Sir, - Over many years in Northern Ireland, there was a strong prejudice against the preservation, use and development of the Irish language. Such opposition was by no means confined to members of the Protestant unionist community. Sadly, in those days, many people who expressed themselves in Irish were looked upon as either quaint or backward.
Thankfully such attitudes are much less common today; furthermore, there is now a growing movement throughout the world which values the development of minority languages and the cultures which they reflect as one small bulwark against all-consuming Anglo-American globalisation.
More immediately, however, it is increasingly possible to enjoy enriching cultural and social experience through the medium of the Gaelic language of Ireland, the Gallic of Scotland and, with rising awareness, through UlsterScots as well.
Many of us late beginners would pay tribute to the selfless and patient teachers and organisers who endeavour to give adults this opportunity through night classes, weekend `talk-ins' and in the Gaeltachtai. Through them some of us came in contact for the very first time with the live music, song, poetry, dance, story-telling and local history of Ireland. The enjoyment of the experience is further enhanced by the splendour of the surroundings in which many of the courses take place.
There comes a time, however, when on-going development in a language, most especially for adults not living in communities where there is opportunity to use it on a daily basis, requires more than the enthusiasm found in the weekly or bi-weekly night-class. In this respect, readers may have learnt of the new initiative of the University of Ulster. In addition to its full-time Irish language diploma and degree courses, widely acknowledged as among the most effective in Ireland, applications were recently invited for two-year part-time (two-and-a-half hours, twice a week) diploma courses in Magee College and in Belfast.
People who live in the communities of mid and north Antrim, east Londonderry and north-east Tyrone and who might have difficulty in meeting the travelling commitment to Belfast or Derry, will be pleased to learn that the University of Ulster has decided, in response to request, to offer a similar course at Coleraine.
In this day and age it is gratifying to know that a University is prepared to respond so quickly and so constructively to such a request. While virtual beginners may well manage what is on offer, it is likely to be more appropriate for those who have already some knowledge of the language. - Yours, etc.,
John Robb, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.