Lá Mór na Gaeilge

GaelMise

I just got this Email, have heard a good bit about this over the last while.

A chara,

What is “Lá Mór na Gaeilge”
Lá Mór na Gaeilge is the biggest Irish Language campaign for ten years. It is a day of protest and celebration, on the 15th February 2014 at 14:00, beginning in Parnell Square, Dublin heading towards Leinster House. The Lá Mór hopes to show the large support for the Irish Language and to persuade the Government, North and South, of the importance of equality for the language and its speakers.

Why is it important
The support of the Government for Irish and the services which are provided as Gaeilge have been weakened greatly over the years. The language is under pressure in Gaeltacht areas and vital services need to be available in Irish to guarantee its continued use. Despite this, these services are being constantly undermined. The Government have failed and continue to fail to serve the Gaeltacht community and Irish speakers in general.

That’s all well and good, but I don’t have a role in all this
How can we be satisfied with the lack of Government will, which is continuing to undermine the language? What will you say when asked what stand you took when your language was shoved to the margins of society? Not only that, but as a student involved in Irish you may be looking to get a job where having the language is of an advantage to you. If things continue as they are, the importance and advantages of Irish will be ignored completely by the state.

Loud and clear, but what can I do on 15 February
• Invite your friends to the event on Facebook and share the link http://fbl.me/lagaeilge
• Make your own protest banner for the day
• Speak with your classmates/work colleagues about the day
• Distribute information and posters for the event
• Come to the march and encourage others to do so as well

There are so many worthwhile policies which would strengthen our language. We believe that LÁ MÓR NA GAEILGE will encourage the Government to begin to implement these policies. If we continue as we have, the fear is that Irish will continue to be marginalised in the Public Services of this Island. Walk for your rights on 15 February.

TL;DR Its a protest/celebration march in Dublin on the 15th Feb to promote the Irish Language.

Facebook Event


I'd say I'll be heading along to support it, what do ye think, will there be any other boardsies in the crowd?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

there's an irish language forum for this nonsense

What will you say when asked what stand you took when your language was shoved to the margins of society?

oh jump off a ****ing bridge

Ihatecuddles

Eh, cailìn bainne...madra ag sugradh.

Sir Arthur Daley

There is 545 going anyway.

GaelMise

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

there's an irish language forum for this nonsense



oh jump off a ****ing bridge

If there happens to be someone throwing stones at the protesters on the day, we will know where to look. :pac:

My name is URL

It'll end in tears.. the march and this thread

shopaholic01

I blame Peig. I was largely indifferent to Irish until I had to suffer the misery that was Peig Sayers.

Sir Arthur Daley

shopaholic01 wrote: »

I blame Peig. I was largely indifferent to Irish until I had to suffer the misery that was Peig Sayers.

She had a few good stories.

kneemos

If there's two dozen there it'll be a miracle.If anyone notices it'll be a bigger miracle.
Fair play for trying though.

GaelMise

kneemos wrote: »

If there's two dozen there it'll be a miracle.If anyone notices it'll be a bigger miracle.
Fair play for trying though.

We will have to wait and see, between 5,000 - 10,000 expected. There was 6,000 at the last big Irish Language protest back in 2004. Lots of Irish speakers around Dublin you know.

shopaholic01

WikiHow wrote: »

She had a few good stories.

I obviously missed them.

Starscream25

I blame my irish teacher from 1st year, I was shy as **** and was traumatised when put on the spot for minutes on end trying to respond back in Irish. ****ing horrible experience. I'm not bothered what happens to the Irish language, I associate it with a feeling of dread

My name is URL

GaelMise wrote: »

We will have to wait and see, between 5,000 - 10,000 expected. There was 6,000 at the last big Irish Language protest back in 2004. Lots of Irish speakers around Dublin you know.

What exactly are they protesting anyway? The freedom people have to choose what language they speak?

Sir Arthur Daley

shopaholic01 wrote: »

I obviously missed them.

She was a legend seanachai, she had a hard life living in hard times but made the best of it, no social media in them days.

GaelMise

shopaholic01 wrote: »

I obviously missed them.

Well there is Peig the person and Peig the book.

Peig the person was quite the entertainer by all accounts, Peig the book on the other hand was written and edited by her son to be as dire as possible.

GaelMise

My name is URL wrote: »

What exactly are they protesting anyway? The freedom people have to choose what language they speak?

The ongoing marginalisation of the Irish Language in Irish society, especially in the civil service which has resulted in the public service in general to be essentially unfunctioning if you want to carry out your business in the Irish Language.

The whole thing was sparked off by the resignation in protest of the Language Ombudsman, the first time an Ombudsman has resigned in Europe because of a lack of support from Government.

WoollyRedHat

Cá bhfuil ón síopa, más é do thoil é?

Cád ag fheic air, wanker bomanta?

A government cannot force interest in a language, nor should it waste money on this

Grudaire

bluewolf wrote: »

A government cannot force interest in a language, nor should it waste money on this

In fairness it's not about forcing interest in a language, but rather the provision of services through Irish so that Irish speakers are not forced to use English in dealing with the state...

9959

GaelMise wrote: »

We will have to wait and see, between 5,000 - 10,000 expected. There was 6,000 at the last big Irish Language protest back in 2004. Lots of Irish speakers around Dublin you know.

Yes lots of Irish speakers around Dublin, but very few in Dublin.

GaelMise

bluewolf wrote: »

A government cannot force interest in a language, nor should it waste money on this

Very true, but no one is asking the governent to force interest on people, the issue is the abject failure of the state to provide services in Irish, even in the Gaeltacht.

The protest is against the policies that the state has been following that are resulting in the marginalisation of the language, its a protest against the policies that forced an ombudsman to resign rather than stay in office and give tacit approval to them, its a protest against the cynicism of the state that wants to pretend that it is promoting the language while at the same time continues to further the death of Irish in the Gaeltacht.

People are genuinely upset about the fudge, the farce and the falsehood (the words of the language ombudsman himself) that has been the hallmark state policy in this area.

Perhaps you are one of the people for whom Irish is not half dead enough, you might be perfectaly happy to see Irish margalised and pushed to the edge of society, but I and others are not, and thats what the protest is about.

GaelMise

9959 wrote: »

Yes lots of Irish speakers around Dublin, but very few in Dublin.

Plenty of Irish speakers in, around and throughout Dublin City a mhac.

GaelMise

My name is URL wrote: »

It'll end in tears.. the march and this thread

Well, the march will end in a concert, as for the thread, i'm not feeling particularly weepy at the moment, you?

My name is URL

GaelMise wrote: »

The ongoing marginalisation of the Irish Language in Irish society, especially in the civil service which has resulted in the public service in general to be essentially unfunctioning if you want to carry out your business in the Irish Language.

The whole thing was sparked off by the resignation in protest of the Language Ombudsman, the first time an Ombudsman has resigned in Europe because of a lack of support from Government.

How can that be addressed logically though? Should an Irish speaker be employed in every public sector office around the country, just to facilitate the very small percentage of people who outright refuse to converse in English?

You don't think that's asking a bit too much?

Iwasfrozen

I couldn't care less as long as you don't block O'Connell bridge like the last group of idiots.

Nothing will come of it though, that's for certain. The majority will not be bullied by a vocal demanding minority.

GaelMise

My name is URL wrote: »

How can that be addressed logically though? Should an Irish speaker be employed in every public sector office around the country, just to facilitate the very small percentage of people who outright refuse to converse in English?

You don't think that's asking a bit too much?

Well, considering that it would not cost anything extra to do it, no I dont really think it would be asking much at all.
Why should the state decide which official language its citizens can and cannot use when carrying out their business with the state?

If the state want to force me to pay moter tax, then fine, thats the society we live in, we have to pay our taxes, but I'll be dammed if they will force me to pay taxes to pay for a state that forces me to speak English when dealing with that state.

9959

GaelMise wrote: »

Well, considering that it would not cost anything extra to do it, no I dont really think it would be asking much at all.
Why should the state decide which official language its citizens can and cannot use when carrying out their business with the state?

If the state want to force me to pay moter tax, then fine, thats the society we live in, we have to pay our taxes, but I'll be dammed if they will force me to pay taxes and force me to do it in English.

Suffering Succotash, we've got a live one here......or an exceedingly good wind-up merchant.

FunLover18

My name is URL wrote: »

What exactly are they protesting anyway? The freedom people have to choose what language they speak?

Yep, they want Irish made optional in schools

Ficheall

I heard some kid (primary school age) walking through Birmingham Uni today saying to his mate that he was learning French and Irish. I wanted to stop him and ask him about it, but society would probably have frowned upon that.

Paz-CCFC

9959 wrote: »

Yes lots of Irish speakers around Dublin, but very few in Dublin.

Over 20,000 daily speakers* in Dublin county & city. Just shy of 8,000 in the city.

*Excluding those who speak it within the education system, but not outside of it.

The King of Moo

I don't see what's wrong with insisting a government provide basic services in the first official language of the state.

I also don't get why anyone would get annoyed about a protest like this, and bring up school experiences. Tá sé an-aisteach ar fad.

Artful_Badger

Seems like a monumental waste of time and money trying to beat life into a dead language.

9959

Paz-CCFC wrote: »

Over 20,000 daily speakers* in Dublin county & city. Just shy of 8,000 in the city.

*Excluding those who speak it within the education system, but not outside of it.

20,000 daily speakers*


* 'Pass the bainne there's a good man'.....that type of thing!

Filibuster

The King of Moo wrote: »

I don't see what's wrong with insisting a government provide basic services in the first official language of the state.

I also don't get why anyone would get annoyed about a protest like this, and bring up school experiences. Tá sé an-aisteach ar fad.

Yes because the Civil Service/Gardai/Fire Service should only be staffed by Gaelgoirs.

Artful_Badger

The King of Moo wrote: »

I don't see what's wrong with insisting a government provide basic services in the first official language of the state.

I also don't get why anyone would get annoyed about a protest like this, and bring up school experiences. Tá sé an-aisteach ar fad.

It should be removed as the first official language considering the majority of the people dont even fcuking speak it.

The King of Moo

Filibuster wrote: »

Yes because the Civil Service/Gardai/Fire Service should only be staffed by Gaelgoirs.

Don't suggest I wrote such nonsense. What a terrible post, really poor effort.

GaelMise

Artful_Badger wrote: »

It should be removed as the first official language considering the majority of the people dont even fcuking speak it.

That would need a referendum, if you think such a referendum would be passed by the people, by all means get onto your local TD (or should that be MP?) and as for one.

You could ask Enda to start refering to himself as Prime Minister while you're at it.

The King of Moo

Artful_Badger wrote: »

It should be removed as the first official language considering the majority of the people dont even fcuking speak it.

I don't see why its position would bother people. You're not forced to speak it just because it's the first official language. It was the main language of the country before English, so it's not such a strange idea.
I just don't get why so many people whose lives are unaffected by the language and who profess not to care about it get so worked up over it.

Iwasfrozen

The King of Moo wrote: »

I don't see why its position would bother people. You're not forced to speak it just because it's the first official language. It was the main language of the country before English, so it's not such a strange idea.
I just don't get why so many people whose lives are unaffected by the language and who profess not to care about it get so worked up over it.

Simply put because it does affect our lives. The language is an imposition. Forced on a docile majority by a spineless government under the thumb of a very small but loud and demanding minority.

Artful_Badger

The King of Moo wrote: »

I don't see why its position would bother people. You're not forced to speak it just because it's the first official language. It was the main language of the country before English, so it's not such a strange idea.
I just don't get why so many people whose lives are unaffected by the language and profess not to care about it get so worked up over it.

It bothers me because people use it just like you did to add weight to every argument in favour of using or promoting a language only spoken by a minority of people despite its position as first official language being absolutely meaningless in relation to the language the citizens of this state actually speak.

If the government should be providing services in Irish simply because its the first official language then remove it as first official language. Then all services are already provided in the states first official language. Problem solved.

9959

Artful_Badger wrote: »

It should be removed as the first official language considering the majority of the people dont even fcuking speak it.

Stop now, your getting dangerously close to logic...... this thread is about the rights of Irish language speakers, it's got nothing whatsoever to do with the vast majority of Irish people who couldn't give a flying fùck about the Irish language.

Though we here in Dublin are eternally grateful to have 'Làna Bus' splattered across every major public road in the city, it's so helpful, gee thanks Irish language guys.
Any more great ideas - besides blocking-up the city on a busy Saturday afternoon?

GaelMise

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Simply put because it does affect our lives. The language is an imposition. Forced on a docile majority by a spineless government under the thumb of a very small but loud and demanding minority.

When was the last time you could not access a state service because there was no one available who could speak English?

The last time I could not access a state service in Irish because there was no one available who could speak to me in Irish was last week (also happens to be the last time I need to access a state service)

GaelMise

9959 wrote: »

Any more great ideas - besides blocking-up the city on a busy Saturday afternoon?

How about the state just respect our right to use Irish in the first place so that we don't need to block up the city on a busy saturday afternoon?

The King of Moo

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Simply put because it does affect our lives. The language is an imposition. Forced on a docile majority by a spineless government under the thumb of a very small but loud and demanding minority.

Forced? How? Apart from a few lessons per week in school that many people doss through (learning a second language is very beneficial for children's cognitive skills and ability in their first language, and Irish is the obvious choice for a second language in primary school due to the possibilities for immersion).
How has Irish been forced on you recently?
And do you also resent English and Maths being forced on you?

Artful_Badger

GaelMise wrote: »

When was the last time you could not access a state service because there was no one available who could speak English?

The last time I could not access a state service in Irish because there was no one available who could speak to me in Irish was last week (also happens to be the last time I need to access a state service)

Yet you speak perfectly good English. So you dont need someone to speak to you in Irish. You're just making problems where none exist to push some bullshít agenda.

My name is URL

9959 wrote: »

Stop now, your getting dangerously close to logic...... this thread is about the rights of Irish language speakers, it's got nothing whatsoever to do with the vast majority of Irish people who couldn't give a flying fùck about the Irish language.

And you're drifting further and further away from it

Days 298

I blame its general uselessness, over reliance on tax money and Gaeilge Fanatics who shove it as the reason............ that I dont care and most dont either.

Iwasfrozen

GaelMise wrote: »

When was the last time you could not access a state service because there was no one available who could speak English?

Never

The last time I could not access a state service in Irish because there was no one available who could speak to me in Irish was last week (also happens to be the last time I need to access a state service)

The exact same service was available to both of us. You chose not to avail of it. That's your choice.

The King of Moo

Artful_Badger wrote: »

It bothers me because people use it just like you did to add weight to every argument in favour of using or promoting a language only spoken by a minority of people despite its position as first official language being absolutely meaningless in relation to the language the citizens of this state actually speak.

If the government should be providing services in Irish simply because its the first official language then remove it as first official language. Then all services are already provided in the states first official language. Problem solved.

But there are plenty of people who want to speak Irish, and in a country where the language is taught at school (though the department of education needs to have a look at how to teach languages: like other English-speaking countries we could do much better) it's not that hard to ensure basic services are provided in Irish.

GaelMise

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Yet you speak perfectly good English. So you dont need someone to speak to you in Irish. You're just making problems where none exist to push some bullshít agenda.

Yes, my 'agenda' of 'I'm an Irish person who wants to speak Irish'. :rolleyes:

I suggest you call Joe Duffy, i'm sure he'll help you to work through some of your issues.

Iwasfrozen

The King of Moo wrote: »

Forced? How? Apart from a few lessons per week in school that many people doss through (learning a second language is very beneficial for children's cognitive skills and ability in their first language, and Irish is the obvious choice for a second language in primary school due to the possibilities for immersion).
How has Irish been forced on you recently?
And do you also resent English and Maths being forced on you?

Several classes a week as well as an exam. Also to get my place in ucd I had to pass ordinary Irish. This is an imposition that needs to be removed I'm sure you will agree.