Madam, - I was somewhat relieved that Kevin Myers was not present at the lecture on "Language Equality: a Canadian Perspective" by the Canadian languages commissioners, Dyane Adam, in Buswell's Hotel on Wednesday, January 14th, as he may have been apoplectic to learn that issues such as the rights of minority language speakers exercise more than just us "gaeilgeoirí" (professional or otherwise).
However, perhaps from Ms Adam's discourse, Mr Myers may have been prompted to revise his seeming need to tar and feather Irish language speakers from time to time in Irishman's Diary.
Many of us recognise that our languages go to the heart of our identity, and Ms Adam forcefully reminded us that as Irish is unique to us we have an obligation not just to ourselves and our descendents, but to mankind at large, to ensure its preservation.
Perhaps Mr Myers should take some time out from the pressures of the big smoke and visit us natives in Indreabháin or the Aran Islands, Corcha Dhuibhne or Gaoth Dobhair, or many other Gaeltacht areas, to hear for himself that Irish is far from marbh, or even finis, but alive and well.
He would realise that there is a sizeable cohort of people who want to speak Irish not so that they can be eligible for grants (the scheme analysed by Donncha Ó hÉallaithe is availed of by only a minority of eligible families), but because Irish is their native language or their main language of choice. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIG Ó hAOLÁIN,
Deputy Chief Executive -
Regional Development,
Údarás na Gaeltachta,
Na Forbacha,
Gaillimh.