Has the Irish language a future?

So once again, election time approaches. Once again the Irish language is a hot topic for a few rural interest groups. Most Irish political party’s are of the opinion that the state should continue pumping millions into saving the language every year and that Irish should remain an obligatory part to our education system. As long as this is the case it keeps the likes of Foras na Gaeilge and Conradh na Gaeilge etc happy. However its clear that this strategy is failing. Irish is not spoken by the vast majority of citizens in this state. It’s a fact that highlights the sheer inaccuracy of our census system. (Any survey self-administered has to be taken with a pinch of salt) Furthermore, most students at second level hate Irish. Thousands every year don’t even turn up for the exam. Yet, it remains an obligatory exam. Naturally, we hear the same things time and again… moving the focus to spoken Irish, changing how it is thought etc etc. Someone change the bloody record! The Irish groups were singing that tune 15 years ago, yet no progress has been made. Even the so-called revolutionisation of the language by moving it to a spoken focus is failing. It’s now leading to a scenario that the standard of written is falling while the standard of spoken Irish is failing to improve. All the while, the taxpayer continues to spend millions every year “preserving” the language, when it quite clearly is dead if it even requires preservation.

Our strategy for our language is built by those who are blinded to reality. I invite anyone who claims that Irish is still among the nation to walk into any home and ask “Conas ata tu” I have tried it out, with a very low response rate. Aside from our Gealtachtaí and our schools, Irish is dead.

Personally, I have huge issues with Irish at second level. Why are we forcing thousands to study a subject they loathe. Why do we allow so much time to be given over to a subject that has no use after school and is no good to our economic future. Why is it in France, they are all studying the languages of their business neighbours, the languages that will provide huge benefit to the country going forward. Why are more and more industrialised states teaching Chinese at second level? Because these languages are vital to future trade. Not only are they vital, but failure to have a fluent population in them hinders a nation greatly. It’s a myth that the Irish are innovative, we haven’t an innovative bone in our bodies. But we are a nation that follows, even if slowly. We have legalised civil partnerships and allowed divorce even if it was 20 years after most developed nations. Well right now it’s time to make some tough decisions and be innovative. Otherwise, Ireland may find itself left behind in an ever-changing business world.

The argument that Irish must be retained as obligatory for senior cycle of second level is feeble to say the least. The simple reason put forward is that if it’s an option, no one will choose it and it will die out. However can one not see that if there’s a reason why people wont chose it then what does that tell you? For those people I also remind them that the language is already as good as dead. It wont take much more to kill it! However several facts are ignored when debating the merits of retaining or not retaining the subject to Leaving Certificate level. Every year, many students chose French, Spanish and German. They are not forced. Every year there are students who chose languages that are more historical than real like Latin. If made an option, certainly some will chose it, I have no doubt. My belief is that an option should be given to students. Require two foreign languages be learnt for Junior Certificate and then offer a choice between Irish and Spanish for example. The student can stick with their Irish or chose a language which will be of great benefit to the Irish economy.Many who argue in the defence of the Irish language also point out that is teaches students important lessons about our heritage, past and culture. I frankly care very little about this at all, you won’t be surprised to find that many share that view in our education system. A subject is offered if one has interest in this- History!

The final point that must be noted, generally comes from the hard left, who claim that a nation without a language is not a nation at all. If I was living in 1800-1930 I may have cared. Today, I find it irrelevant and meaningless. Rhetoric is not welcome at the last supper. Over the next few years massive decisions must be taken in relation to Irish and the future of the Irish economy. We are currently weak and we are getting weaker. We are losing vital, highly skilled jobs to other nations like Switzerland. (A more expensive place to do business) just because we can’t compete linguistically. Irish is a waste of money, time and effort. It’s well time the economy came first, at a time of record unemployment of graduates. Will it happen? I’ll be in a coffin before it see’s the light of day. Nothing new.