A wide range of Gaelic-style digital fonts have been launched in recent years; indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the number of fonts designed since 1989 is greater than in the previous four centuries. Only my personal preferences for what is on offer are mentioned below – the flour of the new fonts!
A collection of fonts entitled Celtscript is being sold by Michael Everson – the print designer who started the digital revival of the Irish typeface. Further information on the fonts can be found on the CeltScript site and can be purchased from MyFonts . Unfortunately, the fonts in the collection are not yet coded to the current international standard (Unicode).
This is a digital version of the Watts typeface, first printed in 1818 and commonly used in the first half of the 19th century. The model was followed so closely that it is possible to say that the same faults are to be found in both fonts – unevenly small letters at an angle. But if you want an old-fashioned old-fashioned font, Achill can’t be beat.
Is this the most beautiful Irish font we have ever designed? It is not possible to give an objective answer to such a question but I do not hesitate to say yes. Kells is loosely based on the great Indian calligraphy – the style of calligraphy seen in the Book of Kells – but adapted to today’s needs. It is a first class print that is legibly engraved.
Cork is an ornamental font based on the letters that used to appear on the old Conradh na Gaeilge crest. Cork is clearly legible, but perhaps a little too fancy for continuous texts.
Derry is a one-width font based on the typewriter letters of the Royal Typewriter Company. It must be said that in this case the problem of the letter “i” in typed fonts has not been solved.
This is a digital version of the Irish typeface issued by the Monotype company in 1906 (‘Series 24′) and which has been in use for over fifty years. The Monotype typeface was very similar to the Newman typeface sent out around 1858. Duibhlinn is very loyal to his example and has the appearance of the metal typeface. It is a font that is well suited for long texts.
A font called Baoithín designed by Colm Ó Lochlainn in 1932 was an example of this typeface. Boyne itself was only an Irish version of Hammer Unziale created by Viktor Hammer, an Austrian printmaker, in 1921. Wexford is bold and clear and would be ideal for public signs, advertisements or the like.
This is a digital version of a single-width font used on Tower-made hand typewriters. Tara is more ornamental than would be expected in the case of a typed font.
Vincent Morley
A collection of digital fonts designed by Vincent Morley, the most prolific print designer in the field of Irish type, is available from the Gaelchlo website . The fonts in this collection are coded to current international standard (Unicode).
This is a one-width font. Monochrome is ideal for anyone who wants to give a text an old-fashioned typed look. However, it is a newly designed font – specific typewriter letters were not imitated in the design.
Original typeface is loosely based on the Newman typeface designed in 1857, and most of the Irish fonts issued by various companies during the first half of the 20th century were based on the Newman typeface. It is not as faithful to the exemplar as Dublin (see above), however, and the letters generally have a more modern look. Suitable for long texts.
This typeface was based on a style of letters that was quite common in the early years of the 20th century and one of the exemplars used was the headline of the Conradh na Gaeilge newspaper, the Sword of Light . The font is far too ornamental for long texts but will fit ornamental headings.
Glanchló is a newly designed Gaelic typeface but has some influence from the 19th century Petrie fonts and the mid – 20th century Colm Ó Lochlainn designed Columba typeface. It is bare and legible enough for long texts.
Like the Kells typeface above, this typeface is based on the large insular calligraphy used between the 7th and 12th centuries, but is more faithful to the style of the manuscripts – there are no capital letters for example.
This typeface was loosely based on the letters that appeared on Saorstát Eireann coins, a currency first issued in 1928. Freeprint on the € 2 coin issued in 2007 was used to commemorate the signing of the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. before that.
This font is loosely based on the Watts font, as Achill above, but the letters therein have been brought to regularity. The print is so old-fashioned that it could only be used as a decoration today.
This is a newly designed ornamental font based on the style of letters used on the covers of some of the books issued by An Gúm in the 1920s and 1930s – heavy lines and thin lines contrasted in fashion at the time and it is seen in Roman fonts from the same period.
This is a modern typeface that looks geometric and most of the letters are made of simple shapes – circles, bits of circles, and straight lines. Font is suitable for long texts.
Séamas Ó Brógáin
Séamas Ó Brógáin has produced only one font to date but it is a high quality font and is coded to the current international standard (Unicode). It can be found from James’ personal site here .
Gadelica is a newly designed typeface but has some influence from the Elizabethan typeface, the first ever Irish typeface. It is regularly legible and will suit long texts.
Colm Ó Lochlainn
Colm Ó Lochlainn was born in 1892 and died in 1972. The printing press he founded, ‘Faoi Comhartha na dTrí gCoinneal’, became famous for the high quality of the books printed in it – including Irish language books.
Colm Ó Lochlainn designed this cute font in 1936 for the Monotype Corporation, but it never received the recognition it deserved. A digital version of the typeface was created by Dara Ó Lochlainn, the designer ‘s son, in 1993. Unfortunately, some of the Irish letters (‘ d ‘,’ f ‘,’ G ‘,’ g ‘,’ g ‘,’ g ‘) have been replaced by Roman style letters. ‘,’ i ‘,’ r ‘,’ s’ and ‘t’). The original letters are still available elsewhere in the font but the coding does not conform to any standard, which greatly detracts from the value of the font. It can be purchased from the Linotype site here