Page 20 - Guerin Media | The Wild Atlantic Way
P. 20
Thinking in English - Dreaming in Irish
OPINION
In this article we reflect somewhat on the challenges being available through Irish. Wherever possible,
and opportunities offered by the Irish language. Up Ciarán chooses Irish as his working language – giving
until the famine, Irish was the dominant language preference to those companies who will conduct
spoken in Ireland. The famine dealt a terrible blow to business through Irish. T-shirts are printed by An
the morale of the country. Without food or dignity, such Spailpín Fánach in Galway, hurls used in the activities of
suffering as we can scarcely imagine today – such was the GaelÓga also come through Irish language channels.
the fate of the ancestors of Ireland : emigration or death
by starvation. The words “thinking in English: dreaming This is not an arbitrary decision. Have we
in Irish” is attributed to Limerick poet Michael Hartnett underestimated the importance and potential of the
– evoking the power of the dream – for the future. “EuroGaelach” - and of the value of the Irish language
in potentially fostering the growth of business and
Today, as a result of the mass emigration from Ireland, employment in Ireland? Such is the aim of “Snastablasta”
there are up to eight million who would claim Irish roots – supplying chocolate bars and premium coffee with
to be found in large numbers in America, Australia, in all-Irish packaging. You can visit Ciarán’s website to
England and indeed, all over the world. Many have taken buy your own supplies www.snastablasta.ie. As Ciarán
it upon themselves to learn the Irish language – through notes:“People first buy these products for the novelty
online classes, the philo-celtic society, and classes value, but they return to buy more because of the
offered by Irish communities in Australia and America. quality”. “Snasta”- “cool” or “spick and span”: “blasta” -
The Irish language is also offered as part of university “tasty”!
curriculums all over the world in Utrecht Holland, in
Germany, Australia and the United States. Looking to the influence of “The Equality of Languages
Act” in Canada, we can see the benefits of having
The Irish language movement, of course, meets a sizable products available in one’s own language. The fragility
challenge. Despite the fact that the community of Irish of the Irish language is evident in it’s lack of visibility in
speakers is growing worldwide every year, the English day to day life. Whether you speak Irish or would claim
language has the upper hand almost everywhere. This an Irish heritage, it is a pleasure to find products in one’s
is not just an issue confined to Ireland of course, all own minority language.
across the world, native languages are dying under the
pressures exerted by globalisation. This is not alone a Award winning Irish language poet Simon ‘O Faoileán,
cultural force but essentially an economic one. It is a lives inside the Gaeltacht region of Corca Dhuibhne in
question also of centralisation. As English becomes the west Kerry. He compares the effort required when one
dominant language, so too money and value saps out of chooses to conduct one’s life through Irish in Ireland
a locality. to swimming up a waterfall! “Tá sé cosúil le snámh in
At home, in Ireland, there has been a growing demand aghaidh easa. An dúshlán atá ann ná go mbeidh an
for Gaelscoileanna, Irish medium education. Parents misneach agat!”
recognise the benefits and have taken it upon themselves Death by Stealth
to raise their children through Irish. There are tender
shoots, innovative companies looking to develop Studies suggest that unless something radical is done
a realm wherein the Irish language can be spoken, within this generation, the Irish as a language, even
outside of Institutional settings, in Ireland. Of these within the Gaeltacht, is loosing ground to English. The
40,000 children who are being educated through the educational system as it is does not serve the needs of
medium of Irish and whose parents are also learning the Gaeltacht speakers of Irish. Studies have been done but
language, what facilities are in place for them to be able recommendations are yet to take effect on the ground.
to use the language outside of the school system? Funding seems to be an issue at hand. On a practical
“Is í an Gaeilge mo rogha teanga” note, what is needed is for companies and therefore
“Irish is my language of choice” employment to be created that Irish speakers may use
the language on a day to day basis.
Ciarán Mac Fhearghusa is one such passionate advocate The evidence suggests that there is a definite need
of the necessity for nurturing opportunities that Irish now for a working policy and practical and innovative
may be spoken not just in the Gaeltachtaí, the schools projects that not only acknowledge but begin to work
and universities, but as part of a living community. to actively serve the needs of a growing Irish speaking
Ciarán established Oga Yoga in response to the community, not just in Ireland but world-wide.
interest among schools for extra curricular activities “Whenever the question of the Irish language has be
18
OPINION
In this article we reflect somewhat on the challenges being available through Irish. Wherever possible,
and opportunities offered by the Irish language. Up Ciarán chooses Irish as his working language – giving
until the famine, Irish was the dominant language preference to those companies who will conduct
spoken in Ireland. The famine dealt a terrible blow to business through Irish. T-shirts are printed by An
the morale of the country. Without food or dignity, such Spailpín Fánach in Galway, hurls used in the activities of
suffering as we can scarcely imagine today – such was the GaelÓga also come through Irish language channels.
the fate of the ancestors of Ireland : emigration or death
by starvation. The words “thinking in English: dreaming This is not an arbitrary decision. Have we
in Irish” is attributed to Limerick poet Michael Hartnett underestimated the importance and potential of the
– evoking the power of the dream – for the future. “EuroGaelach” - and of the value of the Irish language
in potentially fostering the growth of business and
Today, as a result of the mass emigration from Ireland, employment in Ireland? Such is the aim of “Snastablasta”
there are up to eight million who would claim Irish roots – supplying chocolate bars and premium coffee with
to be found in large numbers in America, Australia, in all-Irish packaging. You can visit Ciarán’s website to
England and indeed, all over the world. Many have taken buy your own supplies www.snastablasta.ie. As Ciarán
it upon themselves to learn the Irish language – through notes:“People first buy these products for the novelty
online classes, the philo-celtic society, and classes value, but they return to buy more because of the
offered by Irish communities in Australia and America. quality”. “Snasta”- “cool” or “spick and span”: “blasta” -
The Irish language is also offered as part of university “tasty”!
curriculums all over the world in Utrecht Holland, in
Germany, Australia and the United States. Looking to the influence of “The Equality of Languages
Act” in Canada, we can see the benefits of having
The Irish language movement, of course, meets a sizable products available in one’s own language. The fragility
challenge. Despite the fact that the community of Irish of the Irish language is evident in it’s lack of visibility in
speakers is growing worldwide every year, the English day to day life. Whether you speak Irish or would claim
language has the upper hand almost everywhere. This an Irish heritage, it is a pleasure to find products in one’s
is not just an issue confined to Ireland of course, all own minority language.
across the world, native languages are dying under the
pressures exerted by globalisation. This is not alone a Award winning Irish language poet Simon ‘O Faoileán,
cultural force but essentially an economic one. It is a lives inside the Gaeltacht region of Corca Dhuibhne in
question also of centralisation. As English becomes the west Kerry. He compares the effort required when one
dominant language, so too money and value saps out of chooses to conduct one’s life through Irish in Ireland
a locality. to swimming up a waterfall! “Tá sé cosúil le snámh in
At home, in Ireland, there has been a growing demand aghaidh easa. An dúshlán atá ann ná go mbeidh an
for Gaelscoileanna, Irish medium education. Parents misneach agat!”
recognise the benefits and have taken it upon themselves Death by Stealth
to raise their children through Irish. There are tender
shoots, innovative companies looking to develop Studies suggest that unless something radical is done
a realm wherein the Irish language can be spoken, within this generation, the Irish as a language, even
outside of Institutional settings, in Ireland. Of these within the Gaeltacht, is loosing ground to English. The
40,000 children who are being educated through the educational system as it is does not serve the needs of
medium of Irish and whose parents are also learning the Gaeltacht speakers of Irish. Studies have been done but
language, what facilities are in place for them to be able recommendations are yet to take effect on the ground.
to use the language outside of the school system? Funding seems to be an issue at hand. On a practical
“Is í an Gaeilge mo rogha teanga” note, what is needed is for companies and therefore
“Irish is my language of choice” employment to be created that Irish speakers may use
the language on a day to day basis.
Ciarán Mac Fhearghusa is one such passionate advocate The evidence suggests that there is a definite need
of the necessity for nurturing opportunities that Irish now for a working policy and practical and innovative
may be spoken not just in the Gaeltachtaí, the schools projects that not only acknowledge but begin to work
and universities, but as part of a living community. to actively serve the needs of a growing Irish speaking
Ciarán established Oga Yoga in response to the community, not just in Ireland but world-wide.
interest among schools for extra curricular activities “Whenever the question of the Irish language has be
18
