Grá goes a long way but we need skills too

I READ with interest Niall Murray’s article on the Irish language (Irish Examiner February 23). Only 30% of Leaving Certificate students opt for higher level Irish - 30,000 took ordinary level last year and over 5% failed.

I agree with Eamon Ó Cuiv regarding a shortage of Irish teachers competent in the language, especially in senior second level classes. It was my teacher’s líofacht and true grá for the focail Ghaeilge that made me use and love Irish from the 60s right through today.

I would hope that teachers of Irish in secondary schools would have first-class honours arts degree in our language - I have found that students with such academic achievement have the oral and written skills as well as a qualified grá-mo-chroí for the regular use of canúint aoibhinn na Gaeilge.