though they suspended betting on Sunday out of respect. How nice of them.
Irish-only signs go up in Gaeltacht.
Starting today, only the Irish language version of placenames will be on the road and street signs in Gaeltacht areas of Ireland. The removal of English versions from signs in the Gaeltacht prompted concerns for tourists in the regions.
Commentary from the Sunday Tiimes: Abandon Irish as an official language and watch it flourish.
For the past 80 years Ireland has compelled students to study Irish, yet the decline in its use continues. Should the Republic abandon the policy or focus on those who truly want to learn the language and keep it alive? We met more than a handful of people at Oideas Gael who were only there working on their Irish because their jobs required it, and few were happy about it.
The Onion’s ‘Irish Heritage Timeline’
And a tip o’ the hat goes to “Slugger”.
Review of Irish Language Teaching is essential.
Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD calls for a thorough review of the teaching of Irish at primary and secondary school level.
Almost 4,000 children are now learning through Irish in N. Ireland.
The Belfast Telegraph reports amazing growth in Irish language medium schools in Northern Ireland. Great news on St. Patrick’s Day Eve.
Irish language flourishes at Notre Dame.
Nice to know that the Fighting Irish are fighting for the language and culture as well.
The Irish Language Commissioner calls for review of Irish language instruction.
A report stated said that many pupils haven’t even attained basic fluency in Irish despite being taught the language for 13 years. We heard much the same during our visit to Ireland. Students read and write well, but oral skills were reported to be poor.
Have a healthy St. Patrick’s Day with Irish food, dark beer.
“Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.” Actually there are some benefits to Guinness and an Irish diet, if only for St. Patrick’s Day.
Whatever happened to Irish Ireland?
[ From the Irish Independent, registration required ] It seems that Ireland is losing its allure for the English. Paddy’s gone AWOL, it seems, at least according to a recent survery by Tourism Ireland.