An Ennis Irish language activist says there needs to be a “comfortable place” for people to thrash out their views on our native tongue.
It comes amid controversy surrounding recent comments made by broadcaster Ivan Yates regarding the role of the language in Irish life.
The much-quoted seanfhocail ‘is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla cliste‘ seems to have been lost on some this week amid an ongoing debate around the merit of funding the Irish language.
Asked about his level of Irish on the Six O’Clock Show this week, former Fine Gael TD Ivan Yates said:
“Níl focal ar bith agam. I couldn’t be arsed to learn Irish and I’m sorry if you’re offended”.
Doubling-down on the comments, the former Minister for Agriculture said:
“All this money we put into it, and there’s only 16,000 people in the country speaking it now”.
The 2022 Census revealed that 1.83 million people here can speak Irish while Clare has the second-highest rate of Gaeilgeoirs nationwide, with 49% of people in the county having some level of fluency.
The comments have sparked backlash online and native Irish speaker Síle Seoige, who was also a guest on the programme at the time, says “hurt” has been caused to the Irish-speaking community by the attitudes displayed on the programme.
Ennis resident and member of An Clár as Gaeilge, Macdara Ó Conaola however believes it’s important people aren’t afraid to voice their opinions on the language.
Chiming in on the debate, Global Gaelic Games says on social media, “Lose your language, lose your heritage. If people don’t want to learn it, fair enough but don’t be disparaging about it. It should be encouraged”.
Irish language enthusiast and presenter of Clare FM’s Cúl Chaint Dónal Ó Loinsigh says a shift in attitude will only take place if Ireland is taken out of the classroom and brought into everyday life.
You can listen to the full interview below.
