Irish (Gaeilge) interpreters and translators for public bodies, event organisers, solicitors, publishers and families anywhere in the UK, with face-to-face, telephone and video interpreting, certified translation between Irish and English, and bookings taken 24 hours a day. When the nearest suitable interpreter is in Ireland, a video link brings them in without the travel.
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Irish interpreting services
Start by deciding who the Irish is for. At a public event the audience may mix fluent speakers, learners and people with no Irish, and each group needs something different from the interpreter. At a private appointment, matching the speaker's dialect counts for more. Even a greeting shows the gap: "how are you" is Conas atá tú in Munster, Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú in Connacht and Goidé mar atá tú in Ulster.
Most interpreters handle all three comfortably. An older native speaker, though, may find a learner's textbook Irish hard to follow, and the written standard, An Caighdeán Oifigiúil, irons out on paper differences that remain very audible in speech. Tell us the speaker's county and age and we will choose accordingly.
Face-to-face interpreting
The interpreter comes to you: a hospital ward, a courtroom, a council office, a home visit or a business meeting. It is the best choice when people need to read expressions as well as words, or when the conversation is long or sensitive.
Telephone interpreting
The quickest option to set up. It works well for short calls, triage, appointment reminders and quick checks with a client.
Video interpreting
A Irish interpreter joins by video for remote hearings, consultations and meetings, which helps when there is no interpreter near you.
We also provide medical interpreting and conference interpreting.
Certified Irish translation
Each of our Irish translators translates into their native language: Irish into English goes to a native English speaker with fluent Irish, English into Irish to a first-language speaker of Irish. The work is varied. Legal papers drafted in Irish, minutes and reports of Irish-medium bodies, reports from a Gaelscoil, books, websites and family letters all come in. Older material may be set in the Gaelic typeface, cló Gaelach, and spelt as it was before the spelling reforms of the mid twentieth century, which slows even a fluent modern reader.
Surnames need checking. One family name takes a different form for a son, a daughter and a married woman (Ó Briain, Ní Bhriain, Bean Uí Bhriain), so we compare each name with the passport or certificate before we certify.
- Certified translation of birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, driving licences, degree certificates and bank statements, for the Home Office, courts, universities and employers.
- Legal translation: witness statements, court bundles, contracts and immigration papers.
- Document translation of medical reports, letters, leaflets and patient information.
- Urgent translation when a deadline is close.
- Transcription of Irish audio and video recordings, with an English translation if you need one.
English to Irish translation
If your Irish text is for readers in Northern Ireland, say so when you order it. The same written standard is used north and south of the border, but where it allows a choice of word, readers in the north may be better served by Ulster usage. Terminology for public services should also match what readers have already seen from you. If your organisation has published in Irish before, send us the earlier material and we will keep the terms consistent.
Irish court and police interpreters
Irish comes up in legal work far less often than languages whose speakers have little English, and requests usually arise because someone prefers their first language rather than because they need it. Whether evidence may be given in Irish is for the court or tribunal to decide, so raise it early and in writing. When a booking goes ahead, we search for an Irish interpreter with legal experience; the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (Law) and registration with the National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI) are what we ask for, where any Irish interpreter holds them. Documents drafted in Irish can be translated and certified for the bundle.
How to book an Irish interpreter
- Tell us about the assignment: the date, time and address, or that you need telephone or video; how long it should last; and what it is for, such as a hospital appointment, a hearing or a business meeting.
- Tell us about the speaker: their country or region and, if you know it, their dialect. Mention any preference for a male or female interpreter.
- Get your quote. We email you a quote, with no obligation to book.
Call 0800 2425 125, email info@uklinguisticservices.co.uk or request a quote online.
About the Irish language
Irish is a Celtic language of the Goidelic branch, spoken mainly in Ireland, especially the Gaeltacht areas, and Northern Ireland. It is an official language of Ireland and of the European Union, and officially recognised in Northern Ireland since 2022.
Irish is written in the Latin alphabet.
Before you book: Official documents in the Republic of Ireland are often bilingual in Irish and English.
| Name in Irish | Gaeilge |
|---|---|
| Language family | Celtic language of the Goidelic branch |
| Where it is spoken | Ireland, especially the Gaeltacht areas, and Northern Ireland |
| Writing system | Latin alphabet |
| Language code | ga |
Related languages
Irish interpreters near you
We send Irish interpreters to appointments across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and telephone and video interpreting work wherever you are. Choose a town for its local page.
Irish interpreter and translator FAQs
How quickly can I book an Irish interpreter?
We take bookings 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Telephone and video interpreting are usually the quickest to arrange. For a face-to-face appointment, give us as much notice as you can: same-day cover is often possible, but it depends on where you are and how many Irish interpreters work nearby.
How much does an Irish interpreter cost?
The price depends on the type of interpreting (face-to-face, telephone or video), how long the appointment lasts, where it is and how much notice you give. We quote before anything is booked, and quotes are free: call 0800 2425 125 or use our online quote form.
Can you certify Irish translations for a UK visa or immigration application?
Yes. We translate and certify documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports and police certificates for visa, settlement and citizenship applications. UK Visas and Immigration asks for each translation to confirm that it is accurate and to show the date and the translator's full name, signature and contact details, so tell us when you order that the document is for an immigration application.
Do you provide Irish interpreters for courts, tribunals and police interviews?
Yes. Tell us the setting when you book, for example a Crown Court trial, an immigration tribunal hearing or a police interview under caution, so we can match an Irish interpreter with the right legal experience and qualifications.
