Google launches an Irish language version of the Gmail email service.
Gmail, the Google email client is used by 420 million people worldwide and is available in 71 different languages. Now Gmail users can use the service in Irish.
Hector Ó hEochagáin officially launches the service at Google's European Headquarters (HQ) in Dublin in front of an audience of students attending Coláiste Íosagáin, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh and Mount Temple. With great excitement, they switch their Gmail settings to Gaeilge. During the launch, a live link is set up from Google HQ to Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair in the Donegal Gaeltacht.
Hector Ó hEochagáin thinks Irish is amazing and the new technology will make it easier for people to learn the language.
The project saw over 60,000 terms and messages translated into Irish by a team of eight translators. Mícheál Ó Meachair was one of them. He believes Gmail as Gaeilge is hugely significant for the language as,
People can really see how modern and contemporary the language is, that we’ve come a long way from Peig and from these kinds of stereotypes.
He thinks the project will help the language to continue to evolve. Online communications influence languages globally and,
Why not Irish?
Google also hopes the project will promote the Irish language online. Familiar Gmail terms will appear in Irish once a small change is made to the user settings.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 15 December 2014. The reporter is Caoimhe Ni Chonchoille.
