Preserving Insular Irish Script: From Historical Heritage to Modern Digital Integration
By
sollewitt
Crackling crust, pillowy middle. The kind of bagel that earns a second cup of coffee.
Summary
The article explores the personal and cultural significance of insular Irish script (Cló Gaelach), tracing its history from being taught in schools (sometimes with harsh discipline) to its current status as a heritage symbol found on historical buildings and official signage. The author discusses their generational connection to the script, shares resources like the CLÓSCAPE Project cataloging its use, and examines the challenge of integrating this ancient script into modern digital contexts while preserving its cultural authenticity.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI'm a generation removed from when Irish children were taught to read and write in insular Irish script the Cló Gaelach.
While my parents' primary association with it are literally being rapped on the knuckles for getting it wrong, for me it's the type of official signage on old buildings and at historical sites - it's antiquity and heritage.
Here's a beautiful print of the full alphabet in old script, with a couple of extra symbols used for etcetera, from Nine Arrow, who has also fallen down this rabbit hole.
For more examples, check out the CLÓSCAPE Project, dedicated to cataloging use ar
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