120 balloons have been released in different locations around Ireland this afternoon to launch Bliain na Gaeilge 2013.

The year long festival will celebrate 120 years of the revival of the Irish language, which first began in 1893.

Around 2 million people in Ireland claim they have some form of knowledge of our native language and Bliain na Gaeilge will aim to provide these people with opportunities to use their language skills throughout 2013.