Deaf in Ireland

Introduction / History

Unlike most people groups, Deaf people can be found in every country in the world and often blend in with the broader community around them. In many situations, Deaf people are viewed as disability group, but a more accurate approach is to consider them as a distinct people group. This is true in Ireland as well as every other country. The first school for the Deaf in Ireland started in 1816. In 1964 the Irish established the National Association for Deaf People and the Irish Deaf Society (IDS) in 1981.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Deaf community has its own unique language and culture. In Ireland, they use the Irish Sign Language, the British Sign Language, or the International Sign Language.

There are many everyday experiences shared by Deaf people worldwide to Deaf culture. Since most Deaf people are born to hearing parents, and very few of those parents learn to sign, many Deaf people are isolated from their family and the broader community. Instead of acquiring language from their parents, many acquire language from other Deaf in the community or from a Deaf school. Oppression by the hearing community is also commonplace; decisions are made for the Deaf without Deaf input; laws are established forbidding Deaf people to marry; education may be provided only in the spoken language without interpreting. All of these shared experiences serve to unite Deaf people across cultural and political lines.

While many Deaf people have some degree of bilingualism, for most of them it is impossible to learn a spoken language that they cannot hear fully. It is becoming more common around the world for Deaf people to know more than one sign language.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most are Roman Catholic, though they are limited in their understanding because of their communication limitations.

What Are Their Needs?

Because of a lack of access to the spoken language, many Deaf people have a difficult time participating in church services and activities; relatively little Bible translation work has been done in sign languages and interpreted church services provide only the most basic of access to the Deaf community. Just like spoken languages, sign languages are not universal and vary widely from country to country and often even within a country. For Deaf people to have full access to scripture, they need both Bible translation in their heart language and services in sign language.

Prayer Points

Pray for the provision of biblical materials in accessible formats for the Deaf in Ireland.
Pray for anointed missionaries to go to the Deaf in Ireland.
Pray for the Lord to reach Deaf men and women in Ireland, so they may share Christ with others.
Pray for training for Deaf evangelism and discipleship.

Text Source:   Joshua Project