The future of Irish - A daunting challenge

IF the future of Irish depends on making the subject mandatory — or more or less mandatory — for students then the language’s prospects are indeed perilous.

Irrespective of the subject this smacks of a culturalauthoritarianism not acceptable in 2011.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of Irish people are well disposed towards the language but that goodwill does not extend to using it on a daily basis.