Despite claims, Irish is a marginal language

Further to Eoin Ó Riain’s response to my letter regarding the Irish language (Irish Examiner, July 26), I need to clarify some points.

First, I am not connected with any political party as his letter alludes.

Second, whether he likes it or not, Irish is a marginal language and is rarely spoken by the substantial majority of people on this island.

I also have great difficulty with his claim that banks generally deal with the public in Irish. Perhaps these institutions are predominately in Gaeltacht areas.

In addition, there are many shortcomings in the public service despite his contradiction. However, the point I was raising was in relation to recruitment, which I failed to make clear. The public and civil services have always been biased towards those who can speak some Irish in addition to English; discriminating against those who have not learned the language even at a primary level. Application forms still ask whether a candidate can speak it.

Mr Ryan lives close to a Gaeltacht area in Galway, where many people have been discriminated against in owning a public authority house because they can’t speak Irish well enough.

Regarding issues of birthright: the origins of Irish are rooted in an old Celtic Norse language, and is not necessarily an indigenous tongue of the Irish people.

Maurice Fitzgerald

Shanbally

Ringaskiddy

Co Cork