What are the benefits for Ireland to have a separate language, rather than exclusively relying on English?

Question

Wikipedia has a nice summary of the current status of the Irish language:

A comprehensive study published in 2007 on behalf of Údarás na Gaeltachta found that young people in the Gaeltacht, despite their largely favourable view of Irish, use the language less than their elders. Even in areas where the language is strongest, only 60% of young people use Irish as the main language of communication with family and neighbours, and English is preferred in other contexts. The study concluded that, on current trends, the survival of Irish as a community language in Gaeltacht areas is unlikely. A follow-up report by the same author published in 2015 concluded that Irish would die as a community language in the Gaeltacht within a decade.

However the government seems to be unhappy about it and attempts to prevent the Irish language from dying away:

The Irish government has adopted a twenty-year strategy designed to strengthen the language in all areas and greatly increase the number of habitual speakers. This includes the encouragement of Irish-speaking districts in areas where Irish has been replaced by English.

But why would the government support the Irish language if their own citizens seem to be unwilling to speak it? Are there any economical benefits for Ireland to be a bilingual country rather than completely switching to English?

Answer 1

There is a value in a language that goes beyond mere utility. Asking about economic benefits entirely misses the point! There is a 2000 year tradition of Gaelic in Ireland, and the native speakers of Gaelic are a living link to that tradition. This has an inestimable cultural value that transcends a narrow interpretation of "worth".

Similarly, there is little economic value in the study of Chaucer, learning chess or the preservation of the Lake Erie water snake, yet these activities each have their own worth.

But the short answer to your question is "no, there are no economic benefits"

Answer 2

As James K wrote, the benefit is not economic.

I would like to add that it's part of the Irish struggle for independence from Britain. The use of English in Ireland is a direct result of British rule over Ireland, so it's important for Irish Nationalists to undo this.

Quoting Wikipedia:

[The Irish language] is an important part of Irish nationalist identity, marking a cultural distance between Irish people and the English.

Answer 3

Though it doesn't answer the question proper, I thought I had to mention something.

It doesn't matter how many speakers of the language exist, Irish is the first official language, English is the second. Article 8.1 of the constitution.

Anything the government does needs to be done in at least those two languages, and if there's any sort of disagreement due to different languages, the Irish-language version one prevails.

I.e. constitution/laws are written in Irish, and the English version is considered a translation.

That also goes for street-signs (the Irish version must be most "prominent" on any sign), any public government service (gardaí, post offices, tax office, hospitals), and government documents. (tax forms, passports, driver's licenses)

To summarize;

1. Irish is the primary / official language of Ireland according to the constitution.

2. It's the language all of the laws are written in.

3. The government is obligated to provide public services, which must be available in Irish. (Like, solely. If you need to use another language, the service is not considered provided)