http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/what-cromwell-couldnt-kill-we-will-12 34600.html

I usually ignore the Independent (since it isn't).

This article I came across via kinja and Daithí's blog

http://keltalingvoj.blogspot.com/2007/12/marc-coleman.html

quote:

With estuary English spreading across every suburb of the land, Ireland is now culturally no different from London than Yorkshire. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Belgium can raise their children to speak two languages perfectly. Why can't we?

The resentment of many against the Irish language is understandable but it is tragically unjust and wrong. So are the arguments used persistently against the language. Yes, learning Irish is a drag. But so is learning mathematics, French and English.

Cén bhaint sa deabhal atá ag “Estuary English” leis sin...

"Why can't we?"

Because there's no practical reason to go through the trouble, unlike the other countries mentioned above. That, and no one has yet to make a convincing case to the Irish people that doesn't involve tugging at romantic heartstrings most seem not to have.

...osna...

...agus tá Katy French an-tinn fosta...

Romanticism has little to do with the saving or otherwise of Irish in my opinion. The general population can't be expected to spontaneously begin to recover the use of Irish as an everyday language. They, like people everywhere are busy with everyday living and largely distracted by the allurements of the finely focussed commercial world which ignores when it doesn't actually resist any prospect of change in society that can't be made to generate profits right now.

It is a matter of leadership, but where does such a visionary leadership come from in a western democratic market-driven society? Surely only a fuzzily romantic nation of dreamers would even attempt such a fundamental change - shades of Padraig Pearse and Easter 1916 the realists would say.

But wait! The 'romantic' Germans were able to make the decision to incorporate East Germany into West Germany's robust economy despite the fact that it caused monetary problems for the Germans that are still being washed through their governmental and economic systems. People bitched about the huge costs involved, the disruptions in their standard of living, the up-rooting of their national capital and the consequent re-orientation of national life, but there was no serious movement against it. Of course the German people had 'form' when it came to getting down to a task. After two disastrous world wars they had done whatever was necessary to save their country and her priceless cultural heritage.

There was no 'lip service' paid to the question of re-unification although the politicians would have been in some fear for their mandate and their jobs should the amalgamation cause some unforseen social or economic disaster. The re-unification went through and glitches were met and solved because the German people are a proud people who were about to put an horrendous 20th Century behind them. The nation's full rehabilitation in its own eyes as well as those of the world required that some sacrifice be made for the greater good.

Would making a decision that Ireland will be a fully bilingual nation by the middle of this century be so much more of a dream?

Seanfhear

"Cén bhaint sa deabhal atá ag “Estuary English” leis sin..."

Estuary English is like what my London cousins speak - sort of odd mix of bits of RP, cockney and working class English and varies a bit between working and middle classes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estuary_English

"Would making a decision that Ireland will be a fully bilingual nation by the middle of this century be so much more of a dream? "

Yes it would. Buy a big farm in the Americas and start a Gaeltact there. More likely to work. The day of Irish been spoken is over. Most of the debate about it is in English, and when in Irish is about why it is not an Irish speaking country. Anglo culture sets all the options, so it seems to me the discourse is rather set from the outset

"Buy a big farm in the Americas and start a Gaeltact there."

actually, if you remember... http://www.gaeltacht.ca/index_files/Page531.htm ...alright, it's not quite what you meant, but still...

as far as the German example, the generation that had last seen a united Germany had not died out - that makes a big difference. They were divided against their will, and saw reunification of the country as a return to what was "supposed to be"...would such a reunification have been possible if the country were divided for a full century or two?

The Irish people "willingly" gave up their language (albeit with an economic gun to their heads - hence the quotes), and the people being asked to speak it today, by and large, do not view it as returning their lives to better times, indeed they, their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents (and perhaps even farther back) were all monoglot english speakers.

It doesn't mean its impossible, just extraordinarily unlikely. If Ireland can even return self-sustaining stability to the language after how far it's dipped, they will be the first country in history (as far as I've been able to find) to have done so successfully. The only other possible contender for that title is Israel (from 0 speakers to a nation in two generations), but as has already been observed many times - there were other factors aiding success there which would not apply to the Irish situation.

It's a race against time...will the key be found before it's too late?

A Bhrn a dhuine uasail,

In all fairness i posted in English because the thread started by Aonghus was in that language. Ach is féidir leat an díospóireacht a leanúint ar aghaidh i nGaeilge más mian leat.

Dála Ghaeltachtaí nua, pé i gCeanada nó sna Stáit Aontaithe iad, nár léigh mé in áit éigin le déanaí go bhfuil feachtas ar siúl anois chun sráidbhaile nua a bhunú in Éirinn i nGaeltacht na Mí nó gar di, chomh maith? Is amhlaidh go bhfuil roinnt daoine fós ann nach aontaíonn leat.

Seanfhear.

Tá.

http://www.bailegaelach.com

Seanfhear, níor chuir mé éilím ort!

Gabh mo leathscéal a Bhrn, ach ní thuigim an focal sin " éilím " pé rud é, nár chuir tú orm. An féidir leat é a mhíniú dom led' thoil?

Seanfhear