Bishop’s ‘deep sadness’ over Irish language grave epitaph

A DECISION to ban an Irish epitaph on a woman’s headstone due to political ‘passions’ has received widespread criticism.

The Church of England said the ruling, which prevented the family of 73-year-old Margaret Keane from inscribing the words ‘In ár gcroíthe go deo’, translating to ‘in our hearts forever’, did not ‘reflect’ their national policy.

The chancellor of the Consistory Court in the Diocese of Coventry, Stephen Eyre QC, ruled that the Gaelic phrase ‘must be accompanied by a translation’.

Since the ruling, the Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth said: ‘I rejoice in the life of this great city with all its linguistic, ethnic, religious and racial richness.

‘And I rejoice in the Irish community of Coventry, in all its forms, and for the life that has flowed into the city through its people and which continues to flourish today. I am deeply saddened whenever people’s identity is hurt or offended.’

The judgment has provoked outrage, with comedian Dara Ó Briain describing it as ‘deeply stupid’.

He said on Twitter: ‘The judgment is that an imaginary person, at some time in the future, might see ‘You live on in our Hearts’, written in Irish, not understand it, but just presume it must be political, since it’s Irish and then... what?... feel uncomfortable? Unsettled?

‘So the family don’t get to give the tribute they want to their beloved mother because we apparently have to protect the feelings of some imaginary idiot in the future who can’t imagine the Irish language can carry any human emotions other than “Tiocfaidh ar lá”.

‘Even outside the plain anti-Irish ignorance of that; it’s also ruling by the logic of “Well, crime, is down, but the fear of crime is up!” which ignores reality for the imagined fears of the small-minded. Deeply stupid.’

Mrs Keane’s family have launched an appeal against the decision.