Don’t limit Gaeilge to the Gaeltacht

An article in  yesterday’s Sunday Tribune illustrated the fact that Fine Gael’s new spokesman for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs doesn’t speak more than two words of Irish. Which Michael Ring admitted quite openly - though he did seem to miss the point a little.

What bugs me is that while it’s perfectly reasonable to point this out, it seems ever so slightly unfair to pick on one TD, even if he has a fairly relevant position. To be honest, I’d say “Taoiseach of Ireland for the last 10 and probably next 5 years” would be someone that should be asked the same questions.

In the not too distant past (I’ll go hunt for the exact date/time/details) Bertie Bocht defended his lack of Irish by saying that he didn’t have the same opportunities to learn it or some such thing. Isn’t that the same excuse he uses for everything?  Like that he didn’t have the opportunity to give back the £30,000 stg, because he was having such a hard time of it?

In the brief interview in the Tribune, Ring (admittedly sounding like he wanted the ‘ordeal’ of being spoken to in the national language to end as soon as possible) said he hoped to be able to get Irish lessons at some point during his term. It didn’t sound genuine, but at least he said it - it’s on record, and if anyone gets really pedantic they can call him on it every three weeks until he gives in.

When did Bertie Bocht announce that he’d do the same?

If he had decided, on being made Taoiseach, that he’d care to put a bit of effort in he could be fluent by now. If he had sat down when he got re-elected to his second term, he would be well on his way. Even now, he could make the gesture (let’s face it, he’s big into shallow gestures) of doing a six week course and be done with. But no, he hasn’t - and won’t.

Why is nobody chasing him about this? What is it about Bertie Bocht that we forgive him everything because the ‘poor wee thing’ has had such a tough time RUNNING THE COUNTRY?

Speaking of spokesmen for Gaeltacht Affairs, Michael Ring’s new best friend hasn’t done much in terms of chasing Bertie’s tail. While I’m sure Ó Cuív has lots on his plate, shouldn’t it be part of his job to encourage government ministers to, at the very least, pay lip service to the language? (Yes, it’s a horrible idea, but clearly they’re not going to put any real effort into it - if they were going to they would have, ten years ago).

I’ve known plenty of supposed “Gael-Nazis” - in fact I’ve been accused of being one more than once. Much like people who are obsessed with environmental issues (or any issue really), it tends to rub off. At the very least it makes you think. If Ó Cuív is the person in the cabinet appointed to ‘care about the language’ (and for the record, that’s not his job, but it’s how the job is treated, which is pathetic, but a rant for another day) - why isn’t he spreading the love (of Gaeilge)? Or at least spreading the notion?

This raises multiple other questions about both that particular ministry and the Irish language generally - such as, should there be a minister with a specific responsibility for promoting the language - and if not why not, is it because we want to keep pretending we don’t need one? Or is it because we want to keep that mad little language in safely quarantined areas far from the centres of commerce?

I think it is perfectly fair to raise the question about Michael Ring’s grasp of the language - but only if the same questions are being asked of people much more likely to be representing Ireland and the Irish on a national and international stage.