Translation provided by Association of the Promotion of the Irish Language
Ahh, Don't I have a grand life?
The sky is open to me, isn't it?
I have my health....and my happiness...
My language sustains me and those around me.
Everything is fine.
Is there a happier land?
Ní tuigim
ReplyDeleteHello there to you my friend,
ReplyDeleteI'm an Indo-American from Boston, USA. I read your post on Sepia Mutiny, and it was very big-hearted of you, Seamus (aka "Sockpuppet"). I just went to see my Irish neighbor, Mr. William Cullinane of Turloughmore, Athenry County Galway, for the last time. He passed on at 84, and myself and his whole clan all partied the night before in his celebration. I was surprised: I've never been to an event like this where everyone was joyous.
For sure, I feel like I must visit your proud nation. I love your people's hospitality, straight-forwardness, good humor, your HISTORY, and LANGUAGE. As a lover of languages, I feel terrible that it's quickly disappearing. Celtic language is pretty much vanquished in Scotland, and it only remains in Ireland and Brittany, France. However, in Ireland, it's quickly disappearing, and you must do something about it.
From my experience, I truly believe that all Irish babies should *FIRST* be taught Gaelic. They will automatically acquire English one way or another through popular medium, and through their peers. Case in point: Indo-American babies here all seem to be only taught their native mother tongue, but by the time they're 6, the kids are so fluent in English, and so thoroughly bilingual, that they still win all the English spelling competitions!
Perhaps youngsters are concerned about the commercial value of the Irish language? From my perspective, if I were to visit your nation - and it's a matter of time - I'd want an experience as distinct from the UK or the USA as possible. Therefore, please speak your language, and insist this on your expats, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Irish-Americans, and also immigrants into your proud nation.
Lots of brotherly love,
HP - tangent157079633@gmail.com