BISHOP OF Kerry Dr Bill Murphy is supporting a campaign aimed at persuading RTÉ to reinstate the weekly live broadcast of the Sunday Mass in Irish on Raidió na Gaeltachta.
The weekly Mass, “a valued and marvellous service for Irish speakers not just in the Gaeltacht but worldwide”, was suddenly cut, without any consultation, Dingle parish priest, Canon Tomás Ó Luanaigh, said yesterday.
A spokeswoman for Dr Murphy said he was concerned at the loss of the Mass and was fully behind the campaign to have it reinstated.
The 11am Aifreann as Gaeilge was broadcast from churches all around Irish-speaking counties and it was a tremendous event for the parishes, Canon Ó Luanaigh said.
He said the first he had heard of the decision to cut the service was in mid-January. The cutbacks mean the Mass is now broadcast on just one Sunday of the month and readings are replacing it on other Sundays. “I am a licence payer myself and we have a right to demand a service,” the canon said.
The canon has written to Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív, RTÉ director general Cathal Goan, the Irish MEPS and politicians who have Gaeltacht areas in their constituencies.
He said there were wider fears for the Irish language station, which has a studio in Baile na nGall west of Dingle. Two of its staff have not been replaced, and a producer is out ill. RnG regional manager Jeaic Ó Muircheartaigh said RTÉ, because of the economic situation, was not now able to replace anyone taking early retirement.
Spokespersons for RTÉ/Raidió na Gaeltachta have said the decision to cut the Mass and the question of not replacing those who took early retirement was due to financing. However the decision to cut the live mass may be reviewed.