🚀 go-pugleaf

Sure and wouldn't it be nice to have a bit of the Gaelic on you when you
go to Ireland? But don't feel like you have know even any at all, at all.
The people who would most likely to carry on conversations in Gaelic are
either quite sophisticated (they went out of their way to learn the lan-
guage) or quite unsophisticated (they couldn't help learning it, being
peasants and all). So unless you go out of your way and cultivate an ac-
quaintance with some of these people, you'll get along just fine in Eng-
lish. That business about Gaelic being the official language may still
be practically maintained in matters like currency, stamps, and road
signs, but there's no chance of Gaelic becoming lingua franca among even
a sizeable minority of the Irish.

All of the above is not meant to denigrate Irish (which is what the Irish
call their Gaelic - at least that's the English for what they call it).
At times I think it would be great gas to live in Dingle with a native
speaker and learn Irish because I had to. The trouble with trying to learn
it before you go there is that you'd have to pick a dialect to learn
from four quite distinct ones. And getting the right pronunciation is im-
possible from a book. On the other hand, with a bit of book-learning, you
could read Flann O'Brien or Seamus Mac Grianna, which would make the ef-
fort worthwhile.

So ... pick up as much as you're inclined to, but don't feel like you'll
need it to get along. (Of course, when you're whizzing down the road try-
ing to find Galway and all the road signs are trying to direct you to 
some place called Gaillimh ...)

John Respess
respess@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU

> 
> So ... pick up as much as you're inclined to, but don't feel like you'll
> need it to get along. (Of course, when you're whizzing down the road try-
> ing to find Galway and all the road signs are trying to direct you to 
> some place called Gaillimh ...)
> 
> John Respess
> respess@ngp.UTEXAS.EDU

And another surprise to those too poor to rent autos: the buses all have
their destinations in Gaelic! Best to photocopy a list of the Gaelic names
for major towns with English equivalents before you go.

In reply to jody@inuxd.UUCP, respess@ut-ngp.UUCP


   The Irish Language ( Gaeilge ) IS alive and well and spoken by a small
   but vocal minority of the people of Ireland ( in all 32 Counties ! ) 
   and not just by the "peasants" and "sophisticates" alluded to by John
   Respess. It is the native tongue of many in the West ( principally
   Galway ), South ( Cork & Kerry ) and North ( Donegal ) and most of
   the population have at least a smattering of the language. 
   
   The supression of the language before the foundation of the "Free State"
   has been somewhat reversed by positive efforts on behalf of the country's
   government eg.

      o  Irish is the country's "first language" with all official documents,
	 signposts etc. being produced in both languages. It is however
	 an unfortunate reflection on the country's history that most
	 official meetings of legal and governmental bodies are held in 
	 English.
   
      o  It is a compulsary curriculum subject in most schools in the 
	 Republic of Ireland. 

      o  Native speakers have their own radio station ( Radio na nGaeltachta )
	 and programmes on the national television & radio network, RTE 
	 ( Radio Telefis Eireann ). 
	 
      o  The country's Industrial Development Authority encourages investment 
	 in these Gaeltacht areas. 

      etc. 

   Learning some of the language before comming to the Ireland is by no means
   essential, but it is useful for a complete appreciation of our culture.
   
   We look forward to seeing you - Cead Mile Failte !!



Seosamh Mac Cuinneagain.

-- 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<joe@tcom.stc.co.uk>
	{aivru,creed,datlog,iclbra,iclkid,idec,inset,root44,stl,ukc}!stc!joe

STC Roots Rockers, Nucleus Division - iRMX 86 (*)  Experts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- The views expressed in this mail are personal and are in no way the views of,
  or influenced by STC Telecommunications Ltd.

* iRMX is a trademark of the Intel Corporation.