Hostility to Irish Language Undermines Unionism, Says Commissioner
Hostility towards the Irish language is not benefiting unionism, according to Stormont's Irish language commissioner, Pól Deeds.
Deeds stated that
"every word spoken against the Irish language"could be interpreted as
"another blow struck in the cause of Irish unification".
This comment follows a decision by the Irish language campaign group Conradh na Gaeilge to amend its constitution to
"work towards a united Ireland for the benefit of the Irish language".
Deeds noted that the move by Conradh na Gaeilge last month reflected some of the
"frustration that the Irish language community feel"in Northern Ireland.
However, he emphasized that this was
"not the way I'll go about my work", as his role is to
"promote the Irish language as a minority indigenous language of the UK".
He made these remarks while attending an event at Stormont's Parliament Buildings to mark Seachtain na Gaeilge, or Irish language week.
Deeds was appointed as Stormont's first Irish language commissioner in October last year. This was one of three positions established as part of a 2020 agreement to restore Northern Ireland's devolved government after a three-year suspension.
'Frustration of Irish Language Community'
In an interview with NI, Deeds highlighted that the recent vote by Conradh na Gaeilge was
"something that people should take note of", especially in the context of the
"frustration that the Irish language community feel".
He referred to delays in language legislation and a
"new influx of hostility"related to laws surrounding his appointment as commissioner.
Deeds warned that
"everything to, I suppose coin a phrase - every word spoken against the Irish language could be seen in one sense, as another blow struck in the cause of Irish unification".
He added,
"The more hostility that is generated around the Irish language, I don't think it's doing those who would be of a pro-union point of view any favours. And I think people really need to be conscious of that."
In February, Conradh na Gaeilge announced that its members had voted to amend its constitution
"to work towards a united Ireland for the benefit of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht".
Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, president of Conradh na Gaeilge, said at the time that the motions passed demonstrated the
"confidence and clarity of our membership".
Sinn Féin assembly member Aisling Reilly, a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, described the move as
"historic".
Event Hosted by Edwin Poots
Deeds, who is not affiliated with Conradh na Gaeilge, responded to the vote by saying,
"I understand some of the frustration there, but it's not the way I'll go about my work. And I would want to reassure people that what I'm here to do is to promote the Irish language as a minority indigenous language of the UK."
The event at Stormont was hosted by Stormont speaker Edwin Poots of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
He opened the gathering in the Great Hall by welcoming attendees with a few words in Irish.
Poots stated,
"This is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate a language and culture which is central to the identity of many in the assembly and indeed our wider society."
Among those present were Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Conradh na Gaeilge president Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin.
Disputes continue at Stormont and within local councils regarding policies on the Irish language, particularly concerning bilingual signage.
Plans by the infrastructure minister to allocate £150,000 for bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central Station are currently being challenged in the courts.
Just days before Deeds's appointment, Stormont's communities minister claimed that Irish had been used by some as a
"weapon of cultural dominance".
