Sir, – The biblical episode concerning the Tower of Babel ends with God cursing mankind with the affliction of many languages. His motivation for this act is to prevent mankind from achieving its full potential by impeding people’s ability to communicate with each other. While some enthusiasts might revel in the notion of linguistic diversity, the world would clearly be a more peaceful and happier place if there were fewer languages not more. Proponents of compulsory Irish need to accept that the majority choose not to learn what is essentially a redundant tongue in order to focus their energies on more productive endeavours. It must be strongly asserted that holding or expressing this opinion does not make one any less Irish or less patriotic, as is implied by the constant pejorative undertone of the debate. – Yours, etc,
JOHN THOMPSON,
Shamrock Street,
Phibsboro,
Dublin 7
Sir, – Pádraig Ó Cíobháin (August 12th) responds to my letter with a number of valid questions. Here are my answers. The difference between Irish and the subjects he listed (history, geography, religion, etc) is that (i) Irish is compulsory to Leaving Cert while these are not and (ii) I use history and geography almost everyday across a wide range of activities.
Mr Ó Cíobháin misunderstood my fumbling in a greasy till reference. I agree that we are much more than a nation of shopkeepers: we are leaders in computer science and high-technology startups, pharmaceuticals, high quality foods, and much more. If he reads further in the referenced poem he will remember the last line “Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone / It’s with O’Leary in the grave.” Which is as true now as it was in Yeats’s time. Yours, etc,
ANDREW DOYLE,
Lislevane,
Co Cork