Sinn Féin effectively close down Irish language newspaper

[LiamORaiste]

There's been some comment on the Irish language thread and on blogs such as iGaeilge and An Druma Mór about this issue, the impending closure of the only Irish language daily in the country because of a decision by the SF dominated Foras na Gaeilge board.
I thought, however, that it should be raised on an English language site as it might raise awareness of the background to this decision and what it tells us about SF the party.
Back in February, the Irish language newspaper, Lá Nua, raised questions about the failure of SF members of the NI executive to effectively oppose the axing of the Irish language broadcast fund in NI. It also asked whether the SF members, who were the most vociferous in claiming credit for the commitment in the St Andrews Agreement, had objected when then Culture Minister Edwin Poots had shelved the proposed Irish Language Act.
Now Sinn Féin, it seems, has taken revenge on plucky Lá Nua. At a board meeting of Foras na Gaeilge, on 19 September, the board, which includes four SF nominees, decided to end the contract for the publication of a daily newspaper in April of next year, a little over two years after it was first awarded to Lá Nua.
In last week's An Phoblacht, Eoghan Mac Cormaic, the 'vice chairman' of Foras na Gaeilge defended the decision claiming the market wasn't there for the Irish language newspaper. He says the Foras carried out a consultation on the provision of Irish language newspapers but the Foras won't publish the consultation report. Foras na Gaeilge, incidentally, has failed to publish accounts and an annual report for the years 2004-2007 and only published the 2003 accounts and report last year.
For many years Lá was unfairly accused of being pro SF - however the newspaper's courage in exposing the party's failures to meet its commitments regarding the language have resulted in the decision to close its main source of funding leading to the inevitable closure of the paper.
It's not as if Foinse, the weekly newspaper, will benefit from the closure as the contract for a weekly newspaper to be offered next year only amounts to a few Euros more than was available to it previously, up from €320,000 per year to €400,000 per year. On top of the onerous task of publishing an improved weekly newspaper, Foinse will have to produce an up to the minute online news service as Gaeilge and a marketing package to increase sales and market penetration.

[lostexpectation]

how much is la nua losing as it operates?

[JCSkinner]

Do you work for La Nua, Liam?

[pino]

Liam,

I know that loosing a contract is not good, but unfortunately that financial situation couldn't be supported anymore: if something is not affordable anymore, if the passive is way too much, then what do you think that anyone will do?

This has been a very suffered decision, and you know that has been delayed at the maximum possible extent looking for solutions, but nobody came up with anythig and Lá Nua still doesn't sell, so in fairness for the sake of the the taxpayers' money (so all of us) that suffered decision has been made.

Isn't fair of you to suggest different reasons (vengeance?) behind this decision. We care a lot about the First National Language ad we do all in our power and possibilities to promote it... still... we don't have the government, so we cannot be held responsible for the way the Language is treated. Keep hoping: Tiocfaidh ár lá!

[Parnella]

MODERATORS. Can this be moved as appropriate, either to Northern Ireland or is there a Sinn Fein bashing forum?

[pino]

MODERATORS. Can this be moved as appropriate, either to Northern Ireland or is there a Sinn Fein bashing forum?

What a droll joke

[LiamORaiste]

I used to work with Lá Nua - don't anymore since last March.

As for the young SFer who thinks the party is doing its bit to help the language and to suggest it's unfair of me to claim the move to closure is a vendetta due to Lá Nua, when I was its editor, standing up to SF and exposing its lack of action on the Irish language, tough. SF is all gong and no dinner about its concern for the Irish language....

[LiamORaiste]

And you can stuff your 'tiocfaidh ár Lá' to the highest rafters of your nether regions.... If that 'certain day' will come, it won't be due to SF, the way its going.

[JCSkinner]

I used to work with Lá Nua - don't anymore since last March.

As for the young SFer who thinks the party is doing its bit to help the language and to suggest it's unfair of me to claim the move to closure is a vendetta due to Lá Nua, when I was its editor, standing up to SF and exposing its lack of action on the Irish language, tough. SF is all gong and no dinner about its concern for the Irish language....

You and the Andytown news boys are late arrivals at dinner, but you're welcome to a plate all the same.
The SDLP have been pointing out Shinner vindictiveness towards those who cross them for a long time now, in addition to being their favourite targets for such (see recent PSF spat over the SDLP gaining the policing ministry).
Once you guys got slapped down by Gerry for having the audacity to criticise the beardy one, you were always going to be 'put beyond use' by PSF.

[pino]

And you can stuff your 'tiocfaidh ár Lá' to the highest rafters of your nether regions.... If that 'certain day' will come, it won't be due to SF, the way its going.

Liam, I do appreciate your vast dialectic, I really do. That shows the deepness of your talents as an editor. I have to thank you for the “young” attribute, but I’m 49.

But you are right about SF not doing a lot about the Language, but I’ve also learned that Irishmen and Irishwomen on the isle would be quite happy to get rid of it in the schools too, so I learned to appreciate the current SF’s efforts.

I can tell you this straight because I’m not Irish, I’m Italian. When I first landed on the isle with my family I was sure to learn the Irish Language in a blink (I already manage 4 live languages and 3 ancient) but I had a very bad feedback from the Irish people.

Enrolling my children in the Irish education all the principals make a lot of efforts to convince me to opt-out from Gaeilge for my children. It was stunning. Obviously I enrolled them with Gaeilge and now (4 years and an half after our arrival) they are in the high level (honours), still I don’t understand why they are unable to speak the Language. The teachers tell me that Irish is not a subject studied to be actually used in real life. What about me? Still today I haven’t found any decent course of Gaeilge. I’ve been in one (promoted by the cumann and hold by Conradh na Gaeilge, Gaillimh), but that has been the most useless experience of my life: to pay to memorize phrases? I’m able to do that without any help! So now I’m learning by myself, using the Irish grammar Book (le Nollaig Mac Congáil) and some CD, but I can’t speak the language because I have nobody around to use it, so I have to accept the fact that, living in Ireland, I have to learn Irish as if it’s one of the ancient languages, read it, write it, don’t use it.

The only people I met in Ireland that show some level of interest in the Language are the SF comrades met when I decided to join the party. So Liam… I understand your anger, but it’s addressed to the wrong people. SF (in my knowledge of Italian Irish resident) is the only Irish party that is positively acting to promote the Language. I’ve learned this in the everyday’s life, and my point of view is not blinded by historical reasons because I’m here since less than 5 years, so I can witness only what I’ve seen and experienced on my own skin. That’s it my friend.

Thanks again for the wonderful and constructive dialectic exchange.