Doubtless these kids have been indoctrinated with the “you are not Irish unless you speak Gaelic” nonsense that permeates our education system. What an abuse of power by the state and a complete waste of an opportunity to equip our kids for the future.

Ha! Gaelic you say. Who says that? Is that you Ivan the Caveman?

Why not call the language by its proper name? The same language is spoken in parts of Scotland. But that doesn’t fit with the all Irish are Gaels agenda.

It’s actually a form of Gaelic challenge Scottish Irish, or Gaeilge na halban, Irish as a language is called Gaeilge!

Called*

Ignore Eric. He’s a troll with only one friend on his facebook account. If it was his choice he would have all Irish speakers exterminated. He hates it when there’s state sponsored Irish language activities. He hates it when there’s privately sponsored voluntary Irish language activities. He also knows next to nothing about Irish history and certainly absolutely nothing about the Irish language. For a start, Gaelic is a group of languages, not a single language as he intimates. Scots Gaelic has different tenses, verbal and grammatical structures and vocabulary than Irish. It is as similar to Irish as French is to Spanish. We could agree, as long as he recognises that this comment is not in English, but in West Germanic, using his logic.

Eric the Gobdaw would be a better name for you.

Well said, Michael, – the language is part of what we are.

I have more of a problem with you thinking its a waste of money allowing the youth of this country express themselves, have a bit of fun and learn new things. I thought Neanderthals became extinct because they could not adapt socially but you have proven me wrong.

It’s not about language but the narrow minded view as seeing education (and childhood) as a means to an end rather than having an existance and value in their own right.

Ivan the terrible

@Denis
What about the narrow minded view that all Irish citizens must learn Gaelic? What’s wrong with parental choice? What’s wrong with providing kids an opportunity to learn Spanish or Chinese? Too much time is spent in Irish schools promulgating a tired and narrow minded agenda.

What’s stopping you from learning them now so? Stupidity?

@Heathen No if I had of learned any other language from aged 4, like the Dutch learning English, I would be proficient. There should be choice there. Of course the language is useful in parts of Ireland, but not where I grew up. Besides I don’t want to speak Irish, you seem to have a problem with that, assuming and all.

No but the people that come out and say I wish I could speak this and that and all they need to do is go to night school, join Internet learning sites, buy books. Many languages are taught in our schools now from Chinese to Spanish to Russian. People seem to be stuck in the old days with ould peig and they have no idea how progressive schools have become. Learning Irish gives a fantastic foundation for learning other languages. If anything French should be phased out!

Other languages give a good foundation for learning other languages.

Are you a pothead fokker?

You right Heathen but not my point. My point is why should a chinese heritage boy in Tallaght be forced to learn Irish? Most reasonable people would say he shouldn’t. By that reasoning why should a little girl from Dolphins barn have had Irish bet into her in 1979 when perhaps her parents might not have had the wherewithall to say no. Its Rubbish. We need choice in our primary schools. In fact we should demand choice. In fact if all schools in Ireland were Gaelscoil since the founding of the state, that would be more acceptable to me in a way, at least then there would have been that foundation you speak of.

Boom! I just shot the most ignorant, selfish and retrograde troll ever. I hope it has no off spring as they’ll be impeded for life.

For some the provision of drones to work for the benefit of multinational corporations should be the only aim of our educational system. Individuality and creativity must have no place in the Orwellian future that you see before us.

For some Gaelic and fair maidens dancing at the cross roads are the sole aim.

Because that’s all school should be about.