The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
The unifying power of the Irish language
THE power of the Irish language to unite the community was the message at the launch of Plean Teanga Chorca Dhuibhne in Dingle on Saturday.
John Prendergast, co-ordinator of An Plean Teanga, led those assembled around the Food Festival stage in Strand Street in a chant of ‘Gaeilge Labhartha, Pobal Nascatha’ ((Irish spoken, community connected) before he handed over to Raidió na Gaeltachta broadcaster Sinéad Ní hUallacháin to perform the launch. The aim of the plan is to increase the number of people who speak Irish daily as well as to support families who wish to raise their children with Irish as their first language and to provide more opportunities for people to speak Irish.
John said there are approximately 7,000 people living in Corca Dhuibhne, of whom 5,000 can speak some Irish and 3,000 speak Irish every day.
“If you have no Irish this plan is for you, If you can count to 10 in Irish this plan is for you, más rud é gur rugadh agus tógadh le Ghaelainn thú, is cinnte go mbaineann an plean seo leat,” he said.
At the launch, Sinéad praised the approach taken in this plan which aims to work closely with the community and to support the use of the language in people’s daily lives in West Kerry, mentioning previous plans which were developed by consultants and experts.
Sinead also mentioned the importance of arresting the decline in the language “cosc a chur le meath an teanga” and gave great credit to the organisations who supported her as a young Irish speaker with particular praise reserved for Annóg - Amharclann na nÓg established and run by Áine Moynihan.
The full plan is available for download at www.tobardhuibhne.ie. For futher information on the plan and their initiatives contact John Prendergast or Cristín de Mórdha at pleanteanga@cfcd.ie or 066-9156100.