Sir, – Liam de Paor (August 8th)refers to Raidio na Gaeltachta and how it brought his love of our beautiful language back to him. I have lived in South Africa for nearly 50 years and have very seldom met anybody to whom to speak Irish. However, I have retained my knowledge mainly by saying my prayers in my own language.
Some years ago I found that I could get Raidio na Gaeltachta on the internet. I am old and decrepit and cannot attend Mass but I listen to it from RnaG every Sunday. Mar a deireann an t-amhrán: “S’í teanga bhinn ár sinsear í, an caint is milse glór.” – Yours, etc,
BRIAN P Ó CINNÉIDE,
Essenwood Road,
Durban,
South Africa
Sir, – It is with some sense of irony that I, and presumably most other parents around the country, read Liam de Paor on his enjoyment of the “sweet sound of Irish”.
At this time of year most of us are having to “enjoy the sweet sound” of fumbling in a greasy till for the money to pay for Irish textbooks in the secure knowledge that they will not be appreciated by children who do not enjoy having to learn a compulsory language that the vast majority of them will have no use for once they leave school. Yours, etc,
ANDREW DOYLE,
Lislevane,
Bandon,
Co Cork