Irish Language and Sinn Fein

[Tiernanator]

I think the heartening thing about the Irish language activism in the north is that it isn't just the usual suspects. Many SDLP supporters and others are involved in the campaign. I am not in any way against the "ullans" dialect. I think if people want to speak it or promote it good on them. However to equate this dialect of english with a language like Gaelige is laughable. However I have no problem with parity and funding of both Gaelige and Ullans.

I think that the settlement of the issue of the OO marches will be the key to getting support for the Irish language from the DUP and other unionists. It is laughable that some of the OO banners have some Gaelic on them.

I also think that the selling of the language in Ulster as Ulster Irish might also make it potentially less inflammatory. Maybe getting the Scottish Gaelic speakers over as a means of informing and changing minds on the issue. I just hope it doesn't become a political football as it is too important.

The best thing us Shinners could do is keeping speaking and learning and stay in the background. This is a fight that others need to lead.

[drbob1972]

I think the heartening thing about the Irish language activism in the north is that it isn't just the usual suspects. Many SDLP supporters and others are involved in the campaign. I am not in any way against the "ullans" dialect. I think if people want to speak it or promote it good on them. However to equate this dialect of english with a language like Gaelige is laughable. However I have no problem with parity and funding of both Gaelige and Ullans.

I think that the settlement of the issue of the OO marches will be the key to getting support for the Irish language from the DUP and other unionists. It is laughable that some of the OO banners have some Gaelic on them.

I also think that the selling of the language in Ulster as Ulster Irish might also make it potentially less inflammatory. Maybe getting the Scottish Gaelic speakers over as a means of informing and changing minds on the issue. I just hope it doesn't become a political football as it is too important.

The best thing us Shinners could do is keeping speaking and learning and stay in the background. This is a fight that others need to lead.

very wise depoliticise it as much as possible that way perhaps the DUP won't reject it on principal

[Outside_The_Line]

Why should people accommodate the bigotry of Ulster Unionists?

[Tiernanator]

It is not giving into bigotry just trying to show them it is as every much their language as the English language. So for me it is not a question of giving into bigotry. I wouldn't, I would debate and challenge them every time they say something racist against Irish and Ireland.

However if softening the issue by showing them that their is a Ulster dialect of Gaelige would help then I don't see why not to be honest. Confrontation with them has not really helped us that much. I am not saying we should not confront them when it is needed but also we should not get into confrontation just for the sake of it.

I would not give into bigotry and if the OO try to force their way down Garvaghy Rd this year then naturally I would be on the side of the nationalist community. However if there was an agreement by the nationalists to allow the march then I have no problem with it.

I think they look a bit daft anyway. So does everyone else who has ever personally witnessed an OO parade. My Catholic ma used to take the piss out of my protestant da for marching on them. Funny thing is his and my surname was more Gaelic than most of her own relative's surnames.

[raff]

It is quite ridiculous to give much if any credence to Ulster Scots. This 'language' is no more a language than the ramblings of a cork man after several draughts of his favourite bevy!

Again we see the hat doffers and toadies trying to 'reach out to the Unionist people by giving legitimacy to their English dialect (which lets face it is not too difficult for most to decipher without any learning o' the language, while at the same time they organise an active program against Irish. Our language should not be something we bargain and barter with; it is our language – sin é!

I am not politicising the whole language debate, I am putting it in common sense terms; Irish is a language Ulster Scots isn't.

[Jim236]

I think yesterday's comment by Ian Paisley, though it may have been meant as a joke?, shows the DUP's stance on the Irish language. When a Sinn Féin MLA asked his question as Gaeilge as well in English, Ian Paisley responded by saying "how can I answer a question when I don't understand what it is?", which got the whole DUP and UUP camp cheering him on, but with that kind of an attitude to the language, its obvious they have no intention of supporting it's growth in the North.

[LowIQ]

I think the heartening thing about the Irish language activism in the north is that it isn't just the usual suspects. Many SDLP supporters and others are involved in the campaign. I am not in any way against the "ullans" dialect. I think if people want to speak it or promote it good on them. However to equate this dialect of english with a language like Gaelige is laughable. However I have no problem with parity and funding of both Gaelige and Ullans.

I think that the settlement of the issue of the OO marches will be the key to getting support for the Irish language from the DUP and other unionists. It is laughable that some of the OO banners have some Gaelic on them.

I also think that the selling of the language in Ulster as Ulster Irish might also make it potentially less inflammatory. Maybe getting the Scottish Gaelic speakers over as a means of informing and changing minds on the issue. I just hope it doesn't become a political football as it is too important.

The best thing us Shinners could do is keeping speaking and learning and stay in the background. This is a fight that others need to lead.

very wise depoliticise it as much as possible that way perhaps the DUP won't reject it on principal

They'll reject it regardless.

[fergalr]

Good to see the march of tolerance is alive and well in the North. So much hate...