A TG4 executive asserts that interest in the language is due to trendiness, calling it a ‘yuppification’ of the language. I certainly hope that there is more to it than that. Nice to see the numbers growing, however.
Irish Only Placename Signs In Gaeltacht.
Beginning next March, placename signs in the Gaeltacht (designated Irish-speaking areas) of Ireland will be in Irish only. Some interesting discussion going on as to how this will affect visitors to the area.
Irish May Become An Official EU Language!
It was a while in coming, but I’m sure advocates of the language are celebrating this news, that Ireland will seek official status for Irish Gaelic. EU treaties, including the new European Constitution, have been translated into Irish, and it will also mean that European citizens may contact the EU institutions using Irish and expect a reply in the language.
Fortnight has a wonderful interview with Irish poet Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill.
One of her more interesting observations is that ‘the shift from Irish to English unleashed madness throughout the population…..the emotions were stuck in Irish and didn’t make it through to English. So their emotions would burst out in a totally inappropriate way over totally inappropriate things.’
Twilight of the Celts.
This is an article from the Belfast Telgraph written by the author of “The Last of the Celts” regarding his odyssey through regions where Gaelic was a prominent, if not the dominant, language. It also features some statistics documenting the decline of the Gaelic languages in Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Patagonia, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and Cape Breton.
SaveGaelic.org website.
I tend to focus on the Irish flavor of Gaelic, but came across this interesting site that is championing the revitalization of Scottish Gaelic. Very nicely done website as well.
‘The Last of the Celts’ sounds like a book I need to read.
A freelance writer and journalist goes on a search for ancestral graves, and traverses the parts of Europe where Gaelic languages are still spoken. Sounds fascinating.
No room for Irish language in e-learning?
Riverdeep’s chief executive says that the Irish government needs to plan its e-learning strategy and warned that Irish Gaelic may be left out in the cold. The government, or advocates of the language, to be more accurate. We took the bull by the horns ourselves in this area for Hawaiian language. It’s and incredible opportunity for the language and its speakers if it is made a priority.
‘Daft’ plan to cut Gaeilge for immigrant gardai.
(link requires registration) Ireland’s Justice Minister Michael McDowell plans to drop the Irish language requirement for immigrant recruits to An Garda Siochana, something that is not going over well with Irish language advocates.
Mayo Losing Gaeltacht?
The Mayo News reports that the status and funding granted the Gaeltacht regions of Mayo will soon be lost. It brings a new dimension to the old phrase “Use it or lose it.”