For the first time in translation history, making the Bible available to all is a realistic goal, which makes Bible translation a defining challenge for our generation. Along with other Bible Societies, we hope that by 2033:
-95% of the global population will have access to a full Bible in their preferred language.
-99.96% of the global population will have access to a New Testament.
-100% of the global population will have access to at least some portion of Scripture.
The Bible In Irish
The history of the Bible in Irish begins 1600 years ago in the 5th century AD, when Ireland was undergoing vast changes as it began to transition from Druidism to Christianity. However, as the Biblical manuscripts were preserved and illuminated by monks, Latin was the sacred language of choice, and the oldest Biblical manuscripts from the island of Ireland include the Cathach of Columcille, the Book of Kells and the Faddan More Psalter. Read More About the History of The Bible in Irish
In the 17th century, Bishop William Bedell was instrumental in the first translations of the Bible in Irish, making it available to the Irish in a more accessible way for the first time in history. Prior to this, re-tellings of Bible stories in Irish was more common, and an example can be found in the Saltair na Rann (“Psalter of Quatrains”) composed in Middle Irish, which dates from the 10th century AD.
At Bible Society Ireland, we believe language communicates more than just words. It communicates the essence of a people, and ideas and concepts which sometimes resist translation. This is why we are partnering with two other organisations (Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise and Cumann na Saggart) to reprint the Bible in Irish. This project has a wider scope than just printing the Bible – an audio version and a Irish/English diglot are planned also.
Meanwhile to freely access a plethora of Irish Bible translations online, check out the Irish Bible App, and The History of the Bible in Irish: from Manuscript Era to Digital Download, by John Duffy (2013).