Irish is the most useful language to learn in Ireland, according to Shane Coleman.

As we move into the St Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend, where Irish culture is celebrated across the globe, some have questioned whether our national language should be given more of the spotlight.

Newstalk Breakfast presenter Shane Coleman said that he sees Irish as “on the cusp of a revival”.

“A little bit like the Gaelic revival in the late 19th century, I think there is a revival going on,” he said.

“I think Irish is cool, I think it’s trendy at the moment and you know, you have bands like Kneecap, I think they make a big, big difference.

“I think lots more young people are going to Gaelscoileanna – obviously I’ve got skin in the game here, my own kids go to Gaelscoil, and they just use Irish in a very unaffected, very natural way.”

@newstalkfm'I’m blushing under my balaclava here Pat.' 🇮🇪 We're still trying to unpack KNEECAP's appearance on the Pat Kenny Show from August.♬ original sound - Newstalk

Shane said Irish “opens up doors” for opportunities within the country.

“We will get texts – and I can anticipate them now – from listeners saying, ‘I’d much rather my son or daughter did coding or Mandarin or whatever, they’re the things of the future, they’ll help them get jobs’,” he said.

“If you’re living in this country, if your kids are living in this country, Irish is way more useful than any other second language you will learn.

“I see it with my own kids, it opens up doors – and that’s not why I am passionate about the Irish language.

“I think it’s more about our identity, a sense of belonging, I think that’s really important in a globalised world where everyone’s talking with American accents.”

Ireland Eire Dublin Grafton Street R & C McCormack Celtic Jewellers est 1963 Celtic wedding bands Claddagh Rings Celtic Brooches Children of Lir. Image: dov makabaw / Alamy. 11 March 2021

Fellow presenter Jonathan Healy said he, like those texters, would also rather his children learn a second language other than Irish.

“I’d still prefer if my kids knew German because that means they’ll be able to converse... if they’re ever working in Germany,” he said.

“I actually can count three that I know right now who are working with the likes of Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia and all these countries that are over there – there’s opportunities for every language.”

However, Shane said the argument that Irish is not useful is “increasingly bogus”.

Main image: Shane Coleman in the Newstalk studio. Image: Newstalk