quote:

Perhaps one of the strangest experiences I've had recently was on a business trip to Japan. I am proud of my Irishness and I do speak Irish Gaelic, as does my business colleague.

During our meeting we were with several Japanese businessmen, who employed an English translator to help with negotiations. During a quick break, one of the Japanese businessmen overheard my colleague and me speaking to each other in Irish Gaelic. This man's English was not that good. But I was amazed to find that he was very fluent in, of all things, Irish Gaelic. He was absolutely thrilled that he found some native speakers of the language, and we had such fun talking to each other in Gaelic.