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Óráid an Uachtaráin ag Dinnéar Ceiliúrtha Sheachtain na Gaeilge

Titanic, Béal Feirste, 7 Márta 2015

A Ard Mhéara agus a Dhaoine Uaisle,

Tá áthas mór orm a bheith anseo libh anocht ag dinnéar ceiliúrtha Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2015. Is mian liom buíochas a ghlacadh leisAn Droichead agus leis an Dochtúir Pól Deeds as ucht cuireadh caoin a thabhairt dom a bheith anseo anocht agus fearaim fáilte agus fiche roimh gach éinne atá i láthair ag an ócáid phléisiúrtha spreagúil seo. 

Mar a deir an seanfhocal "Beatha Teanga í a Labhairt".  Sa chomhthéacs sin, is cúis dóchais dom é go léiríonn an oiread sin daoine ar oileán na hÉireann go bhfuil dearcadh dearfach i leith na Gaeilge acu.  Tá údar maith agam chun an ráiteas seo a dhéanamh mar tá an dea-scéal sin le feiceáil i dtorthaí suirbhéanna éagsúla atá déanta le tamall anuas ar a n-áirím Ollshuirbhé Thuaisceart Éireann 2012 agus Mórshuirbhé Gaeilge Fhoras na Gaeilge 2013.  Mar shampla, léiríonn na príomh-luaththorthaí ón Mórshuirbhé go dtacaíonn 67% de  na freagróirí ó dheas agus 45% de na freagróirí ó thuaidh leis an nGaeilge agus go bhfuil an tacaíocht sin ag méadú de réir a chéile.  Creidim go dtugann sé sin bunús iontach maith dúinn chun ár dteanga dúchais agus ár gcultúr dúchais a neartú agus a fhorbairt. Tugann sé ár ndúshlán chomh maith an tacaíocht sin a thiontú ina ghníomh.

Tá sé tábhachtach comh maith go dtabhairimid aitheantas do na foinsí éagsúla as a tháinig suim in úsáid, cosaint agus athbheochaint na Gaeilge, go haírithe an méid a rinne na h-eagrais creidimh éagsúla sa Tuaisceart.

It is undoubtedly true that a language only lives through its being spoken. In that context, we are right to be optimistic as so many people on the island of Ireland demonstrate a positive attitude towards the Irish language. This positive attitude is visible in the results of various surveys undertaken in recent years, including the Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey 2012 and Mórshuirbhé Gaeilge Fhoras na Gaeilge 2013. For example, the main preliminary results of the Mórshuirbhé show that 67% of responders from the South and 45% of responders from the North support the Irish language, and that this level of support is gradually increasing. This positive disposition, or dea-thoil, provides us with a solid foundation to strengthen and to develop the language as a living part of our culture. It also sets us a challenge in turning this positive attitude into action.

I want to particularly recall the contribution made by different minority groups, especially religious groups to the use, protection and scholarship of the Irish language. I welcome Belfast’s newest language speaking community, The East Belfast Mission.

Sa lá atá inniu ann cuireann mórócáidí mar seo deiseanna luachmhara ar fáil: tugann siad deis do phobal na Gaeilge teacht le chéile; tugann siad deis dúinn aird a tharraingt ar chúrsaí teanga i gcoitinne, agus dar ndóigh, tógann siad ar an obair a cuireadh i gcrích roimhe seo.  Is cúis cheiliúrtha ann féin é go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge ag dul ar aghaidh ón mbliain 1902 faoi choimirce Chonradh na Gaeilge agus tá sí ag dul ó neart go neart ó shin.  Is ábhar mórtais agus bróid an obair atá déanta ag Conradh na Gaeilge chun an teanga a chur chun cinn ó bunaíodh é don gcéad uair in 1893 agus tá sé fós ag treabhadh leis le fuinneamh agus díogras.  Is fiú cuimhniú siar cómh maith ar na h-iarrachtaí a bhí ag teastáil ó dhaoine ar nós Dubhglas de hÍde ceann de bunaitheoirí Conradh na Gaeilge agus a bhí mar an chéad Uachtaráin na hÉireann.

Tréaslaím le Seachtain na Gaeilge as a mana tarraingteach "Croí na Teanga: It's you". Ní hamháin go gcuirtear béim ar shult a bhaint as an Ghaeilge le linn na féile seo, ach cuirtear fearadh na fáilte roimh chách, bíodh siad ina gcainteoirí líofa nó ina bhfoghlaimeoirí nua.  Cothaíonn an fhéile seo cumarsáid idir daoine agus bíonn siad sásta triail a bhaint as an méid Gaeilge atá ar a dtoil acu.

May I congratulate Seachtain na Gaeilge for their inviting motto “Croí na Teanga: It’s you”. Not only is the enjoyment of the language emphasised during this festival, but all are welcomed, from all backgrounds, whether they are fluent speakers or beginners. This festival encourages communication between people and people are willing to use their Irish, however much or little they may have.

I was fortunate enough to have representatives of An Droichead and the East Belfast Mission visit me in Áras an Uachtaráin last year. This cross-community partnership is but one demonstration of how an interest and grá for the Irish language is not the preserve of any one tradition on this Island but is part of our shared heritage and our shared future together. As Linda Ervine put it when speaking about learning Irish “It’s hard but I love it. Irish is such a beautiful language and we are steeped in it in East Belfast. We are surrounded by it in our place names and surnames... the list goes on”.

Linda might also have added that the particular approach of the Irish when speaking English, what is known as Hiberno-English, also owes much to the Irish language and our everyday conversations in English are sprinkled with interloping words and phrases that have been lifted from the Irish. I am sure that Gregory Burton, the US Consul General who is here with us this evening has at this stage become attuned to our way of speaking, but I understand that it can take a while.

It is evident, however, from the roll-call of Irish surnames of men and women who have through the years succeeded in the US in commerce, politics, industry and the public services that the language that they or their parents and grandparents arrived with did not hold them back. It is also heartening to see that almost 19,000 people in the US are using their Irish at home and that interest in the language outside the Irish community is continuing to grow. 

Tá ardmholadh tuillte ag An Droichead a chuir tús leis an dinnéar ceiliúrtha seo sa bhliain 2013 mar bhuaicphointe Sheachtain na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste agus i gCúige Uladh.  Tá sé mar sprioc ag An Droichead an Ghaeilge a cheiliúradh mar chuid d’oidhreacht roinnte Bhéal Feirste agus mar ghné lárnach de shaol na cathrach nua chomh maith le héagsúlacht phobal na Gaeilge a léiriú.  Sa chomhthéacs sin, tuigim go ndeachaigh siad i bpáirtnéireacht le The Michaela Foundation in 2013 agus le Misean Bhéal Feirste Thoir in 2014 agus bhí an-rath ar na himeachtaí seo ar fad. I mbliana, tá Seachtain na Gaeilge agus Conradh na Gaeilge mar phríomh-chomhpháirtithe ar an ócáid. 

Is ábhar bróid é an dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge i mBéal Feirste agus sa Tuaisceart i gcoitinne.  Tá dea-shampla á léiriú ar bhealaí praiticiúla maidir le conas is féidir na dúshláin a bhaineann le sealbhú agus cothú teanga a shárú. 

Ar ndóigh, ní aithníonn teangacha teorainneacha agus creidim féin go mbeidh rath ar an teanga nuair a bheidh sí fite fuaite le gnáthshaol na gcathracha agus na mbailte móra mar aon leis na ceantair Ghaeltachta.  Dá bhrí sin, caithfidh mé ard-mholadh a thabhairt don dea-obair atá ar siúl ag an Droichead agus ag eagraíochtaí eile chun a chinntiú go mbeidh deiseanna cainte curtha ar fáil do lucht labhartha na Gaeilge agus lucht foghlamtha na Gaeilge araon.  Is tríd an dea-obair seo a chinnteofar go mairfidh an Ghaeilge mar theanga beo do na glúnta a thiocfaidh inár ndiaidh, díreach mar a shlánaigh ár  sinsir romhainn an oidhreacht luachmhar seo dúinn.

As we stand here in this magnificent building it is interesting to remember that as the Titanic was being built, there were Irish speaking communities in 19 of the 32 counties, including 4 of the six that were to later form Northern Ireland. While the Gaeltacht areas have undoubtedly retreated, a new Irish language community has emerged, which is less geographically defined and which has grown in confidence both North and South. The growth in Irish language schools and community groups, the continued success of TG4 and the opportunities that have been presented by social media have given renewed vigour and have provided new generations with exposure to the language using attractive and accessible media.

Agus muid bailithe anseo sa ​​seomra mórthaibhseach Titanic i bhfoirgneamh an Titanic Belfast, ní fhéadfainn gan cúpla focal a rá mar gheall ar an Titanic RMS a tógadh gar don áit seo. Ba thragóid uafásach a bhí ann in 1912 nuair a chuaigh an long cháiliúil seo go tóin poill agus nuair a cailleadh níos mó ná 1,500 dune.  Ní haon áibhéil é a rá go bhfuil an eachtra sin fós greanta i gcloch sa stair mhuirí go hidirnáisiúnta.  D'fhás go leor finscéalta agus scéalta miotasacha thar na blianta maidir leis an Titanic, faoina cuid paisinéirí agus na daoine a bhí páirteach ina dearadh araon.  Tá réimse leathan saothar ag comóradh na tragóide freisin, idir leabhair agus ailt, amhráin, dánta, scannáin, cláir teilifíse agus saothair ealaíne de gach saghas. Caithfidh mé a aontú leis an muireolaí cáiliúil, Dr. Robert Ballard, a dúirt nach mbeadh áit níos fearr ná Béal Feirste chun scéal an Titanic a insint agus a choinneáil beo i measc an phobail:

“Titanic belongs to Belfast. I’m very pleased that the city which gave Titanic to the world will now be able to welcome the world to Titanic Belfast. Titanic’s story is infused with romance, pathos and glory, and there’s no better place to tell it than Belfast".[1]

Tá an t-ádh orainn go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar theanga dhúchais bheo fós againn ós rud é go bhfuil sí ceangailte go dlúth lenár stair, ár gcultúr agus ár bhféiniúlacht phearsanta. 

Tá oidhreacht shaibhir eile againn ar an oileán seo freisin a bhaineann leis an Ultais agus is mian liom an deis seo a thapú chun fáilte a chur roimh an dá straitéis teanga a foilsíodh anseo ar na mallaibh, ceann ar an Ghaeilge[2] agus ceann ar an Ultais.[3]  Tá súil agam go rachaidh na spriocanna fiúntacha atá sna straitéisí seo chun leasa an phobail i gcoitinne sna blianta amach romhainn.

We are fortunate to have Irish as a still living native language as it is intrinsically linked to our history, our culture and our identity. We also have another rich heritage on this island which belongs to the Ulster Scots tradition and I wish to take this opportunity to welcome both language strategies which were published recently, one on Irish and one on Ulster Scots. I hope the worthwhile objectives set out in both strategies will benefit the community in general in the coming years.

Languages are not in contest with each other. Respect for one’s own most intimate vernacular should be an impetus to respect for the language of the other.

Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom gach rath a ghuí ar an Droichead agus ar na heagrais ar fad atá bainteach le Seachtain na Gaeilge agus gníomhach i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge. Feicim go bhfuil clár breá leagtha amach don fhéile agus tá mé cinnte freisin go mbainfidh gach duine, idir óg agus aosta, taitneamh agus tairbhe as an tseachtain mhór seo.  

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. Thank you all very much.

[1] http://www.titanic-foundation.org/TitanicPressDetail?NewsID=30

[2] http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/irish_language__strategy_-_2015__2035.pdf

[3]http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/strategy_to_enhance_and_develop_the_ulster_scots_language__heritage_and_culture_2015-2035.pdf