Demand for a new handbook aimed at parents who are rearing their children through Irish has seriously outstripped supply. One thousand copies of Speaking Irish at Home, sold out within three weeks of publication earlier this summer. Orders for more have been taken all summer and a further 3,000 have just been distributed to outlets around the country. Plans are now in the pipeline to produce further copies.

Written by MβirΘad N∅ ChinnΘide, the bilingual handbook is published by Comhluadar, which is the support organization for Irish speaking families. The funny illustrations accompanying the text are by Flann ╙ Riain.

Speaking Irish at home or Ag t≤gβil clainne le Gaeilge was launched by Mary Coughlan, the Minister for State in the Department of Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, in June. Speaking in Irish, she said it is perfectly natural that parents should raise their families in the language spoken on this island for at least 2,000 years. "Is gβ a athint βfach gur rud casta Θ shealbh· teanga, go hβirithe nuair is teanga ∅ nach bhfuil β h·sβid go forleathan i measc an phobail," a d·irt s∅.

"It is imperative that information, encouragement and advice should be available to parents who choose Irish as the principal language in the home," she said.

The guide for parents is in two halves - one in English, the other in Irish. It includes sections on language development, the advantages of bilingualism and the pros and cons of gaelscoileanna over ordinary national schools.

For more information contact Comhluadar (tel: (01) 288 5894; e-mail comhluadar@eircom.net).