The Irish language

Sir, – In the exchange of ideas on the Irish language – Aidan Doyle’s article (July 19th) was an exception – a simple truth is usually ignored.

We love the Irish language and consider it to be a valuable cultural heritage, but we do not want to use it as our day-to-day language. When will the gaelgoir bullies listen to the people? Compulsion seems to be their approach to the problem, as well as the insistence that all legislation be translated into Irish and printed, at great cost, to be read by a person or persons unknown.

Is the Coimisinéir Teanga to be our official bully? His predecessor did things like reporting the HSE for the crime of publishing swine flu warnings at ports in English only. We wish the current holder the best of luck and hope he will operate in the real world. Yours, etc,

PD GOGGIN,

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Glenageary Woods,

Co Dublin