Sir, - I would once have agreed with Edward Kelly (September 11th) about learning Irish. However, living and travelling abroad and coming across so many different cultures where a native language is something to be cherished has changed my opinion. The Berbers of Morocco, for example, can readily change between their native language (there are many different Berber dialects) and the languages imposed by centuries of invasion and colonisation, Arabic and French respectively. There is such a tremendous sense of culture and individual self-worth among people who have retained their original language.
What Irish I have I am very happy to have and proud to speak as an example of our culture. In the rush for utilitarian subjects in an Ireland where emigration seemed the only option, I would never have chosen Irish at school, but would later have regretted that decision. Living in Brussels, where English is the means of communication across nationalities, my Irish has definitely come in more useful then my French! - Yours, etc., Marie Ward,
Rue Saint Quentin, Brussels, Belgium.