• In the language itself: [the] Cant or [de] Gammon or Tarri
• ISO 639-3 standard: sth

UNESCO	Ethnologue	Endangered Languages	Glottolog
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• Classification: Speech Register → Irish-English → Shelta. For more information, see Shelta at Glottolog
• Script: Latin

There are no standard spelling conventions used in Shelta, and it has and remains a largely unwritten language.¹⁾ The language's lexicon mainly derives from Irish, while the structure is based on English.²⁾ Shelta can follow an Irish-style orthography or an English-style orthography.³⁾

Shelta is a mixed language, often referred to as a secret language, spoken by the traditionally nomadic Irish Traveller community.⁴⁾ The Irish Traveller community is spread across the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.⁵⁾ Due to a long history of discrimination, Irish Travellers are less nomadic and live throughout the Republic of Ireland, with large Irish Traveller communities seen in Galway City, Longford, and Offaly.⁶⁾ Unfortunately, there is no information about the number of speakers in each of these areas.

It is estimated that there are about 6,000 Shelta speakers in the Republic of Ireland and around 86,000 speakers worldwide, mainly in English-speaking areas.⁷⁾

Shelta is not taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland. There is debate within the Traveller community about whether or not Shelta should be taught in schools.⁸⁾

Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

Ireland has signed and ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities

• Irish Travellers were officially recognized as national minorities in Ireland
• In the Fifth Opinion (2025), the Advisory Committee suggested that a detailed plan for the revitalization of Shelta be created alongside persons from the Traveller community. The opinion mentions the importance of media and reaching younger generations.

European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages

Ireland has not signed the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.

In 2019, Shelta, referred to here as Cant, was officially added to Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In doing this, Ireland formally acknowledges the Traveller language as a living cultural heritage and vows to protect and promote it.

NCCA Traveller culture and history in the curriculum: a curriculum audit

In 2018, the Irish Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, T.D., asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for an audit of Traveller culture and history in public school curriculum. ⁹⁾ The audit (2018) gave suggestions on how to teach the Traveller culture and history and how to include it in existing curricular subjects. Please note that in the audit, the language is referred to as Cant.

• In the early childhood curriculum framework (pg 38), an example of a “learning experience” regarding Traveller culture mentions Cant. The example suggests that the use of Cant words by young Traveller children while playing together with non-Traveller children could spark curiosity in non-Traveller parents. This would, in turn, help other children learn more about Traveller culture.
• In the Framework for Junior Cycle (pg 60), Cant is recommended to be included in 1 of the 5 Priority Learning Units (PLUs). The “Communication and Literacy” PLU example for incorporating Traveller culture states, “Communication can also take account of Cant, the language of the Irish Travelling community.”

There are no specific laws regarding Shelta at the local level.

Shelta is not taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland.

Creative Ireland in 2021 offered a workshop, Art Interactions IV - Language and Diversity , which offered artists an art program focusing on linguistic diversity, specifically mentioning immigrants and “speakers of sign language, Irish, Cant Gammon/Shelta or others.”

Dublin's 2023 Heritage Week included a Workshop on Cant from Traveller author Oein de Bhardúin.

There is no financial support for the education of Shelta in the Republic of Ireland.

Some organizations have created online short lists of basic Cant words and phrases. https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/irish-cant-or-de-gammon/

There is no teacher support for Shelta in the Republic of Ireland.

Shelta is not taught in schools in the Republic of Ireland, but Traveller culture and history has been mentioned in curriculum development.¹⁰⁾

Shelta is not a part of preschool education in the Republic of Ireland.

Shelta is not a part of primary education in the Republic of Ireland.

Shelta is not a part of secondary education in the Republic of Ireland.

Shelta is not a part of vocational education in the Republic of Ireland.

Shelta is not a part of higher education/university education in the Republic of Ireland.

Shelta is not a part of adult education in the Republic of Ireland.

Friends, Families and Travellers. Friends, Families and Travellers is an organization that advocates for “Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people” to continue their nomadic lifestyle.

Irish Traveller Movement. The Irish Traveller Movement is a national organization created to support members of the Travelling community.

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre. The Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre is a national NGO focused on promoting human rights from the local to international level, specifically for the Traveller and Roma communities.