Yes, says the head of TG4, Pol O Gallchoir. While expressing concern at the decline of the language in the Gaeltacht, he says Irish has shown itself to be adaptable and innovative. The recent upsurge in interest among young people means it "is no longer the preserve of an older, rural generation and of an urban middle class but also a language of the city, of youth, of cybercafes, of television, of education and rock music. This is new territory for Irish, and bodes well for the future."

The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the Northern Executive, Michael McGimpsey, is hopeful: "Yes I believe that Irish will survive well into the future. Irish, in common with other minority languages, is currently going through a period of revival and, while we have so many dedicated groups of enthusiasists out there, the level of interest will ensure that it will continue to flourish . . .

"Language is a wonderful inheritance of which we are only the guardians. We must therefore ensure that future generations are given the same opportunities that we have been fortunate enough to enjoy."

Senator Joe O'Toole, INTO general secretary, is positive, but he stresses that the State must devise a proactive plan to protect and develop the Gaeltacht. "Isn't it daft to think that we have spent 80 years trying to get people to speak the language in the Gaeltacht while virtually ignoring the very people who speak and live the language daily in the Gaeltacht?"

The chairwoman of Foras na Gaeilge, Maighread Ui Mhairt in, the North/South body founded to promote the language, says Irish "is stronger now than ever before" and will survive and flourish if used on a regular basis.

Jacqueline Ni Fhearghusa of Gaelscoileanna, the co-ordinating body for Irish-medium education, sees the main challenge as being "to ensure that we create the right atmosphere for the pupils of na gaelscoileanna and the other schools to use the language in a meaningful way for the rest of their lives".