Sir, - In her letter of March 11th, Maebh Ni Chathain of Bord na Gaeilge attempts to refute Kevin Myers's point that coercion is used to promote the Irish language, by saying that nearly two thirds of those asked in a survey supported the language. This level of support does not mean that coercion is not used.
As a student studying for my Leaving Certificate, I was forced to study Irish in order to pursue a mathematics and computer science degree at UCC. Such restrictive entry requirements to third level education and employment in the public service fire a very effective form of coercion.
In response to the survey mentioned, 65 per cent responded that the Irish language was a vital part of our culture and every reasonable step should be taken to ensure that it remained a language of everyday use. I wonder what level of support for the language there would be if the impact of those "reasonable steps" on the tax bills of those questioned was revealed as part of the survey.
Finally, if, as Ms Ni Chathain implies at the end of her letter, the language is in such a state of good health, why does she write in English, merely topping and tailing with the token greeting and salutation in the language which she claims is so widely used and understood? - Mise le meas!
Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.