In May 1973, when launching his bid to become president of Ireland, former Fianna Fáil minister Erskine Childers was asked about his ability to speak Irish.
Childers replied that he did not speak the language, “but that if he needed the assistance of people to advise him on linguistic affairs, he would seek their advice”.
This was a curious “othering” of the Irish language by a candidate seeking to become head of a state where, according to the Constitution, “Ós í an Ghaeilge an teanga náisiúnta is í an phríomhtheanga oifigiúil” (“The Irish language as the national language is the first official language”).
This is followed by the assertion in the Constitution that “Glactar leis an Sacs-Bhéarla mar theanga oifigiúil eile” (“The English language is recogni
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