This Is The Worst Government Toward The Irish Language Since The Founding Of The State

The website "Trinity News", the student newspaper of Trinity College in Dublin and the oldest student newspaper in Ireland, has reported on a protest demonstration by Irish speakers from the Dublin area joined by members of Trinity's Cumann Gaelach (Irish Society) over the issue of language rights.   The Vice President for Irish language for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), Mr. Fedhlim Seoige, characterised the recent resignation of the Irish Language Commissioner as proof that the Irish Government is indifferent to preserving the language:

..this is the worst government toward the Irish language since the founding of the state.

The protest at Trinity College is the latest sign of the fallout that continues from the recent resignation of Irish Language Commissioner, Sean O' Cuirreain, who announced his intention to leave his post in protest over the Irish government's failure to support the tongue of Ireland. The Commisssioner resigned his post during dramatic testimony given to the Irish Parliament's Joint Committee on Public Oversight and Petitions on the 4th of December.  During the testimony the Commissioner stated:

For those generally involved with the protection or promotion of the Irish Language, either professionally or voluntarily, we are in a time of great uncertainty. Never before have I seen in over 30 years experience - as a journalist or Language Commissioner - morale and confidence so low. Despite the enormous good will of a majority of the people of this country, the language continues to drift to the margins of society including within much of the public sector; bringing it back to the mainstream is no simple procedure.

Recent developments have galvanised language activists but perhaps the most hopeful sign to emerge is the participation of the students.  If the tongue is to survive it will be through the efforts of the next generation. Resistance to the failure of Dublin to honour it's responsibility to the Irish tongue will be in the forefront of the struggle to preserve, protect and promote the Celtic language and culture.  We leave you with a quote from the Trinitynews.ie website under the headline "Students Call For Stronger Irish language Rights":

Members of Trinity's Cumainn Gaelach Society joined Irish speakers from across Dublin today at a protest outside Leinster House over the issue of Irish language rights.  The demonstration, which was jointly organised by the union of Students in Ireland (USI) and the language pressure group, Conradh na Gaeilge, took place in the wake of the controversial resignation of An Coimisineir Teanga (The Language Commissioner, Sean O' Cuirreain, last week.

http://trinitynews.ie/students-call-for-stronger-irish-language-rights/

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/government-worst-since-foundation-of-state-for-supporting-irish-1.1627390