With an increase in popularity in the Irish language both locally and nationally, counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have each recorded an increase in the number that can speak the language.
According to the most recent census, one in ten people nationwide say they speak Irish very well, while a further 32 percent say they speak it well.
Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have each recorded an increase in the number that can speak Irish according to the most recent census.
In statistics published by the CSO, over 26,500 stated they could speak Irish in Sligo, a 5.1% increase in the 2016 figure.
578 said they spoke Irish daily while over 1,400 spoke Irish weekly in Sligo.
The number of people who could speak Irish in Leitrim increased by almost 900 to just over 13,000 in Census 2022.
There were over 212 people speaking Irish daily in Leitrim with 739 people speaking Irish on a weekly basis.
Elsewhere, Donegal recorded a 4.2% increase to almost 60,000 who stated they could speak Irish.
Within this figure over 7,700 said they spoke Irish daily while just over 4,500 spoke Irish weekly.
Nationwide, over half of Irish say they cannot speak the language well.
One in ten people who speak Irish can do so very well, while a further 32% speak it well.
Almost 1.9 million people - aged three and over - said that they could speak Irish, an increase of more than 112,500, or 6%, since Census 2016.
