‘Really important’, ‘representative of Irish culture’ – so declared young voters of President-elect Catherine Connolly’s use of and support for the Irish language. If one fact stood out in the presidential election, it was that voters in their twenties have a deep interest in Irish-language culture. Their new vision of what Irish is, a language that is alive on the streets – destroys the stereotype of it being ‘shoved down our throats’.
It’s a far cry from the days when poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill was told by her mother that writing in Irish was ‘mad’; or had a man sneeringly ask her ‘oh, is there a word for sex in Irish?’ at a reception in the American embassy. At times, she felt that she was seen as a ‘linguistic spectre’.
But all is changed, utterly changed. Kneecap perform in Irish to huge audiences. There is an upsurge in people not only learning Irish, but learning traditional storytelling and singing in Irish.
Continue Reading on The Irish Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.