I kicked you exactly a week ago from a completely mad, flamebait, post. At the time I thought it was a one off.

I see I was wrong. You are just looking to troll and/or start arguments.

That's strike two. One more Red Card and you're done.
 
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