15,000 petition against FG plan to end compulsory Irish

SOME 15,000 people have signed a petition opposing Fine Gael’s pledge to end compulsory Irish at Leaving Certificate if handed power.

The Union of Students in Ireland, which organised an estimated 250-strong march on the party’s headquarters, warned of a backlash by angry voters in the election.

Aodhan O’Dea, USI Irish language officer, claimed the plan would kill the language.