mainoff.gif
lastdyoff.gif
lastwkoff.gif
treeoff.gif
searchoff.gif
helpoff.gif
contactoff.gif
creditsoff.gif
homeoff.gif


The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 2005- » 2005 (March-April) » Archive through April 03, 2005 » Primary sources on beginnings of Irish revival « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Antaine
Member
Username: Antaine

Post Number: 284
Registered: 10-2004


Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 05:40 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

I recently came into possession of a complete Encyclopædia Britannica, 13th edition. This consists of the text of the the legendary 1910, 11th edition reprinted without change, and several added volumes at the end to cover the period 1910-26.

It is in one of those added volumes that "Irish Language" first gets its own entry (it was not even part of the "Ireland" entry in the years before. Following is a passage consisting of the final two paragraphs of the single-column entry:

"Formerly many people might have been noticed, especially young men and women, wearing a gold ring on their dress in the streets of the bigger cities and towns. This was to show that they spoke Irish and wished to be addressed in that language. It was observed that many of these people came to a violent end, and the wearing of this ring was consequently to some extent discontinued. It is significan that after the formation of the Free State the wearing of this ring was largely resumed. For examinations held under the auspices of the civil service commission in the Irish Free State Irish was made an essential subject. Indeed, it seems certain that a knowledge of Irish will be in future years a necessity for all aspirants to Government posts and that no young man who does not know something about it will be looked upon as properly educated. From 1927-8 forward Irish is to be compulsory in all secondary schools.

"Finally, it may be said that whilst the reading, writing and speaking of the Irish language increased very much during this period [1910-1926*] in the towns, amongst the cultured classes in teh north-west, west and south, where it was naturally spoken, it did not fare so well; in many of these places barely holding its own against English.



*brackets mine

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Aonghus
Member
Username: Aonghus

Post Number: 1190
Registered: 08-2004


Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 02:56 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

quote:

It was observed that many of these people came to a violent end



And being the encylopedia Britannica, there is no hint of why, or at whose hands!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Antaine
Member
Username: Antaine

Post Number: 285
Registered: 10-2004


Posted on Sunday, March 27, 2005 - 03:37 pm:   Edit Post Print Post

true, but I was therefore surprised to see it mentioned at all, and given a hopeful prognosis to boot...



©Daltaí na Gaeilge