Flogging an capall marbh? - Promoting Irish in public service

THE Irish Language Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill’s disappointment with Government efforts to promote Irish across the public service may be justified, but it is unlikely his concern is shared by too many people. 

The reality is that official apathy does no more than reflect the widespread disinterest in the tokenism represented by the cúpla focal.

Despite almost a century of mandatory teaching — it would be wrong to call it learning — the position of the language is more precarious than ever. It is the first language of a tiny minority and it is sad but true to say that many who dedicated their lives to promoting it did more harm than good.