Sir, - As you frequently publish criticisms by your readers of Mr Myers in your Letters to the Editor page, perhaps you may print a letter in support of his stance in regard to the Irish language.
Irish is, as by law established in the 1937 Constitution, the first language of State, though it is the language of a small minority of the nation. English, the native language of the vast majority of Irish people, North and South, is reduced to being a second official language. The anachronism of 1937, unlike other aspects of de Valera's personalised Constitution, has not been altered to reflect modern reality.
De facto English is the language of Irish people, understood and at times spoken by all. The authors whose letters you published on aspects of the Irish language (May 27th) expressed themselves in English, not Irish. Mr Bruton, when congratulating our Eurovision song winner, did so in English because it is his mother tongue and his congratulations would be understood by all.
Irish' by law, however, is declared to be the language of Irish people, though spoken only by a few and not understood by the vast majority. Fewer students are sitting it in their Leaving Certificate examinations, even though it hampers them in getting into college and employment in the public service, where one is punished for not speaking the language.
Irish people have voluntarily chosen to speak English and not Irish because English is their mother tongue, and Ireland is an English speaking country; the Irish language lobby cannot change that fact by massaging the statistics, or presenting a distorted picture of the reality of the situation must listen around you. Irish should receive some State support, but no more than the State can afford. We should be more concerned about unemployment and crime than the linguistic hobby horses of a privileged and pampered vocal minority. - Yours, etc.,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.