Dilemma for Irish Language

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

Dilemma for Irish Language

DUBLIN.—WhiIe there is no doubt that the Irish language is being used more than in the Free State, there is at the same time abundant evidence that the Government policy of regulating its expansion is encountering many obstacles in the forms of apathy and open hostility. The press has recently given considerable publicity to criticisms of the Government’s policy and has indulged in editorial warfare on the subject. The establishment of Irish as the national language was laid down in tlio Free State Constitution of 1922 aud has been made effective since 1929 by legislative enactments under William T. (Jorgrave, leader of the United Ireland parly, and Eamon de Valera, who succeeded to power in 1932. As a result, Irish must now be taught in all Government-controlled schools, and anyone who wishes to qualify for public office or for a post in ihe army must have a speaking know ledge of the language. Written and Oral Tests . Civil Service examinations eontaiu I written and oral tests on Irish. In addition to such decrees, every possible encouragement is given toward fostering the language, particularly in the schools, by awarding extra marks for proficiency in the subject; and teachers who use Irish as their medium for teaching other subjects receive salary bonuses. Last summer 370 children made a prolonged visit to Connemara, a section of the Gaeltacht, or Irish-speaking area of the country, in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of the dialect aud its everyday use. Bilingual Street Signs. Although Irish is rarely heard spoken in the streets of Dublin, nearly all thestreet signs are bilingual; public meetings are frequently introduced by a few Irish phrase, und in the Dail Firearm (legislature) bills are occasionally announced in Irish. But there are numerous indications that all is not going well. Mr de Valera recently spoke rather pessimistically about the progress of the language, saying that the Government had done its best aud that it was up to the public to shako off its apathy. Conflict of Dialects. A professor at National University publicly proclaimed that the standard of educatiou was being lowered by the attempted enforcement of Irish, aud a Dublin headmaster announced his inability and unwillingness to use Irish