Madam, – Kate Holmquist (December 9th) really should be careful about goading that most sacred of Sacred Irish Cows – the Irish language. She might have guessed that it would generate a storm of outrage.
It doesn’t matter that the whole ill-fated project, now ongoing for nearly a century, has little or nothing to show for it.
It doesn’t matter that it is accompanied by blatant discrimination (such as she describes), by specious reasoning, wishful thinking, brow-beating and a colossal waste of time and money.
Signs in Irish, a few words of genuflection as Gaeilge now and again; and of course “status” here and especially abroad, nearly all of us are quite satisfied with such empty gestures.
As for actually speaking the language, well heaven forbid! – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I write to express my disappointment regarding the inaccuracies in Kate Holmquist’s article on the compulsory study of Irish.
The suggestion that an exemption from studying Irish can be achieved solely by writing letters the wrong way round shows an incredible lack of knowledge of the criteria for gaining an Irish exemption, and of the nature of dyslexia.
Describing dyslexia as “an enviable bonus” is deeply offensive to families struggling with this condition, and describing it as a “special need” is inaccurate.
The flippant remarks expressed in this upsetting article show a lack of accurate research on the topics addressed.
A quick visit to the Dyslexia Association of Ireland website would have provided accurate background knowledge, and prevented the distress caused to families affected by this complex condition. – Yours, etc,