Lá na nAithreacha!

Fathers Day!

by | 2023/06/21 | Personal

Lá na nAithreacha

My North Star!!

I always call on him during my life,

When I'm in need,

Or whenever I'm in danger

And I need to be strong..

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When I have a burning question,

Or whenever I feel sick,

When someone is saying something offensive to me,

Or when things are not going well.

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On such occasions he comes to me,

And he puts me at my ease,

He takes the burden of my troubles from me,

And I'm not worried in the least anymore.

In this little poem, I try to express the specific characteristic of fatherhood, regarding the support our fathers give us through life's difficulties. By the way, our mothers also support us, but today my emphasis is on the fathers!

As for my own father, he supported me whenever I struggled as a boy growing up. Although I had no problem with my learning ability, I had quite a few other problems. As a teenager I was an utter weakling, and I also had asthma. Therefore, I was no use at hurling. That's a big disadvantage, especially when you're attending Kieran’s College, Kilkenny. I was left out of the heart of things and so I was very lonely. I was a boarding school student at the College, and I had to quickly develop my personal independence. Because I was an weaakling, the bullies always picked on me. My self-esteem was under attack with that behavior. But I was ashamed and I didn't say anything to my father. His support would only make the situation worse, because my father was a teacher in the same College. Anyway, I remained silent. You'd think my dad wouldn't know what was going on, let alone give me any help. But, you wouldn't be right!

I still don't know how my father found out what was going on. He found a creative solution for my situation. The bullies never hit me, because then they would be kicked out of school for misbehaving. But the bullies were still harassing me, using words instead of closed fists. It would have been better for me if it was physical harassment, no doubt. My father also realized that the greatest danger was psychological damage, and devised a solution to combat that.

The solution to the problem?

My father suggested positive and creative strategies for me, without pretending that they had anything to do with the bullying that was going on. I had no clue about it, either! My father emphasized the things I had a particular passion and talent for and told me there was nothing I couldn't do. He gave me courage whenever I was down and gave me a lift. Never yield, he said, to anyone you compete with, because he has the same doubts as you. My father awakened and encouraged my love of reading, although I already enjoyed learning everything at school. He opened the doors to many opportunities for me, and I ran through them fearlessly.

What about the bullies? When they realized they couldn't have the same effect on me anymore, they stopped bothering me and had to find new victims who would be easier to terrorize.

That was a very clever solution because my father managed to kill two birds with one stone. First of all, he defeated the bullies, because fresh meat was no longer available to them. Secondly, he built up my self-confidence by clearly showing that he trusted me completely. That positive attitude stayed with me from then on up to this day. With that very positive attitude, I am not afraid to try anything I want to do in my life. That way, I learn and develop every day. I am deeply indebted to my father Peadar Bairéad for that, God bless him.

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Daonáireamh 2022!

2022 Census!

by | 2023/06/14 | Current Affairs, National News, Politics

2022 Census!

The figures regarding the use of the language were recently published, based on the 2022 Census. There was a 2.55% drop in the number of people speaking the language every day outside the education system, from 73,803 in 2016 to 71,968 in 2022. There was a 2.18% drop in the number of people speaking the language every week, from 111,473 in 2016 to 109,099 in 2022. I see from the government only lip service instead of a comprehensive plan to achieve an increase as opposed to a decrease of Irish speakers. These statistics are eye-opening for us, without a doubt.

I have a few words!!

The number of people who speak Irish rose by 0.6% of the population from 39.8% (1,761,420) in 2016 to 40.4% (1,873,997) in 2022. But of those people, only 10% said that they speak Irish very well , and another third saying that they speak Irish well. The rest (55%) who speak Irish said they are not able to speak it well.

In the Gaeltacht?

The number of people in the Gaeltacht who speak Irish increased, from 63,664 in 2016 to 65,156 in 2022 (an increase of 2.3%). But the number of people in the Gaeltacht who speak Irish every day has decreased from 20,586 in 2016 to 20,261 in 2022 (a 1.6% drop).

Analysis

What is going on at all? On the one hand, things seem to be improving. But on the other hand, the figures say that things are getting worse. Which is correct?

In my opinion, one need not be right and the other wrong. Analysis is necessary to make sense of these figures.

I think that the number of people who speak Irish is increasing because the revival of the language is taking place in the country and people want to improve and practice their Irish if possible. But for the most part people cannot speak Irish in the normal activities of life, because there is not enough infrastructure operating in Irish available to them. And that is the basic reason that there is a decrease in the number of speakers of Irish. Therefore, it is clear that the government's policies regarding the Irish language are not working well, despite the will of the public. What a pity that is!

Recommendations

I was at a loss as to what to do, when I received a 'WhatsApp' message from my loyal friend, Micheál Ó Máirtín. It was a sound bite from the program 'An Saol Ó Deas', with Helen Ní Shé interviewing Irial Mac Murchú. Although the number of speakers of the Gaeltacht decreased overall, the number of speakers of increased in the County Kerry and County Waterford Gaeltachts. Irial is the CEO and director of the television production company, Nemoton, and has a particular insight into the issue of Irish spoken in Gaeltacht na n'Déise in Waterford. Here is a summary of a few points he was discussing. The Gaeltacht na n'Déise was almost on its deathbed in the seventies, said Irial, when a kind of revival came. According to Irial, the cornerstone of that revival was the San Nicolás secondary school. The school was established in the fifties and in the seventies the number of pupils grew significantly. A certain generation, even though they themselves were raised in English, decided to raise their children in Irish, and there was still enough Irish in the environment that it worked out well. After a while, the stain of poverty was no longer on the language, and gradually a new generation could be seen, including teachers, lawyers, nurses and the like, who were brought up with Irish. The support of the local organizations helped with these efforts and especially the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), because they made Irish classes available to people and did their business through Irish in the Gaeltacht. Therefore, the GAA fostered a natural environment for people to speak Irish. Gradually there was a comfortable environment for people to be able to do everything through Irish.

Conclusion

We do not need to rely on the government to revive our language. We can do it ourselves! We have already had great success with Irish primary schools, and now it is time for us to establish secondary schools wherever we can. Then, we have to put public pressure on the local bodies to encourage them to be able to use Irish as well as English. We will be able to recreate the success of the Gaeltacht na n'Déise in other places like that, by collaborating together!

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Gairdín José!

Jose's Garden!

by | 2023/06/07 | Current Affairs

Jose's Garden!

Prejudice against asylum seekers is now on the rise in this country. Stories and memes are spreading rapidly on traditional and social media – and also by word of mouth. The foreigners are fighting, stealing and misbehaving themselves, according to those sources. It is necessary to be very careful when you read things like this, so that we do not jump to conclusions. Haven't we seen misogynistic propaganda like this time and time again? Wasn't this kind of rumor spread about us when we emigrated to other countries? And didn't we know very well that discrimination on the basis of ethnicity was involved in that case? This is still happening in parts of Australia! It is more likely than not that the same discrimination is now being practiced in Ireland against the refugees in our own country. We all have a duty to cross-check the basis of such rumors against reliable sources. All kinds of tricks are being played against the refugees all over the world by people who are trying to dehumanize those poor people. Often, refugees are fleeing extremely difficult circumstances, with their lives at risk. As a kind of antidote to discrimination, here is the story of one immigrant who came from Mexico to the United States.

The immigrant's story

When he was growing up in Guanajuato in central Mexico, José Palacios often fled with his soul, finding a hiding place from his own father. He threw himself under his bed seeking shelter but his father dragged him out savagely. He ran out the door at night, through the dark streets, trying to escape. But the police would catch him and throw him in a cell, or worse, take him to his father. But despite his efforts, he always ended up at home. His father gave him a terrible and callous beating, for no reason except that he himself was drunk. Eventually, José managed to escape to the United States, leaving his cruel father, a violent alcoholic, behind forever.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that José would end up with big problems – perhaps as a violent alcoholic like his father! But all is not as it seems!

After he arrived in the United States, José did the kind of work that citizens would turn up their nose at. He worked on ranches, poultry farms, vineyards and orange groves. He attended night school, and eventually took psychology courses at the university level. He enjoys reading and painting. After a while, he got a job as a gardener, and that job suited him very well. Without a doubt, José found comfort in that post – as he himself said about it "It's within my heart!"

José's garden

Although now retired at the age of 70, José works as a part-time caretaker and gardener in 'Echo Park' in Los Angeles. He often goes for walks in Griffith Park. "This is the most beautiful park I have ever seen!" he said. After a disaster in the park in 1970, another Iranian immigrant named Amir Dialameh organized a group of people to carry out restoration work. José helped them and their efforts resulted in a wonderful garden with wonderful benches to enjoy the view. There are also other gardens in the park – such as 'Dante's View', named after another immigrant. It is therefore not surprising that the idea occurred to José to start his own garden in the park. He didn't get permission to do that, but the park officials didn't turn him away, either. A friend and I recently walked with José to see his garden. He has planted a wonderful garden at the top of the field with a stone bench to enjoy what he has made. There are many plants and flowers, and it is a peaceful place. Some unknown person put a wooden disc there with two words written on it: 'José's Garden.'

José has a lot of things worked out now. He is a devout man, and during the COVID pandemic, his garden was his place of worship. He wants his garden to be an inspiration to others too and to make them feel special.

After we reached his inspiring garden, José opened his backpack and shared with us a wonderful lunch – quesadillas with ham, cheese and 'nopalito'. We had a wonderful lunch with José the Immigrant, on a beautiful day, in José's Garden!

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Tuairisc ó Mheiriceá – Teorainn Fiachais!

Report from America - Debt Ceiling!

by | 2023/05/31 | Current Affairs, International News, Politics, Opinion

Report from America - Debt Ceiling!

When the United States Congress put a policy in place regarding the national debt limit long ago, they never intended it to be used as a political bone of contention. But that is exactly what happened! And on account of that, there is great uncertainty about the economic situation in the United States and around the world.

An fiachas náisiúnta

Every year, the United States government has to borrow to meet its commitments. There are three spending streams in the country's budget:

Compulsory spending: The government is obliged to pay for social security, health care and retirement pensions for people who are entitled to them by law, including people over 65 and military veterans. The government would have to change the laws to reduce this expenditure. These programs are very popular with the majority of the public, so it would be controversial and politically difficult to make such changes. Compulsory spending is the largest part (63%) of the national budget.

Discretionary spending: Each year, the government (the Appropriations Committee) has to review this spending and then approve it. Half of this spending goes to the American military, and the other half to various programs such as: homeland security, education, transportation, research, food safety, science and space programs, disaster relief, environmental protection, public housing, and enforcement of the federal law. Discretionary spending uses around 30% of the national budget.

Supplementary expenditure: This expenditure (7% of the budget) is used to pay interest on the national debt each year. In the year 2023, it will cost 460 billion dollars to service the debt.

Teorainn Fiachais (Béarla: debt ceiling)

Like many countries, the United States has to borrow money, because the federal government spends more money than it receives. Unlike almost every other country, the government limits the amount of money they are allowed to borrow. Because the annual budget deficit is increasing almost every year, congress has to raise the ceiling frequently. You'd think the government wouldn't be able to spend more money (than the ceiling) in the next budget, and that would be that – wouldn't you? Unfortunately, it's not that easy.

A long time ago, the government had to approve the expenditure associated with each bill, one by one. Therefore, the debt limit was first established in 1917 and with a few changes in 1939, so that the limit applied to the budget as a whole. This was done to make the process simpler and that was all very well until 1995 when unintended consequences occurred that no one had thought of before. I will come back to that point but I have to explain one thing first. The debt limit applies to the past year and the money already spent! That is the fundamental mistake with that approach, because this system can be abused, with one party demanding certain changes to the budget in return for raising the ceiling. Without a new ceiling, the government would not be able to pay the interest on the national loan, and the country would be in default and in trouble.

Things were not like that until Republican Chairman Newt Gingrich started using the debt limit as a weapon in 1995. He said that a new ceiling would not be passed until President Clinton made certain changes in the budget. Although Gingrich eventually backed down, he had done the damage and established the precedent.

Flash forward to today, and you will see Gingrich's legacy clearly! Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is using the debt limit as a bargaining chip to demand a major reduction in the new budget.

Russian Roulette!

The Republican Party is playing Russian Roulette, and that is a dangerous game. Without a new debt limit, a global financial crisis would be created. That is an unacceptable risk, without question. Therefore, it is high time for the United States congress to put in place a new strategy and a new system to balance the budget. Let's hope they do the right thing. Otherwise, that debt limit will cause us to lose sleep!

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Céimeanna móra chun tosaigh – ach…!

Big steps forward – but…!

by | 2023/05/24 | Current Affairs, Language Affairs, International News, National News

Big steps forward – but…!

 

Céim chun cinn sa Deisceart!

The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers announced a new era for Irish language courses last year. According to the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021, the government had an obligation to ensure that 20% of recruits to public bodies were competent in Irish by 2030. Minister of State Chambers said: "It is great to see that certification of the Irish language courses offered to Civil Servants. This certification now provides a great opportunity for learners and employers alike as we all work towards our common goal of achieving the ambitious targets set out in the Act.”

Céim chun cinn sa Tuaisceart!

At the same time in the North, Irish received official legal status at the end of 2022, when King Charles III signed the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill. Unfortunately, Westminster had to pass the bill, because the government in Stormont was not going to do it.

"This is another historic day for the Irish-speaking community that the bill is now an official Act and has been put into law from today onwards," said Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, spokesperson for 'An Dream Dearg'.

Ábhar Dóchais agus Éadóchais ag an am céanna!

Despite the fact that the status of the Irish language is improving in law, other things are happening that go against the objectives of the same laws. Here are a few examples of recent steps back.

A step back in the South

The Minister of Education Norma Foley has announced that there will be a reduction in time, half an hour per week, for the teaching of Irish in English primary schools (most schools in the state) starting in 2025. An hour and three quarters per week will be spent on flexible time , and from Class 3 onwards, an hour on the teaching of modern foreign languages. Despite the facts Minister Foley claims that the new curriculum would "improve the acquisition" of Irish. Education expert Professor Pádraig Ó Duibhir examined all aspects of the story, and in particular the research carried out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Council (CNCM) - part of the Department of Education itself. The Professor said that it was very clear from that research that there was a strong link between the reduction of teaching hours in Irish and the standard of Irish that the pupils achieve. "It makes me angry," said Professor Ó Duibhir referring to the Minister's statement on the matter. "I feel it is insulting to say that the time has been reduced but the students' abilities will improve. How is that acceptable?”

Minister Foley spent only 15 minutes in a meeting in Leinster House with advisers and representatives from the CNCM, to decide on all the changes planned for the primary school curriculum, both in Irish and mathematics. I have only one word to say about that: unacceptable!

A step back in the North

Widespread cuts to education services are taking place in the North, due to the UK government slashing its annual budget – or so it claims, anyway. Therefore, the Department of Education in the North intends to put an end to:

• Scéim Léargas (Derry). 1,600 children in Derry will lose their opportunity to learn Irish for an hour each week under this scheme.
• Glor na Mona (Belfast). Glór na Móna is a community center with 160 members, which operates through Irish in Uachtar Cluanaí in Belfast. Cultural events are organized services for the Irish community in the area.
• Ionad Uíbh Eachach (Belfast). This is a childcare center with 200 children receiving care through Irish, and it has 15 jobs associated with it.

It is scandalous that these cuts are taking place, with the Irish Language Act now passed. The government should make investments instead of cuts like that.

Conclusion

Just because an act has been passed does not mean it is in force. As Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh said: "Don't be fooled, this new act is just another milestone on that great journey. We have not reached any destination, and the enormous work of implementing the provisions of this Act begins.”

We all have to keep pressure on our political representatives to implement the new laws, both in the North and South of this beautiful island!