Ar chuala sibh an scéal? They say that Breandán Ó Caollaí, Ireland's Vice Consul in New York, is going to speak at the Daltaí weekend in Jamison, PA. He and his whole family are Irish speakers. I wonder if he realizes that the daltaí in the States aren't quite as bookish as the Gaeilgeoirí in B.A.C. If he's of a mind to have a good time he should really enjoy the down-home experience. I also hear that as a special reward to the loyal Gaeilgeoirí in America everyone at the weekend will get a surprise, all expenses paid trip to the Gaeltact next Summer - courtesy of Rialtas na h-Éireann! Now won't that be grand? But keep it under your hat for now. Don't want to spoil the surprise for Breandán after all.

I ndáiríre, beidh sé go breá oifigeach mór a fheiceáil i measc na Gaeilgeoirí anseo i Meiriceá. Ó neart go neart....

Turas go hÉireann saor in aisce? Mo thóin!

Hope you all have fun at the Daltaí convention, but lets not forget that we Gaeilgeoirí abroad need all the official recognition we can get from the representatives of the Irish govt.

Whatever their failings and those of previous governments, and there are many, the present lot seem at least to have turned a few things around with concrete improvements in the status of the language, legally as well as financially. We should look to the future now. The status of our language has still to be secured in Northern Ireland and the authorities on both sides of the border and in Britain must hear us in unity with Gaeilgeoirí everywhere, 'bookish' or not.

I hope Breandán Ó Caollaí and his family get a generous welcome and have a lot of fun and that he is suitably impressed by the strength and determination of the language movement in America.

Seanfhear