Madam, - Hugh McDowell (April 26th) should not infer from my comments of April 20th that I dislike the Irish language. Far from it. I am, however, suspicious of sacred cows which, having installed themselves, may not be dislodged, or even discussed.
He states that the National Anthem is sung in Irish. It was not, however, written in Irish. The translations came later. The promotion of Irish language and Gaelic culture seems to have created a sort of false memory syndrome, convincing us that we are all descended from the ancient High Kings and chieftains, with Irish as our birthright.
Those of us with our roots in Dublin, and other large cities, however, probably have the blood of many nations flowing in our veins. The notion of racial purity, while a powerful and compelling idea, is, at this stage in human evolution, a myth, and a dangerous one. Ireland is not Nazi Germany, of course, but the political correctness surrounding the Irish language is still capable of exerting subtle pressure on people, making them feel guilty because of their lack of proficiency (or interest) in it.
A language should not be used as a political or ideological tool, nor afforded a status, particularly in the area of recruitment, which does not reflect reality. Nor, as so often happens here with Welsh, should it be used to exclude people.
I do not believe that Irish is in any imminent danger of extinction. Its future, however, depends on what our children do with it when we are gone. Forcing it down their throats is not likely to render them kindly disposed towards it. - Yours, etc,
PAUL GRIFFIN, Fishguard, Wales.