Monday, 25.06.2007
Focus on Irish
The Irish language - it might bring up bad memories. Most of us were introduced to it in school and taught through modern, up-to-date texts, where the most exciting thing that happened to Pól, Una or indeed Rusty revolved around them scrumping some farmer's apples. This was usually followed by some class of altercation with a tarbh. Visitors skimming these books could have been forgiven for thinking that Ireland had a bullfighting community of some repute.
Once we hit secondary school, things got worse. We got acquainted with Peig Sayers. Compared to Peig, Frank McCourt was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and she wasn't shy about letting us know. Twelve children lost over the cliff face and yet still no-one thought about fences. And yet it was the rare student that sympathised with the poor woman and many wished the cliff would do its job one more time.
However, Irish isn't all about the modh coinníollach and suffering. The language has a long and vibrant history, having been in existence for around 2,500 years. It did well for a long time but things started to go downhill during the time of the Penal Laws in 1695, when the English overlords tried to stamp it out, punishing people who used it. The language rallied in the nineteenth century with the relaxation of the Laws and the founding of the Irish League (Conradh na Gaelige). However, Irish never again reached the position it once held in the early 16th century, where it was for all intents and purposes the only language of Ireland.
However, the Irish language is fighting back. As well as having its own radio stations, newspapers and vibrant contemporary literature, the language also enters our homes through TG4. Okay, so Super Ted sounds a bit strange as a 60 year-old Gaelgoir, but who can resist the big brown eyes of Siún Nic Gearailt as she gives us the day's news? If only we knew what she was saying…
The dream can become a reality by the simple means of a course in Irish. According to a recent Conradh na Gaeilge report, attendance at summer schools and courses where Irish is spoken has doubled and in some cases trebled since the early 1970s. The craic must be mighty.
Insulting your friends and making suggestive remarks to strangers with impunity are just some of the many advantages to knowing the auld mother tongue; find out what the others are by taking a course as Gaelige...
- Beyond Shamrocks and Shenanigans
- Irish
- Irish Dancing
- Learning Irish in Ireland
- Line & Ceili Dancing
Related Articles
