I read the article concerning the defacing of the council sign approaching Caledon village (February 23). I lived in Caledon originally and my family still reside there, although I have lived away for five years. It is a quiet village where Catholic and Protestant reside. I felt compelled to write as I have great love for the Irish language and speak it. I first saw the sign on my last visit home and I was truly gladdened and thought that it was surely a sign of progression and equality. Following that feeling of euphoria and admittedly surprise, the thought occurred to me that the sign would eventually be defaced. I scorned myself for having this negative thought but still it remained with me.
I came upon the latest news while scrolling through my phone. I knew instantly it was the sign outside my home place before even reading the article. My immediate reaction was shame, that a section of people would carry out such a nonsensical and bitter act. However, following that disappointment, I thought about how this act was in fact an aid in the Irish language struggle for official recognition. There is no more suitable illustration of how backward attitudes still are in places and how important it is for things to change.
I doubt those who carried out the act have any knowledge of the Irish language or care to. They do not recognise that it has been around long before any conflict between communities was. They are not aware of the richness, beauty, or interesting history associated with it. What was most frustrating to me was that every July, Orange Order marches take place right by my childhood home and pass without any disruption. We may not partake or support this event, but we do not go out of our way to sabotage it or maliciously oppose it.
However, a council sign with a few lines of Irish on it is destroyed because some do not like it? This prevailing attitude is not reflective of an equal society. The Irish language has as much a place in the north of Ireland as any other native language.
Irish language groups are gathering real momentum and pushing for equality when it should have existed long ago. It has nothing to do with sectarian divides or the creation of fear. It has to do with the love of one’s native language, culture and identity and the right to celebrate it openly. It has too long been conveniently categorised as a threat by those who openly celebrate their own traditions.
So, let the councils continue (and the government start) to support the right to language representation and if it takes 100 times to restore the signs put up of late, they must do it. Because it is more than a sign, it is a symbol of progressiveness and equality and will do no harm to anyone despite the words of some. The north of Ireland will only be a place to be proud of when equilibrium is restored between communities.
KELLY McKILLION
Manchester, England
Evening of nostalgia
Did you participate in the Women’s Studies Certificate course from 1993 until about 2009 at the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education? (Now Belfast Metropolitan College.)
We want you, women from Footprints Women’s Centre (Poleglass), Shankill Women’s Centre, Ballymena Women’s Aid and Greystones Community Centre, Antrim, and College Square East to come along today.
A great number of friendships were made and now some of us are planning an evening of nostalgia and friendship for all past students, family and friends, tutors and guest speakers tonight from 7.30pm onward in the Black Box, Hill Street, Belfast.
This International Women’s Day event is being organised by former tutor Lynda Walker, Terri McKeown, Susie Begbie, Dawn Purvis, Vilma Bisson, Clare Bailey, Hester Dunn, Julie Dutkiewicz, Cathy Braithwait.
LYNDA WALKER
Belfast
Invite to Jim Wells MLA
Responding to Jim Wells’s letter (February 16) in which he signed off with ‘Jim Wells MLA DUP South Down’ – given the general sentiment and overall tone I wondered about his awareness that he is MLA for South Down, or whether he was labouring under the premise that he was in fact MLA for Rathfriland and Kilkeel. I would also like to add that he is very welcome in the Catholic town of Rostrevor.
FIONNBHARR RODGERS
Rostrevor, Co Down
Irish language should be respected
Is it just me or is anyone else wondering what the fear of the Irish language is? Are the Glens or Antrim, Mountains of Mourne, Fermanagh Lakes and Giants Causeway to name but a few not all Irish? – be it northern Irish but still Irish. I do not speak the language and I do not believe I ever will learn it but I think it is part of our history and should be respected as such by all.
DESI DOUGLAS
Crumlin, Co Antrim
