But for most, people leave school and never speak a single word of it again.

Eimear Ní Ghallachóir works in the Irish language planning office in the North Mayo Gaeltacht region and Caitlin Ni Dhubhsaigh is a Bannisteor at Coláiste Uisce.

They joined The Pat Kenny Show to speak about the importance of keeping the Irish language alive and their role in implementing this.

“Our job as planning officers is to promote the use of the language in our community, to safeguard it as a spoken language for future generations and our Gaeltacht” says Eimear.

“Historically it has always been a strongly spoken language in some parts of our community.

Caitlin speaks about her role as a bainisteoir for Coláiste Uisce, saying the young people they welcome in can often be nervous about their language skills.

“When they arrive, they’re trepidatious. For a lot of them, their parents have made the decision for them to go."

She describes how she sees her students blossom throughout their Gaeltacht experience.

“The total immersion model is the way to teach Irish.

“Maybe they haven’t had the opportunity or been surrounded by people who have been positive about the use of the Irish language.

“But when people see the language alive, living and used and see others to whom they look up to using the language, it comes very naturally” she says.

Competency can be tricky for teachers, whose ability may trail behind those who grew up in an Irish-speaking household.

Eimear says that despite this, 'Irish teachers have a grá for the Gaeilge'.

“We have to create a bridge between the competency and the líofacht, and an outlet for that source, a chance to mix with other people of their own age so they can progress their language, so they can take ownership and identity, through music, through trad.

“Seachtain na Gaeilge is a soft launch for some people who are just on the hinterland of speaking Gaeilge or wanting an excuse to speak it”, says Eimear.

 “It’s Seachtain na Gaeilge everyday at the Gaeltacht!’