ruanua - I know what you mean, Gaelscoileanna can sometimes be seen as another tier of essentially private/class motivated education. I don't think they are like that in the main though.

As for me, I was educated entirely through Irish. It has been of enormous benefit to me personally and professionally. My job is heavily involved in the arts, and the amount of non-Irish based people who communicate with me through Irish, and who are far more inclined to spend their money with me when they know I speak the language, is a constant pleasant surprise. Some people have a view of the language as an outdated tongue spoken only in the deep west, which is at odds with the reality.

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 01/09/2011 21:32:21    1025188

abhainn if being thought through Irish has benefited you professionally and or personally then fairplay, I mean that, but honestly I'd say you are in the minority. Listen hand up, I always struggled when it came to second languages, I just wan't good at that subject but I was very interested in learning a practical second language which I could use when I went abroad. Now Spanish would have been my first preference but it wasn't available in our school until I was in 3rd year, by this stage I was still struggling with Irish and it didn't help that we had a very poor teacher either (which the school had tried to move on in the past) and it just made me hate the language even more. At the end of the day Irish is really only being kept around for sentimental reasons because there really aren't any other clear benefits for its existance.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 02/09/2011 10:21:25    1025306

but I was very interested in learning a practical second language which I could use when I went abroad

I presume then that you were intending to work in a Spanish speaking country or was it to be able to say "Una cerveza per favor" or "Una mesa para dos personas per favor" for the two weeks you go on holiday there? If that's the case then maybe you should have take Bosnian in case you go on pilgrimage to Medjugorje or something like that

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 02/09/2011 14:23:31    1025522

At the end of the day Irish is really only being kept around for sentimental reasons

Exactly - and should so much taxpayers money be spent on sentiment???
A bit - fair enough - but as much as we do????

Horse (Laois) - Posts: 1146 - 02/09/2011 14:49:28    1025557

Hey look your sarcasm aside omaghred, learning Spanish or Bosnian phrases if you like can be very handy when broad (especially in those particular countries), what good is any Irish phrases to anyone if say you wanted to find a certain pub in Malaga?

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 02/09/2011 14:51:49    1025560

02/09/2011 14:51:49
Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 2911

1025560 Hey look your sarcasm aside omaghred, learning Spanish or Bosnian phrases if you like can be very handy when broad (especially in those particular countries), what good is any Irish phrases to anyone if say you wanted to find a certain pub in Malaga?
__________

I'd hazard a guess that "Shamrock Bar" and a lost expression would probably work in either langaauge .

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 02/09/2011 15:17:18    1025582

I think the question here has changed from "Should we have bi-lingual schooling" which it seems everyone agrees we should, to "What should the second language be?"

Well I'd still say Irish since we are in Ireland, a few posters have mentioned European languages for economic reasons. They're all broke so at the moment it's hard to know what language we should teach children in order for it to be good for business in 50 years. Also think about how realistic it would be to have immersion education in the language of a foreign country, for that to be useful we'd have to send all our young people abroad (reduced worker to dependent ratio) or bring foreigners here, which doesn't seem to go down too well in most countries.

ruanua
County: Donegal
Posts: 3836

Before considering the rights or wrongs of Gaelscoileanna - One needs to consider the real function that they serve in a lot of towns and cities in the South

One of the papers (possibly Irish Times) carried an article several years ago where a priest (I think) involved in education had expressed concerns that parents were sending their children there to avoid immigrants. To be honest that seems a Southern thing (anecdote) and a lot could have changed since.

Benandonner (Antrim) - Posts: 459 - 02/09/2011 21:46:23    1025884

02/09/2011 21:46:23
Benandonner
County: Antrim
Posts: 408


One of the papers (possibly Irish Times) carried an article several years ago where a priest (I think) involved in education had expressed concerns that parents were sending their children there to avoid immigrants. To be honest that seems a Southern thing (anecdote) and a lot could have changed since.

_________

Maybe the only difference is time
In the south parent are avoiding first and second generation immigration
In the North the Gap is a bit longer maybe 400 odd years

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 03/09/2011 08:20:26    1025899

I work in law and I can tell you that there are massive opportunities out there for anyone fluent in irish. Unfortunately I'm not fluent, I was excellent leaving school (which unfortunately was not an Irish speaking school). I would have a pretty decent standard though. If you have a law degree, can speak Irish and can speak another european language then you can start off immediately with a serious wage on the continent working as a lawyer/linguist.

I don't expect to ever need irish for work, it's unlikely in the area of law i work. I stand up for Irish purely because i love it. Nothing makes me feel more in touch with my past than speaking to people my own age about anything in irish. I went to college in galway and socialised through irish, did alot of admin stuff through the language and used it every day. I live abroad now and the only irish I use is in emails home but I'm looking forward to coming home when there are a few jobs available and speaking it again soon. The advantages of education through Irish are well documented. Apart from those though there is also the biggest advantage which is often ignored - the language is part of our identity. What makes us different from the UK or even the US, our chief thing should be our magical language. I often felt when people were spending ridiculous money on their third house that they were doing it because we were never wealthy before and we are a little confused as to our identity. Even if I have to walk home, I'll be bringing any kids of mine back to the island to learn it and love it. is í do teanga, labhair í.

hurlinspuds (Cork) - Posts: 1494 - 03/09/2011 10:27:49    1025929

Well said Hurlingspuds - and far more eloquently than I could ever hope to say it!

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 03/09/2011 10:40:28    1025939

Htaem
County: Meath
Posts: 2911

1025560 Hey look your sarcasm aside omaghred, learning Spanish or Bosnian phrases if you like can be very handy when broad (especially in those particular countries), what good is any Irish phrases to anyone if say you wanted to find a certain pub in Malaga?

About as useful as Spanish in Gaoth Dobhair

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 03/09/2011 12:48:23    1026004

omaghredhand

About as useful as Spanish in Gaoth Dobhair


Ah you're getting silly now omaghredhand, anyway its nearly gargle time so we'll pick this up on monday if theres any interest left, toodles

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 03/09/2011 14:39:18    1026093

Slan agus Beannacht leat HTAEM

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 03/09/2011 15:23:48    1026118

Okay Meath, I will be serious on Monday!!

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 03/09/2011 15:33:46    1026130