Children have right to learn through Irish

YOUR editorial, (October 17), calls for the secondary schoolchildren of the Kerry Gaeltacht to be educated through the medium of English.

Do these Gaeltacht children not enjoy the right to an education through their mother tongue — Irish — in the same way as children born, say, in north Cork have the right to be educated through their mother tongue — English?

Does this threatened Gaeltacht community not deserve every possible support it needs in order to thrive as a treasured linguistic community?

Is this not a national policy? The Irish Examiner, apparently, believes not.

Non-speakers of Irish who choose to settle in Gaeltacht communities are not by their nature hostile to the local language. Many have a keen interest in it and acquire it to varying degrees.

These are exciting linguistic times in Ireland.

From the Galway Gaeltacht I wish to offer my support to the parents of Corcha Dhuibhne in their efforts to provide quality education through Irish and in their great struggle to pass on their community language to the growing generation.

Molaim sibh.

Colm Ó Cinnseala

Na Forbacha

Conamara

Co na Gaillimhe