Write a commentCouncillor Barra Ó Muirí has invited Unionist Councillors to come and visit his home, his community, Gaelphobal Ard Mhacha Theas, and his Gaelscoil, telling fellow councillors that there is nothing to fear from a language, and that we must endeavour at all times to treat each other with respect and mutual understanding.
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At Monday night's monthly meeting of Newry Mourne & Down District Council, Councillor Barra Ó Muirí moved a motion heavily criticising recent DUP comments about the Irish language. Ó Muirí hit out at Minister Givan's handling of the Líofa bursary funding, and questioned Minister Weir's commitment to those children being educated in the medium of Irish, stating his belief that the language was being used as a stick to beat the nationalist communities, much to the anger of the Irish language community.
After talking about his experience of teaching in Irish Medium Education, in Gaelscoil Phádraig Naofa, he talked passionately about how he and his wife, like many of his friends and colleagues, were raising their family as Irish speakers, and that recent political stunts were an insult to all Irish speakers, young or old. "The Irish language" he stated "is open to all".
The Slieve Gullion area Councillor said that in 2017, surely the time had come to sit down and discuss alternative views on the language.
An Dream Dearg is organising a protest on Saturday 18 February at Newry Town Hall at 12pm, calling for an Irish language Act/ Acht na Gaeilge to be implemented giving respect, recognition and rights for the language.
