Downgrading Irish ‘an act of cultural vandalism’
February 24, 2011
IRISH LANGUAGE : THE IRISH language is one of the few aspects of identity that makes sure Irish people are not branded as “East Americans or the West British”, Minister for Arts Mary Hanafin has contended.
Ms Hanafin accused Enda Kenny of an act of political opportunism in adopting a populist position on compulsory Irish in the Leaving Cert. “Downgrading the status of Irish would amount to an act of cultural vandalism,” she said. Ms Hanafin was speaking at a Fianna Fáil news conference on the Irish language, during which the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Pat Carey, also spoke.
Both Ministers said Fianna Fáil stood squarely behind the preservation of the Irish language. They said it fully supported a recently-published 20-year strategic plan which aims to bring the number of daily speakers from about 85,000 to about 250,000. Mr Carey said if the plan was not implemented Irish would not survive as a first language for more than another 15 years. He said if this happened it would be a disaster. “The Irish language is an important part of what we are. Some 80 per cent are in favour of its promotion.”
The Irish Times – Harry McGee
