Fine Gael conference on the Irish language

[sean1]

I got this email today. Will many of you's be going? Is the member of the UUP speaking in a personal capacity or for his party?

"The Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD, will host a half-day morning
conference in Dublin on Saturday, 11 March 2006 entitled: Irish in the 21st
Century: Athchruthaigh, Athbheoigh, Athnuaigh – Reform, Renew, Revive
Taking place in the Alexander Hotel the conference will be split into two
sessions: the Irish Language in Our Schools and the Irish Language in our
Society.
Open to all members, the general public and Irish language
interest groups the line-up will include guest speakers from educational
and political backgrounds, both national and international, as well as
speakers from the Fine Gael Party. The full programme is below and you can register by emailing damien.garvey@finegael.ie or, for further information, call Damien on 01 6184404.

IRISH IN THE 21st CENTURY
Athchruthaigh, Athbheoigh, Athnuaigh – Reform, Renew, Revive

The Alexander Hotel, Fenian Street, Dublin 2
Saturday, March 11th, 2006

9.30am Tea/Coffee

The Irish Language in Our Schools -
Present Challenges, Future Actions

10.00am Overview by Session Chairperson
Sorcha Nic Dhonnacha, Chairperson, Fine Gael Women's Group

Dr Kevin Williams
Mater Dei Institute

Tomas Ó'Ruairc
Foras Na Gaeilge

Enda Kenny, TD
Leader, Fine Gael

Questions and Answers

11.20am Tea/Coffee

The Irish Language in Our Society -
Different Perspectives, New Approaches

11.40am Overview by Session Chairperson
Dinny McGinley, TD
Fine Gael Spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


Meri Huws
Chair, Welsh Language Board

Chris McGimpsey
Ulster Unionist Party

Tomás Mac Eochagáin
Griffith College Dublin

Questions and Answers

1.15pm Closing Remarks
Enda Kenny TD

[smiffy]

I got this email today. Will many of you's be going and why is there a member of the UUP speaking at it?

Probably to give a Unionist perspective on the Irish language (which he speaks).

[Fiacc]

Smiffy:

Probably to give a Unionist perspective on the Irish language (which he speaks).

Precisely. Do you have a problem with unionists speaking the Irish language, Seán?

[sean1]

I got this email today. Will many of you's be going and why is there a member of the UUP speaking at it?

Probably to give a Unionist perspective on the Irish language (which he speaks).

I never knew he can speak Irish. Still, I think that they should, at least, have someone from the SDLP there as well.

I wasn't going to go as as the FG policy has already been made up, although no vote has been had on it. I still probably won't, but I'll think about it.

[sean1]

Smiffy:

Probably to give a Unionist perspective on the Irish language (which he speaks).

Precisely. Do you have a problem with unionists speaking the Irish language, Seán?

What do you think?

[smiffy]

I never knew he can speak Irish. Still, I think that they should, at least, have someone from the SDLP there as well.

Why the SDLP particularly? You seem to be assuming that McGimpsey is going to be there in his capacity as a member of the UUP, rather than as a Unionist Irish language enthusiast. It'd be wiser to see what he's going to talk about before deciding who else should be there.

Would you ditch the Welsh language guy to make room for the SDLP?

[sean1]

You seem to be assuming that McGimpsey is going to be there in his capacity as a member of the UUP, rather than as a Unionist Irish language enthusiast. It'd be wiser to see what he's going to talk about before deciding who else should be there.

Perhaps.

Would you ditch the Welsh language guy to make room for the SDLP?

No.

I just found this interesting link. I haven't read it though, but I will later. I brought the question of Unionists speaking Irish up on the site a couple of times. The only Unionists I knew who speak it were Eoghan Harris and Ian Malcolm. I knew there were more.

Its a pity the UUP are against bilingual signage in most (or maybe all) areas of the North, and have not responded to the copy they were sent of a draft Language Act for the North.

Of course all languages are open to everyone, and I would like to see as many people as possible speaking Irish.

http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/language/mccoy97.htm

[Fiacc]

I have no idea what you think, Seán, but if you are a devotee of the Irish language, as I am, you should be delighted that others are also supportive, especially if they are unionists. The Irish language belongs to all Irish people and to all those who are interested in it. The language movement has suffered because it has been identified exclusively with Irish nationalism (that was inevitable and I do not, of course, blame Irish nationalists for championing the language - what else is nationalism for?).

But when you question the right of an Irish unionist to speak Irish or to speak about it then you are identifying our language with one particular political philosophy and you cannot do that without killing the language that you love.

[Maximus]

"The Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD, will host a half-day morning
conference in Dublin on Saturday, 11 March 2006 entitled: Irish in the 21st
Century: Athchruthaigh, Athbheoigh, Athnuaigh – Reform, Renew, Revive
Taking place in the Alexander Hotel the conference will be split into two
sessions: the Irish Language in Our Schools and the Irish Language in our Society.

Sounds more like Hamlet without the Prince than a conference on the "Irish Language in Our Schools"…. Anyone care to comment on why the Fine Gael Frontbench Spokesperson on Education and Science Olwyn Enright TD couldn’t be arsed turning up?

[Zhirkov]

"The Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD, will host a half-day morning
conference in Dublin on Saturday, 11 March 2006 entitled: Irish in the 21st
Century: Athchruthaigh, Athbheoigh, Athnuaigh – Reform, Renew, Revive
Taking place in the Alexander Hotel the conference will be split into two
sessions: the Irish Language in Our Schools and the Irish Language in our Society.

Sounds more like Hamlet without the Prince than a conference on the "Irish Language in Our Schools"…. Anyone care to comment on why the Fine Gael Frontbench Spokesperson on Education and Science Olwyn Enright TD couldn’t be arsed turning up?

It's a circus Maximus