Gaeilge is not a Hobby
December 10, 2013
Further to Ian O’Doherty’s column yesterday where he refers to the Irish language as a hobby in the context of Sean O Cuirreain’s resignation as language commissioner, I would like to speak for Irish speakers.
Mr O’Doherty has grown up in a world where all the services that he deals with to conduct his life are offered in his first language. Not so the thousands and thousands of people who have grown up with Irish as their first language. Imagine going to the doctor, to the bank, to a garda, to a counsellor and they don’t speak your first language. Not only do they not speak your language, but if you try to obtain the service in your own language you’re labelled as awkward, a ‘Gaeilgeoiri Grenadier’ to quote Mr O’Doherty.
We are not from another country, we are from Ireland, believe it or not, and the fact that we are being marginalised does not change the fact that we have a right to be here. Mr O’Doherty forgets that millions upon millions in state money is being invested in supporting the infrastructure of the English language — every government service in the country. Because it’s for the majority it’s okay. He forgets that we have a right to exist as well. It isn’t a hobby. It isn’t a cash cow. It’s who we are and we have a right to be here.
BRIDGET BHREATHNACH
TURLOCH BEAG, ROS MUC, CO NA GAILLIMHE
www.independent.ie
