MEP urges introduction of Irish subtitles in cinemas

Cinemas should put Irish subtitles on all films, a Fine Gael MEP suggested today.

Gay Mitchell said the idea could be tried on a pilot basis during the St Patrick’s Festival celebrations in March.

Mr Mitchell has sought meetings with the main studios - Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Sony, Disney and Warner Bros – to suggest the idea.

"In Brussels it is the norm that films shown publicly in cinemas are subtitled, often in more than one language,” the MEP said in a statement this morning.

“This can happen at the theatre also. I attended a Gate Theatre tour production of a Beckett play in Brussels last year which had subtitle screens discreetly placed on either side of the stage.

He said subtitles could be introduced in cinemas “in the first instance on a trial basis” in March.

“Most of us have some Irish but lose the little we have because we cannot use it daily. Here is an opportunity to help those of us whose Irish is weak to start to build on what we have locked away from our school days.

He pointed out that there were 212 Gaelscoileanna in the State, “There is a clear demand for the language. In addition, for St Patrick's festival week I believe most Irish people would welcome the opportunity to renew their interest in Irish."