Gaelic has been spoken in Scotland for over 1500 years. Over this period, Gaelic has been the language of court and government, learning and the arts, education and devotion and the home and the community.
Although its use has declined over the centuries, it is still alive and an official language of Scotland, as well as a priceless part of our nation's living, diverse culture.
Gaelic is a key part of Scotland's cultural identity and especially that of the people of the Highlands and Islands, the Gaels. It is a primary objective of the Government that Gaelic thrives into the future.
The 2001 Census recorded 65,674 people aged three or over as being able to speak, read, or write Gaelic - 1.3 per cent of the Scottish population.
The number of people aged two or over who could speak, read, write or understand Gaelic was recorded for the first time and found to be 92,396, or 1.9 per cent of the population.
The largest concentrations of Gaelic speakers live in Na h-Eileanan an Iar, the Highlands, and Argyll, but there are many more speakers to be found throughout the country with the largest single concentration in Glasgow.
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