Mattie McGrath urges more support for the Irish language
Mattie McGrath spoke about the Irish language, quoting Paddy Piers and urging greater support for its revival. He described seeing young people and visitors learning Irish and called on committees and voluntary boards to do more.
Mattie McGrath opened by citing Paddy Piers with the line "a nation without its language is not a nation at all." He recalled that the language "was alive until 1957" and reflected on its cultural importance.
He recounted seeing people on the street singing and reciting in Gaelic and noted that "young people like that, from abroad, they can learn the Irish easier than they can learn the English." The anecdote underlined his argument for supporting language learning.
He urged the committee to allow more questioning and speaking time, referring to "this great committee of reform" and saying many try to deny speaking time. He argued that together the committee and others "can do what we can" to support the language.
He saluted the Nienwere, the Montauri and voluntary boards and committees who have supported them, praising their contributions. He said more support is needed, mentioning a "lawn bunskull" and the need for "more manskulls" to continue education, and closed by urging continued action and support.
Opening and quote
Mattie McGrath opened by citing Paddy Piers with the line "a nation without its language is not a nation at all." He recalled that the language "was alive until 1957" and reflected on its cultural importance.
Observation of learners and youth
He recounted seeing people on the street singing and reciting in Gaelic and noted that "young people like that, from abroad, they can learn the Irish easier than they can learn the English." The anecdote underlined his argument for supporting language learning.
Calls for committee action and support
He urged the committee to allow more questioning and speaking time, referring to "this great committee of reform" and saying many try to deny speaking time. He argued that together the committee and others "can do what we can" to support the language.
Tribute to volunteers and institutions
He saluted the Nienwere, the Montauri and voluntary boards and committees who have supported them, praising their contributions. He said more support is needed, mentioning a "lawn bunskull" and the need for "more manskulls" to continue education, and closed by urging continued action and support.
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Transcript
Paddy McGrath. Good morning. Good. I, too, quote Paddy Piers, a nation without its language is not a nation at all. And, again, when I was young, I was going to go on to a couple of years ago. I was going to go on to a couple of years ago. I was going to go on to a couple of years ago. I was going to go on to a couple of years ago. It was alive until 1957. And indeed, I was going to go on to a couple of years at the time. But it was a dream to be here. It's flourishing. The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The The the the. and it's amazing. I saw him on the street one day and they all took a tear foot and down and singing and reciting as Gaelic. And the young people like that, from abroad, they can learn the Irish easier than they can learn the English. And that struck me. So we need to do more. All of us need to do more. You saw him on the show. We talked earlier on, Stephen, and she's adamant that we should have some questioning here. And I agree. So maybe the committee, this great committee of reform, many people try to deny our speaking time. Maybe we should allow to do more. Together we can do what we can. But I salute all the Nienwere, I salute all the Montauri and I salute voluntary boards and committees who have supported these Nienwere and supported them. And we need more. We have a lawn bunskull but we need more manskulls as well to continue your education. So I'll turn on over the day of the week. Thank you.