“An ambitious project, broad in scope, and theoretically rich. . . .This is a book that should be read by anyone serious about sociolinguistics and the contemporary culture of Northern Ireland.”

Irish Literary Supplement

“This book combines excellent historical and ethnographic description with strong semiotic analysis, and includes outstanding black and white and color illustrations. . . . This is a fantastic book that does a great job of introducing readers to the historical background and bringing them up to date with the ongoing significant developments with regard to the Irish language in Northern Ireland today.”

Jeff Sluka, Massey University, New Zealand | Irish Journal of Anthropology

“Mac Giolla Chríost’s study of the role of Irish in the republican conflict in Northern Ireland—and, more broadly, the often complex relationship between language and political violence—is nuanced, innovative, and deeply compelling. This is sociolinguistic study at its very best.”

Stephen May, University of Auckland