Bringing Irish back into the public domain

The only reason or way Irish will ever make a come back is if young people see a reason to learn it or see a benefit to it. Forcing them to learn it in school or for college admission is not such a way.

totally agreed.... I have no interest in going to an ould Jig to speak Irish... Id much prefer to go to a regular pub or gig or something.

oh, and An Fear Aniar, dont worry about it, I just wish the government would do everything they could to bring irish back from where it is now... but I know that no matter what its up to you and I to really make the change...(i just need a little push!!)

Flogen

<clears throat>
magpie, I am very sorry that you couldnt get the above job, but perhaps rather than using it as a means to insult the language, how about using it as motivation to actually learn it, so you might qualify in the future?

When I was in school it was all Peig Bleeding Sayers and Fear Lasta Lampai, nobody took any interest in it as it was a dead language on its way out and it was in no way hip. Now, thanks to TG4 it's become 'young' and 'exciting', which I guess is a positive.

Firstly, as has been mentioned, it is a broad consensus that the Irish language in schools needs to be reviewed. Not made as a choice subject, but just thought differently to the way it is now.
And although TG4 appeals to many young people, which is a good thing, the purpose is to give irish speakers a place on national television, and not just afew hours a week at the arse end of RTEs schedual.

On the down side the only reason irish is alive today is because of 19th/20th Century Cultural Nationalism which used it as a means of differentiating the irish from the english, and thus justifying a seperate state. This tradition has continued and pretty much everything to do with irish, GAA etc are all to some extent manifestations of a sectarian attitude. The Good Friday agreement should get the IRA to decommission their language!

Now, heres where my problem with your post really kicks in. The fact that you would consider the Irish language a tool of sectarianism is rediculous, and 100% ignorant. Obviously the feeling has escaped you, but Im sure people who speak Irish and learn to speak Irish dont do so to show the Brits what for, they do it because its their national language, because they have pride in their heritage and because they can.
And being able to speak Irish or not is not what justifies us as a seperate state, perhaps the fact that we WERE a seperate state and were then invaded would justify it. America doesnt have its own language, so should that be put under the commonwealth again??
And Irish is not the IRAs language, nor is it the GAAs. It is Irelands. Im not going to get started on the ignorance of your decommissioning joke, because I hope against hope that it wasnt serious.

With regard to job applications I am wondering what the EU position on this is, as the 'need' (as if anyone in this country actually needs irish) for irish automatically precludes anyone who is a non-irish native and is therefore surely contrary to equal opportunities legislation. Comments anyone?

I would love to see you bring your case to the EU. Firstly there are very few jobs in Ireland that require Irish. Secondly, even if they all did, there is no way the EU could/would stop it. Irish is our first language. If the government decide that you have to speak irish to get a job, then you better learn or leave. Any non-Irish native would have to follow the law, and if that law stated you must speak Irish, then they would have to learn. Once again I will use an example. Do you think that if you went for a job interview in France, without any french and you were refused the job that you would have any reason to complain? And the current need for Irish is no argument, its still our language, even if it has been neglected.

say outlaw irish and put everyone on an even keel, as the last time I checked we could all speak english...

Something tells me you are no more that an idiot TROLL. Why dont we get rid of the tricolour while were at it? And ban Irish literate and plays etc, theres no need for our heritage anymore.

I've just noticed a thread above about taxi signs in irish. And who is the outraged politician, why if it isn't ol' shinner Sean Crowe. Kind of proves my point. Tiocfaidh ar la and all that...

What point? You have no point? Do you think that all Irish speakers are Sinn Fein heads? That the sole mission in the lives of all native speakers is to bomb the brits?? The fact is in this country you have a right to practice the language, and these drivers rights are being denied.

Magpie, i suggest you grow up. If you dont have any respect for Irish, at least respect other peoples right to use it. IT may not be widespread at the moment, but that doesnt mean we should forget it, in fact, quite the opposite, we should do everything we can to save it. ]

Kennett, your not wrong in what you say, which is why i would like to see big shops being forced to display dual prices etc (see the original post for my other ideas!!). There is no need to learn Irish at the moment, but if enough is done there could be in years to come

Flogen

Oh really? What state was that?

erm.... IRELAND YOU IDIOT

check your history books, we used to be independent, then we were invaded, then we were independent again.... quite easy to remember but I can draw you a graph if you like

and Conradh na Gaeilge was set up to reverse the influence Britain had on Ireland, not to justify a seperate state, the fact we had been invaded was justification for a free state.

Flogen

so your trying to compare Ireland with Nazi Germany?
The Gaelic League was setup to re-introduce Irish and Irish ways, not invent tradition. And to even think about comparing it with Nazism is amazingly ignorant. The Gaelic league wasnt racist, it was just keen on saving Irish heritage, like most Irish people are.

Oh really? I thought Ireland consisted of a loose conglomeration of warring tribes and families, one of whom invited the Normans in to defeat the Viking King of Dublin.

no actually, Ireland before the British invation consisted of 4 provinces, each with a king, not small tribes and families waring. So obviously you dont know alot about irish history.

and jesjes is right, learning the irish language is not about politics, its about yourself and how you feel about your heritage. Some people do try and make it political, but it shouldnt be.
If you dont want to learn Irish, thats fine, but dont be so ignorant to suggest that we should all stop, or that its just RA heads that are interested.

Flogen