Sir, - May I express broad agreement with what Kevin Myers has said (An Irishman's Diary, September 19th)regarding the state and likely fate of the Irish language? I also share his concern for the 25 per cent of children who emerge from school functionally illiterate in English. I am equally concerned for that small percentage of the people who are monolingual speakers of Irish (whether or not they are illiterate) and for the larger percentage of people whose first language is Irish and who are functionally illiterate in both languages.
It is indeed "time to end this mad experience in compulsory linguistic engineering". However, my own preference would be that what has happened in the past be replaced by a sincere and honest commitment by parents, educators, public representatives, public servants, the media, the social partners, and all who hold positions of influence in society to provide the necessary positive support for individuals and communities whose first language or language of choice is Irish.
Children first learn to speak whatever language(s) their mothers (and other minders) speak to them. At a later stage, they may for a variety of reasons reject their first language(s). In Irish-speaking areas many mothers choose to speak English to their children, believing it to be the language of prestige and social advancement. This is their right, but they should forfeit whatever financial supports are specifically provided for Irish-speaking families. In fact, my own preference would be that the current financial incentives tied to location and language competence/ use be ended and that increased financial support be made available to those in genuine need, regardless of their language of choice.
One cannot ignore the appalling example of elements of the Gaeltacht middle-class who abdicate their responsibilities of leadership and become complicit in a culture of hypocrisy and dependence.
Kevin Myers has referred to "the Gaelgeoir lobby", "pro-language activists", "enthusiasts", "professional Irish-language promoters". The Irish language is ill-served by having the same jaded individuals presenting the case at every summer school, winter school, and on every radio and television show, whenever the language is discussed. Allied to this is the appalling fact that a small coterie of individuals with varying levels of commitment to the language exercises an inordinate amount of control in the academic, state and voluntary domains.
Colleges of education are not currently capable of ensuring that all aspirant teachers achieve a level of perfection in the language that would allow them to teach Irish in a competent fashion. No particular provision is made in my own college to ensure that students are equipped to teach other subjects through the medium of Irish. The use of Irish as a means of instruction in colleges of education is for the most part limited to the teaching of the language itself. Kevin Myers has asked "whether it is morally justifiable to force-feed Irish to working-class children"? One might equally ask whether the denial of the opportunity to acquire the Irish language is not a further deprivation of those already severely deprived. - Yours, etc.,
Dr Ciaran O Coighligh, Department of Irish, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.