Polls show majority support Irish as a core subject

I WAS very taken aback at your intolerant editorial (October 17) in which you betray your true attitude to Irish as a language ‘force-fed’ at school and then you err in fact by stating that each successive census has shown a fall in the number of people describing themselves as competent in Irish.

Both assertions are incorrect. A majority of people, when polled, support Irish being a core subject from infant classes to Leaving Cert level, such support being strongest among the 18-25 age group.

Without doubt, the teaching methods need to be addressed and modernised as a matter of absolute priority and Conradh na Gaeilge is in the vanguard of the campaign for such reform.