New Irish-language group to be named after dead IR

[Wasp]

SINN Fein has named a new Irish language grouping after an IRA man, despite previously calling for the depoliticiation of the Irish language.

Party president Gerry Adams announced that it would name an Irish language group after Caoimhin Mac Bradaigh, who was killed while pursuing Michael Stone at Milltown Cemetery in March 1988.

Mr Mac Bradaigh, from west Belfast, was a fluent Irish speaker who joined the IRA in 1975 at the age of 17.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the first-ever Irish language Sinn Fein cumann in Dublin, Mr Adams said it was clear that his party was “serious” about the language.

“The first group shall be launched in Dublin, a place which has the biggest population in Ireland, a place where much work is being done for Irish-medium education by parents, activists and teachers and a place where Irish language groups are developing the language with young people,” he said.

“The second cumann shall be launched in Belfast in honour of volunteer Caoimhin Mac Bradaigh who was killed by British agents 20 years ago this week.”

Sinn Fein has previously called for politics to be taken out of Irish language discussions.

Just last May, Francie Brolly said the debate around an Irish language act should not become a “political football”.

“This issue is much too serious to become a bone of contention between the parties,” he said.

The education minister Caitriona Ruane has also accused unionists of treating Irish-medium education as a political football.

“More than 40 questions have been asked by the other side of the house – 6.5 per cent of all education questions – about a sector that accounts for approximately 3,750 children or 1.1 per cent of the school population,” she said.

Pobal, an Irish language umbrella group which campaigns for an Irish lanaguge act, declined to comment on the Sinn Fein move.

However, Gordon McCoy from Ultach – a group that promotes the Irish language in Northern Ireland – said he believed the rows about it in the halls of Stormont did not help to keep the politics out of it.

“Nowadays we have more of a cultural conflict, rather than a military one,” he said.

“But we are seeing more of an interest in Irish among Protestants. There is now more of a move into the cross-community image of language, trying to take it away from the politics.

“But the constant rows in the halls of Stormont don’t help, it’s keeping the politics in the language and to what extent that trickles down to the community could be detrimental.”

I think anyone who opposed the irish language act have been proved correct. As long as this type of thing remains it will always be no from me. To think he tried to fool people with his claim for depoliticiation of the Irish language just shows his true intentions.

[Jim]

I don't care if they named it after Adolf Hitler if he was fluent in Irish, personally, but its not the best idea for SF to name it after an IRA man. The reason behind it is because he was fluent in the language which back then was pre-funding of any kind so he was obviously very involved in the language. Its not because he was in the 'ra but some people will think so and obviously you seem to think so.

I wish the parties would stop politicising my fucking language, knock it on the head.

[Republic]

jim said:

I wish the parties would stop politicising my fucking language, knock it on the head.

Quoted for truth.

Politicisation of Irish is disgraceful and SF should hang their heads in shame. It would make you wonder how genuine their love is for the language.

[Jim]

Naw, doesn't make you wonder because they have been dedicated to the language for years, long before it was a big issue.

In all honesty, they can technically call their group whatever they want, its their cumann and its part of their party, its not a public body. I'd rather they didn't though there are better ways to remember people that arent contentious.

[Wasp]

Jim you know I was being more fair to do with funding on any of the languages, my posts prove that but maybe someone should tell Adams and co that they should practice what they preach by not politicsizing the Irish language.

[Republic]

jim said:

Naw, doesn't make you wonder because they have been dedicated to the language for years, long before it was a big issue.

Yeah, it does. They wouldnt politicise it if they really cared.
Maybe they do care, but they are just too stupid to see the damage this kind of thing does.

I'm not sure which is better, stupid or hypocritical?

[Wasp]

Jim don't you think sinn fein are being total hypocrites here considering the following is among some of the things they said.

Francie Brolly said the debate around an Irish language act should not become a “political football”.

“This issue is much too serious to become a bone of contention between the parties,” he said.

The education minister Caitriona Ruane has also accused unionists of treating Irish-medium education as a political football.

“More than 40 questions have been asked by the other side of the house – 6.5 per cent of all education questions – about a sector that accounts for approximately 3,750 children or 1.1 per cent of the school population,” she said.

Rightly or wrongly many Unionists felt this promotion of the Irish language by sinn fein was to winde them up, to antagonize etc because we know fine well what way sf say and then what they do.

IMO they(sf) put forward a good arguement to do with funding and I admit I as usual was suspicious of the 'real' motives behind sinn fein's stance because something else usually follows with the intent of offending and excluding people. You know my stance on all samll language funding, the bulk of money shouldgo to hospitals, deprived areas etc etc but I also said that it should be fair to do with any fuding for Irish or Ulster Scotts etc.

Sinn fein have now done more damge to the Irish language act than everyone else put together, they have proved Unionist suspicians and concerns. Now for me I am totally against any Irish language act and perhaps any funding because of sinn fein doing this. There are plenty of fluent Irish speakers etc but no sinn fein have to use a terrorists name in a language that they claim is for everyone and should be inclusive.

I know you are passionate about your language but Jim sinn fein have damged your arguement big time.

[Wasp]

Are you saying this is wrong

'SINN Fein has named a new Irish language grouping after an IRA man, despite previously calling for the depoliticiation of the Irish language.

Party president Gerry Adams announced that it would name an Irish language group after Caoimhin Mac Bradaigh'

[Wasp]

But it is an Irish language cumann and wouldn't you think with all the bickering about the Irish language etc sinn fein would not turn the langauge themselves into a political football? Take from the sionn fein website you posted.

'"Sinn Féin Irish language Cumainn/ groups shall be launched throughout the country.'

In all honesty TUV and anyone else need to do nothing because sinn fein are doing it all for them. Unionists like me can just sit back and let sinn fein do the damage. This is a pr disaster for sinn fein IMO and along with what happened in Limavady things can only get better and easier for people who support TUV for example.

[Jim]

Its a group within their party. They can call it whatever they want. It has nothign to do with Stormont and it has nothing to actually do with Unionists either unless they want a role in making Sinn Feins next manifesto.

Its no different than the Andersonstown Martyrs cummon or whatever its called. Its a group of Sinn Fein members, you must be a member to be part of this as you would need to be a member of British Labour to join their groups.

[Wasp]

I am far from acting dumb, I quoted from the sinn fein website itself.

It is quite clear that sinn fein have fucked up here big time. I don't think if it was the other way around many people in the republic would be happy with a Unionist party using a name like Billy Wright for a new Ulster-scott group, especially if they were pushing for a language act for it and claimed it was inclusive blah blah blah.

[Jim]

I wouldn't give a shite if a unionist party made a ulster-scots language branch and called it the billy write group. Its their party, they can call it what they want, I'm not a member.

[Wasp]

Fair enough Jim but that is your opinion, but IMHO sinn fein have done more damage to what you want than anyone else.

[Jim]

Aye, they probably have, but tbh not much mroe damage than they "do" when they name their branches after volunteers. They've been doing it for years, some people will only pick up on this because its a language group and no other reason.

A big reason I voted for SF was because of languages issues and languages rights, moreso than the border, moreso than any link with Britain, moreso than my general support for them, the two reasons were their promises of working for the irish language and their promise of getting into Government. They achieved one, now they are trying to achieve the other, I see my vote as a successful vote and I couldn't care if they named their party group after Hitler or Pol Pot or any other menace, as long as it achieves results.

Thats politics for you.

[Jim]

Have you joined it, setanta?