 English was first introduced to Ireland in the Norman invasion . It was spoken by a few peasants and merchants brought over from England , and was largely replaced by Irish before the Tudor Conquest of Ireland . It was introduced as the official language with the Tudor and Cromwellian conquests . The Ulster plantations gave it a permanent foothold in Ulster , and it remained the official and upper @-@ class language elsewhere , the Irish @-@ speaking chieftains and nobility having been deposed . Language shift during the 19th century replaced Irish with English as the first language for a vast majority of the population . 
 English was first introduced to Ireland in the Norman invasion . It was spoken by a few peasants and merchants brought over from England , and was largely replaced by Irish before the Tudor Conquest of Ireland . It was introduced as the official language with the Tudor and Cromwellian conquests . The Ulster plantations gave it a permanent foothold in Ulster , and it remained the official and upper @-@ class language elsewhere , the Irish @-@ speaking chieftains and nobility <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>having</mark></a> been deposed . Language shift during the 19th century replaced Irish with English as the first language for a vast majority of the population . 
English was first introduced to Ireland in da Norman invasion . It was spoken by a few peasants and merchants brought ova from England , and was largely replaced by Irish before tdaTudor Conquest of Ireland . It was introduced as thdafficial language with the Tudor and Cromwellian conquests . The Ulster plantations gave it a permanent foothold in Ulster , and it remained the official and upper @-@ class language elsewhere , the Irish @-@ speakin chieftains and nobility done been deposed . Language shift durin thedath century replaced Irish with English as the first language fa a vast majority of the population .