This month the Oireachtas Library is displaying a first edition of Neilson’s Grammar, a pioneering text on Irish grammar and word structure.
The author, William Neilson, was born into an Irish-speaking presbyterian family in County Down in 1774.
There had been a scholarly resurgence of interest in Celtic culture in Scotland and Ireland in the late 18th century. Neilson believed that a knowledge of Irish was vital simply for practical, everyday interactions with his own countrymen. It was for this reason that he produced his grammar book in 1808.
Presbyterian scholarly engagement with Irish continued into the 19th century but interest declined as the language became more politicised and associated primarily with the nationalist movement.
To find out more, visit the digital exhibition of the documents in the display case.