John Prendergast is travelling the world, using the Irish language as his ticket to travel. To date, he has spent time in Montana, USA, in Wales and in Canada, furthering and sharing his knowledge of the language. He spoke to Helen Ní Shé on RTÉ's Raidió na Gaeltachta about his experiences and learnings.
Originally from Tralee, County Kerry, he has spread his wings and travelled the world as Gaeilge. As part of his degree in Law and Irish, he visited Montana, spent a year in Cardiff studying Welsh and Celtic Studies and has just returned from Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada where he spent a year teaching Irish at various levels in St. Mary's University as part of the ICUF's Irish language programme.
He described the students of St. Mary's as 'idir óg agus aosta' some of whom are total beginners and others have spent many years perfecting their Gaeilge, having spent time immersing themselves in the language in various Gaeltachts in Ireland.
John's degree is in Law and Irish from UCC provided him not only with a grá for Gaeilge but also an interest in how minority languages are treated in legal proceedings. He told Helen he has come across many cases in which language rights have violated whilst studying and also in his personal life. Speaking of his fluency in several languages, he notes how he enjoys speaking to people in their own language.
Taitníonn sé liom a bheith in ann labhairt le daoine ina dteanga dúchais
On the topic of Canada's recently elected Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, John says whilst it's impossible to please everyone, he believes Trudeau has made good progress on the question of the Canadian Indigenous People.
Ó thaobh na mbundúchasach, bíonn siad ag plé go cúramach agus i mo thuairim phearsanta, tá an dul chun cinn déanta aigesan.
You can listen to the full interview here/ Is féidir éisteacht leis an agallamh iomlán anseo
An Saol Ó Dheas is broadcast Monday-Friday 12.08- 13.00, on RTÉ Raidió na Gaelachta.
Craoltar An Saol Ó Dheas idir 12:08 - 13:00 Luan - Aoine, ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
