A chara, - In reply to Kevin Myers's attack on the Irish language and Teilifis na Gaeilge (January 17th), I would like to voice my opinion as a sixth year schoolgirl. I am perhaps too young to understand exactly what he means when he calls our "national tongue" "the source of the greatest State driven hypocrisy in political life in this country" and "the golden calf of the political culture". What I do understand clearly is this: I love the Irish language and if I am given a chance in the future to defend, develop and encourage it, I shall embrace that chance.
TnaG provides me with a goal and offers me career opportunities - in the area of broadcasting and journalistm. I attended a lecture on journalism and communications in DIT recently. The language options in these courses are Irish and French because students achieve a good standard at secondary level Irish because it is proving to be increasingly useful in communications. Many other courses in business and computers are also realising the benefit of our native language. These ventures have no interest in "witless tokenism", but rather recognise the fact that a native language boosts national morale.
Kevin Myers asks why money spent on Irish is not spent on areas such as Killinarden in Tallaght, where there is an enormous drug problem. Could this: problem not be caused equally by lack of morale as by lack of money? The Irish language provides me with a sense of identity - and a strong belief in myself. TnaG provides me with an aspiration, a career opportunity and something to watch on a Saturday evening. So, the money is not totally "squandered". - Le gach dea-mhein.
Upper Churchtown Road,
Dublin 14.