Plea for Gaelic Tongue

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 26, 23 October 1937, Page 18

Plea for Gaelic Tongue

EDINBURGH* An appeal to the people of Scotland to imita'te the Irish Eree State in keeping the Gaelic language alive was made at the opening meetiug of the Celtic Congress here when xepresentative delegates from "the six Celtic nations" — Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany — met at Edinburgh University. More than 300 delegates attended and the Earl of Cassillis, president of the congress, was in the chair. He referred to the fear that Gaelic might be lost in Scotland but tbought tbe economic development of the Highlands might prevent its disappearance. Gaelic is being taught, he declared, ir more than 300 schools in t]xe Highland and more than 10,000 persons in Scotknd are studying it. • It was Professor Cormae Caidlaigh, of University College, Dublin, who made the impassioned appeal to Scotland to follow the Irish Free State 's example in trying to revive their language. Outlining efforts made by the Dublin Government, he said, "I want the people of Scotland to know tha't we are not ashamed in Ireland of what we are doing for our language. We are proud of it and we want you people in Scotland to emulate us." A Seottish speaker. replied that Scottish Gaelic is one of the "linguistie wonders of the world." It has thrived, he said, despite the successive Governments since the time of Malcolm Oanmore and at the present day it is a robust thing. Not until 1918 was Gaelic allowed a small share in the eurriculum of the schools. The innovation, the speaker stated, has amply justified the efforts of these Gaels who had worked so hard for it.