We need volunteer tutors to spread Irish

In response to Eilís Uí Bhriain’s letter, “We need to create spaces for speaking Irish” (Irish Examiner, Letters, May 6), I could not agree more.

As a member of a voluntary Irish-language group that has run a Friday drop-in centre for Irish for the past 22 years, as well as a ciorcal comhrá on Saturdays, in Dublin City centre, we are catering for some of that need. Some of our members have been running 100 maidineacha caifé (coffee mornings) all over Dublin City and county for the last few years, and are continually expanding. However, our plan is to eventually have a scheme of fluent ‘volunteer tutors’ who can pass on our native language to others, free of charge.

Unfortunately, the State does not assist voluntary Irish language activity; we have to rely on volunteers, as in so many aspects of Irish life.