Could This Be the Moment Cornish Finally Stands Shoulder to Shoulder with Welsh and Gaelic?

Cornwall has reached a major cultural milestone after the government recommended the Cornish language, Kernewek, for Part III status, placing it alongside Welsh, Irish Gaelic and Scots Gaelic under a European treaty.

The decision follows years of work from Cornwall Council, community groups and cultural organisations focused on protecting and promoting Kernewek. The new status recognises Cornish as a living language and a core part of Cornwall’s cultural identity.

What Part III Status Means

Councillor Sarah Preece, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Localism and Planning, said “Kernewek is a fundamental part of Cornwall’s unique identity. We welcome this announcement as a huge step forward, giving the language the recognition and protection it deserves for future generations.”

Councillor Dick Cole, chair of the Fifth Nation Working Group, said “It is really positive news that the Government has confirmed that Cornish will be covered by Part III of the Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It means that Cornish will have the same status as the other Celtic languages of the United Kingdom – Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish – and I would like to pay tribute to everyone who has campaigned for these greater protections for the Cornish.

“The priority must now be for the Government to work with the people of Cornwall to better support and promote our national language. And we must build on this status to ensure that Cornish nationhood is better reflected in all aspects of the governance of the UK, which needs to include a meaningful devolution settlement.”

A Boost for Cornish Culture

Council Leader Leigh Frost said: “This is brilliant news for Cornwall. Achieving Part III status reflects years of hard work by Cornwall Council, our partners and the many community groups who have fought to keep the Cornish language alive. To see Cornish recognised alongside Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic is something we can all be extremely proud of.”

He added: “Our language is a vital part of who we are. This announcement sends a strong message that Cornish matters, and that it deserves the highest level of support and protection. It’s an important step in strengthening our culture for future generations.”

Rising Interest in Kernewek

Since 2002, Kernewek has seen a revival across Cornwall.

In 2024 to 2025, more than a million searches were made using the online Cornish dictionary, linked here as the Cornish dictionary. Cornwall Council’s Cornish Language Team also received more than 650 requests, translating over 32,000 words into Kernewek, an increase of 22 per cent on the previous year.

More than 200 people sign up for Kernewek classes each year, and almost 6,000 schoolchildren are learning and having fun with the language through the Go Cornish for Primary Schools programme, which is commissioned by Cornwall Council.