Thousands Red With Rage At The Governments Gather To Show Solidarity With Gaeltacht and Irish-Language Communities
Thousands of people will hit the streets of Dublin to show their love for the Irish language - and their anger at Governments north and south for failing to treat Irish-language and Gaeltacht communities fairly - at Lá Mór na Gaeilge, a celebration of and huge march for language rights, coordinated by Conradh na Gaeilge and starting at 2.00pm TOMORROW, Saturday, 15 February 2014, at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
The aim of Lá Mór na Gaeilge is to motivate the Irish-speaking community and those with a love for Irish to visibly celebrate the Irish language on the streets of Dublin, to take a stand for their language rights, and to show the Governments north and south just how much support the language enjoys among the general public.
Donnchadh Ó hAodha, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“The goal of Lá Mór na Gaeilge is to push the Governments to recognise and appreciate the importance and the value of the Irish language for this country, as well as acknowledging the fact that the majority of people on this island have a love for the language, and to this end the Lá Mór supporters want fairness and equality for Irish.”
Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“Gaeltacht and Irish-language communities north and south are not happy with either Government, as they are not supporting or providing legal protection for their basic human right to use their language. Communities across Ireland are coming together on 15 February 2014 and marching for their right to use the language north and south.”
There will be entertainment for all the families attending in the form of face painting and music from Seo Linn, Kíla and Na Fíréin, while people will be wearing red clothes and waving red flags, not only in wake of Saint Valentine's Day, but as a symbol that they are Dearg Le Fearg or Red With Rage at the lack of support for the language within the state systems this Saturday.
Buses with supporters of the Irish language from the four corners of Ireland will make their way to Dublin for Lá Mór na Gaeilge on 15 February 2014 from Strabane, Co. Tyrone; Armagh; Belfast; Barroughter / Downpatrick / Castlewellan, Co. Down; Cavan; Carntogher, Co. Derry; Clones, Co. Monaghan; Derry city; Dungannon, Co. Tyrone; Kildare; Ashbourne, Co. Meath; Cork; Dún Chaoin, Co. Kerry; Dundalk, Co. Louth; Maynooth, Co. Kildare; Conamara and Galway city; Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal; Ráth Chairn, Co. Meath; and Tipperary (*details of the buses below).
Lá Mór na Gaeilge is being organised following The Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement that he would be stepping down on 24 February 2014 as a result of the lack of support for the language rights of the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community from the Government in the south. The campaign for human rights gained momentum with the publication of a report by The Council of Europe on 16 January 2014 which noted that the growth and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland is being blocked by hostile attitudes in Stormont, and a lack of support for its use in the courts and in education.
When speaking before the Oireachtas Committees on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language, the Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin said:
“Despite the enormous goodwill of the vast majority of the people of this country, the language continues to drift further to the margins of society including within much of the public sector […].The choice I had was to stand aside from my appointment as Coimisinéir Teanga on principle to draw attention to these matters or to continue in my role and, consequently, to participate in a pretence.”
Based on the recommendations of An Coimisinéir Teanga and those voiced at public meetings across the country, here are the demands Conradh na Gaeilge agus the attendees of Lá Mór na Gaeilge are calling for to ensure language rights and equality for Irish:
- The Gaeltacht community must be guaranteed State service through Irish, without condition or question, by the end of 2016;
- State services must be made available in Irish to the Irish-speaking community at the same standard as they are provided in English;
- A comprehensive rights-based Irish-language act must be enacted in the north;
- The Official Languages Act 2003 must be strengthened in 2014;
- The derogation of the status of Irish as an official language of the European Union must not be renewed after 1 January 2017; and
- The Irish-language and Gaeltacht community must be recognised as stakeholders in the implementation of The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 in the south and in the Irish-Language Strategy in the north.
END
MORE INFORMATION:
Donnchadh Ó hAodha,
President, Conradh na Gaeilge
+353 (0)87 2421267 / +353 (0)1 4757401
Julian de Spáinn,
General Secretary, Conradh na Gaeilge
+353 (0)86 8142757 / +353 (0)1 4757401
NEWS RELEASE
Date: 11 February 2014
For immediate release
NOTES FOR THE EDITOR:
Conradh na Gaeilge Demands For Lá Mór na Gaeilge:
- A deadline must be set by which employees of the State dealing with the Gaeltacht community must have fluent Irish, without condition or question by the end of 2016 – native Irish speakers should not be forced to conduct their business in English with state agencies.
- The recruitment quota for people with competency in both Irish in the public service must be increased from 6% to 30% within the next 10 years – under the new system envisaged by the Government, it would take over 28 years to increase the percentage of staff with competence in Irish in the Department of Education and Skills from the current 1.5% to 3%.
- Eight years on from the British Government’s promise to legislate for the Irish language as part of the St. Andrew’s Agreement, a clear and agreed timetable for the enactment of a rights-based Irish-language Act needs to be published.
- The Official Languages Act 2003 must be strengthened, not weakened in 2014; this includes the retention and strengthening of an independent Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga.
- The derogation of the status of Irish as an official language of the European Union should be done away with after 1 January 2017.
- The Irish-language and Gaeltacht community must be recognised as stakeholders in the implementation of The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 – 2030 in the south and in the Irish-Language Strategy in the north. It is imperative that the crucial high-level structures between authorities and Irish-language community organisations is established immediately.
Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community working to promote the language. There are over 200 branches of Conradh na Gaeilge and since its foundation in 1893, members of the Conradh have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland and especially its use in their own areas. Conraitheoirí are at the forefront of campaigns to secure and strengthen the rights of the Irish language community. It is also possible to register as an individual member of the Conradh. Conradh na Gaeilge runs Irish courses in Dublin, Galway and other locations across the country. www.cnag.ie/courses
* Details of the buses travelling to Lá Mór na Gaeilge:
1. Strabane
Máirtín - 028 71883300 / 077 46985399 /
2. Armagh - 09.30 - Armagh City Hotel
Seán - 028 37515229 / 077 16354381 /
3. Belfast - 10.30 – From Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, 216 Falls Road
Feargal 028 90438597 -www.facebook.com/MisneachBhealFeirste?ref=ts&fref=ts
4. Barroughter / Downpatrick / Castlewellan
Caoimhe - 028 43768784 /
5. Carntogher
Joe - 028 7954 9978 -
6. Galway City - 10.00 - Galway Cathedral
Baba - 091 567824 / 087 2338481 /
7. Kildare - 12.45 - Naas
Séamus - 01 4751487 /
8. Ashbourne - 13.00 - Ashbourne Community School
Maedhbh / Anna - 01 4751487 /
9. Conamara - 08.45 – Muintearas Carpark, Tír an Fhia
Sorcha - 087 3382885 /
09.00 Halla Éinne, An Cheathrú Rua
09.15 Seanscoil Sailearna, Indreabhán
- Stops can be made at An Spidéal, Na Forbacha & in Bearna if necessary
10. Corca Dhuibhne - 07.30 – Garvey’s Supermarket, An Daingean (returning at 4.30pm)
Feargal - 066 9156305 / 087 4175282 -
11. Cork - 10:00 - Gael-Taca, Sullivan’s Quay
Helena - 021 431 0841 / 0863737047 /
12. Derry - 028 71264132 -
13. Dundalk - 12.15 - Glen Gat Guesthouse / Dundalk Grammar School
Tadhg - 086 8184952 /
14. Dungannon - Gaelscoil Aodha Ruadh, 97 Donaghmore Road, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone
Conall Eoghan Ó Máirtín - www.facebook.com/conall.omairtin
15. Gaoth Dobhair - 07.30 - Rann na Feirste (They will pick up anyone at Teach Pháidí Óig)
Máire - 087 6740673 /
07.45 Teach Phobail Dhoire Beaga
08.00 Teach Andaí Ward
08.10 Cros Uachtarach Glaise Chú
08.20 Gort an Choirce
08.30 An Fál Carrach
16. Monaghan - 10.45 - Diamond, Clones
086 3352220 /
17. Maynooth - 12.30 – National University of Ireland, Maynooth
Ian - 087 619 4932 /
18. Ráth Chairn - 11.30 - Áras Pobail Ráth Chairn
Pádraig - 087 2872364 /
19. Cavan - 10.00 - The Crystal Hotel
Pádraig Ó Cuinneagáin - Glór Bhréifnee/Craobh an Chabháin, Comhaltas Uladh de Chonradh na Gaeilge - 087 6401682 /
