Unionists were warned not to try to dilute any of the proposals in the Belfast Agreement by the president of the 4,500-strong Conradh na Gaeilge, Mr Gearoid O Caireallain, at the weekend.
The organisation also elected a new president, Mr Tomas Mac Ruairi, a native of Armagh, who represents the Artane branch in Dublin.
Speaking at Conradh's ardfheis in Limerick, Mr O Caireallain said that Irish-speakers in Northern Ireland were "hopeful" regarding the section on the Irish language. "The agreement proposes the best that is acceptable, small steps towards the recognition of Irish in the Six Counties."
What was recommended would greatly boost the position of Irish in the North, Mr O Caireallain said. He called for the enactment of a Bill of Rights in Northern Ireland for the Irish language, as proposed by the Minister of State, Mr Eamon O Cuiv.
The members felt that the necessary steps were now being implemented to ensure that Irish would survive as a living and vibrant language into the next millennium, he said. O Caireallain said that Teilifis na Gaeilge was the most encouraging and inspiring focal point of that hope.
Mr Sean Mac Mathuna, general secretary of Conradh, presenting his annual report, welcomed the new Bill of Rights and said that without such a bill Irish-speakers living in the Gaeltacht and elsewhere would, as at present, be denied their fundamental rights to use Irish officially.
He said that the 1996 census had provided a great boost for the morale of Irish-speakers. About 1,560,000 people throughout Ireland had stated that they were able to speak Irish and 26 per cent of those said that they spoke Irish daily.
Mr Mac Mathuna claimed that the Irish National Teachers' Organisation was undermining the position of Irish in primary schools. "By all means let us have a common curriculum throughout Ireland", he said, "if that will enable all students to learn of their Gaelic heritage and give a real opportunity for learning Irish to those students denied that opportunity at present.
"The idea of a common curriculum should not be used as an excuse to employ teachers without the necessary Irish-language qualification, as that would deprive many students in the 26 Counties of the opportunity to learn Irish properly as part of the integrated primary school curriculum."
A motion critical of the stance taken by INTO at its congress in Ennis was unanimously passed.
The ardfheis also urged the establishment of a commissioner to oversee the implementation of the Bill of Rights legislation and an ombudsman to deal with complaints from the public.
An Post was criticised for "its failure to give due recognition to Irish and to provide efficient services through Irish". The ardfheis was told that it was very difficult to obtain forms in Irish and it was suggested that An Post and all State agencies should have an active bilingual policy.
A motion was passed, under the heading of the Department of Foreign Affairs, urging the appointment of an official in the Irish Embassy in London to carry out business in Irish. The organisation is also to campaign for the establishment of a third-level Irish-medium institution.