THE Archbishop of Tuam may have acted too hastily in removing a priest from the Gaeltacht island of Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, because of his lack of proficiency in Irish, according to a prominent community representative there.
The priest's removal after he was stationed there for 10 weeks followed complaints by people on the island which were sent to the archbishop, Dr Michael Neary.
People on the island have stressed, however, that they have "nothing personal" against the priest, Father Raymond Flaherty, land while they had complained, they were willing to facilitate him by helping him to improve his Irish.
The manager of the local co op - Comhar Caomhan Teoranta - and secretary of the Coiste Glor na nGael on the island, Mr Eamonn O hEanaigh, said he felt the archbishop, notwithstanding the difficulties, may have been too hasty in removing the priest.
The coiste had sent a letter to the archbishop on the issue which was very positive in tone, he said.
It had stated that the archbishop, as a matter of policy, should not send a priest with little or no Irish to a Gaeltacht island and, in addition, that all priests given appointments in Irish speaking areas be given appropriate training. "We were not insisting that the priest be taken off the island."
The priest, who left the island a fortnight ago and is understood to be staying with relatives in Connemara pending his reappointment, could not be contacted.
"We arc now left with no priest. November is an important month with Christmas coming up. People are very worried. .. It has been difficult for people on the island, especially older people," Mr O hEanaigh said.
A spokesman for Archbishop Neary confirmed that the priest had been removed. "Irish was the problem. .. Another priest is going out at weekends."