Sir, - Let me compliment you on your Editorial (June 25th) commending the decision to remove the Irish language requirement for graduates wishing to become full-time teachers. The change was long overdue and the fact that so few citizens speak Irish on a daily basis - 3 per cent - highlights the injustice involved. It is good to know that the native tongue no longer needs to be buttressed by bully-boy tactics, even if some of the old prejudices still find their way into your Letters page.
Marcas Mac Phaidin suggests (June 30th) that the removal will assist our headlong rush towards materialistic values, without touching on the irony of the fact that the vast majority of those who fulfilled the Irish language requirements did so for materialistic rather than ideological reasons. They, very sensibly, wanted a full-time job at best, or one less excuse for somebody not giving them one at worst!
Writing from Belfast, of all places, Karen Hatherley was frustrated, disappointed and even angry about the matter (July 2nd) because she believed that the view that State employees should be expected to have a knowledge of "our" official language was not anachronistic. Apparently, it was upsetting that Ireland did not accompany the rest of the former colonies, all over the world, engaging in campaigns to save and promote indigenous languages. The restriction was an incentive, and who could argue with such idealism. The true value of such incentives was reflected in T. Tierney's contribution (July 6th), however. He had spent money, time and effort to acquire certification and he now wanted to see everybody else do likewise. The once oppressed was transformed into an aspiring oppressor, and without communicating any incidental love of the Irish language in his crisp communication.
I have to admit that I'm prejudiced. More specifically, I'm delighted that I don't have to suffer what may be termed racism in my own country because a high-calibre politician, with an excellent command and genuine love of the Irish language, had the courage to combat vested interests under the banner of European unity. For the first time in 16 years, I can apply for a full-time job as an English teacher in Ireland without genuflecting to the hypocrisy which glued us all together for so long. - Is mise,
Charles J. O'Sullivan, Department of History, University College, Cork.