Supporting the language and culture of our international headquarters

By
Monday, 23 March 2015

Irish, or Gaelic, is the first official language of Ireland, the site of Twitter’s international headquarters. The language boasts the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe, its oral history dates back over 2,500 years, and today, it’s supported by a passionate and growing community of activists.

As Twitter continues to grow in Dublin (@TwitterDublin), our ties to the local community have deepened. Seeking to build on this connection, we decided to support the efforts of an Irish language organisation, Conradh na Gaeilge (@CnaG), in their promotion of Seachtain na Gaeilge/Irish Language Week 2015.

Conradh na Gaeilge (the Gaelic League) developed a simple but effective message for this annual celebration of the language. With #BainTriailAisti (Give it a Go) as their slogan, the Conradh set about building great content and involving as many partners as possible to get the word out. They shot a TV commercial which aired on @RTE, the state broadcaster, and found an enthusiastic ally in @RTE2FM, the country’s most popular radio station for young people.

On Twitter, the Conradh’s efforts were boosted greatly by our Ads for Good campaign. You can see a selection of these below.

Sample Tweets



Of course, it’s helpful to have an involved fan who also happens to have 1.94 million followers. Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain), Irish conqueror of British television screens, announced the start of Seachtain na Gaeilge and wished all involved the very best of luck.

Even Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) got in on the action, thanking one of his followers in Irish for welcoming him to the green shores for a TV appearance.

This Ads for Good campaign is just one example of the consistently excellent work that Conradh na Gaeilge has been doing since its foundation in 1893. Established by Douglas Hyde, who would later become the first President of Ireland, the Conradh is at the heart of the Irish language community and one of the drivers in its renewed popularity, particularly among young people.

As the Conradh seeks to promote Irish culture, Twitter is proud to support its efforts in the place so many employees call home.