Splitting Irish course would help language

The recent exchanges in your paper about the possibility of making Irish optional for the Leaving Certificate raise many serious questions about the point and purpose of it being compulsory.

I love the language and continue to read it and use it on those very rare occasions where this is possible.

My love of Irish was generated by the exciting and interesting way it was taught at my first school. We spoke Irish on the playground with great enthusiasm. American tourists would attempt to listen to us. Occasionally they would invite us to the school boundary so that they could hear us speak.