President Connolly Praises Irish Language In Visit To Inchicore Gaelscoil
By: Aidan Crowley:
Newly-inaugurated President Catherine Connolly has highlighted the importance of the Irish language in modern society on a recent visit to Gaelscoil Inse Chor in Islandbridge. In what was her first official public engagement, following her recent inauguration, Ms. Connolly met with staff, pupils and dozens of proud parents. The school is situated inside the scenic Irish National War Memorial Gardens on the banks of the River Liffey. During her visit, she highlighted the importance of the Irish language, which was a cornerstone of her presidential election campaign.
The President, who learned Irish as an adult, described the Irish language as “a gift”. She went on to say that Gaelscoil Inse Chor, which caters for two hundred and twenty students, is “an exemplary school”. She said that students, without any Irish, arrive at the school and are completely immersed in the language, before being taught English in first class.
The President was cheered by name as she entered the school and stopped to meet some children from the adjoining pre-school. She answered a range of questions from students, including what her favourite food is and how many football solos she can do.
“I can do around ten, but I used to be able to do a hundred”, she replied in Irish. She asked the students to demonstrate their own football skills to her, adding that she was “out of practice”.
Ms. Connolly received a loud cheer when she told one group of children that school principal, Colm O’ Nuallain, had informed her that “nil aon obair bhaile anocht” (“there’s no homework tonight”).
Mr. O’ Nuallain said that the school community was “over the moon and very excited” by the new President’s visit.
She also met with the school’s eco committee and chess players and listened to students perform an Irish-language version of Wagon Wheel.
Addressing the staff and students in Irish, she said that during the presidential election campaign she had been accused of misusing the language, something she said that she had never done in her life.
She said that Irish is both an advantage and “a gift”, giving people a different perspective on life, as it is a language infused with hope and nature.
“For too long, we have looked upon Irish as if it was a problem. It is not a problem, it is a complete gift”, she said.
The President told the students that bilingualism gives people the courage and ability to learn other languages. She added that, while she is Uachtaran na hEireann, she will do her best to promote the language “at every level” and to “bring it in from the edge”.
She said that the world is “in trouble” due to climate change, wars and genocide and that there is a need to build on language skills in both Irish and English to address those challenges. She referred to a policy document on the Irish language in schools published two weeks ago, saying that she would go back and read it.
Ms. Connolly said that the issue had been treated like “an afterthought” and that her aim is to put Irish “at the centre of the marketplace”.
“I promised three projects during my presidential campaign One in relation to people with diabilities. Another one in relation to young people, to open the Aras to these projects and the third one in relation to the Irish language. There will be a year of celebration for the Irish language and you will be part of it”.
Before departing to visit a resource centre in Trim, Co. Meath and later engagements in Co. Galway, President Connolly also met students from the nearby St. John of God Special School. Staff and pupils had lined the road to wave her off, but the presidential motorcade stopped so that she, accompanied by her husband, Brian McEnery, could get out and meet them in person.
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