Kneecap and other artists using the Irish language in their work have been credited with the huge interest in Irish culture and learning Irish in particular. David Mc Cullagh spoke to academics and experts in the Irish language sphere to get their take on their impact and how Irish is taught in schools.
Dr. Nessa Cronin said that the huge interest in learning Irish is 'part of the jigsaw' of what people are calling the 'new green wave'. Societal and political changes in Ireland has also played its part in how people view the Irish language and their part in a contemporary, multicultural society. For the the post-crash generation, culture and language is seen as a mode of 'resistance and resilience', in Ireland.
To preserve and nurture this interest in Irish, Dr. Cronin said that appropriate investment needs to be made into education to ensure the curriculum is relevant to the lives of the children and young people outside of the classroom.
Labhair saineolaithe ar chultúr agus iad siúd atá ag plé le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge le David Mc Cullagh ar RTÉ Radio One faoin spéis mhór atá léirithe ag daoine sa Ghaeilge agus faoi na bearnaí sa chóras oideachais atá le sonrú fós.
Julian De Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says the language is in a very good place when it comes to attitudes but needs more support when it comes to the teaching of the language in the education system. He notes only 6% of students attend Irish medium schools and despite there being a huge demand for more, there are currently no plans to provide additional Gaelscoileanna.
A complete overhaul is needed for the 94% of students who aren't enrolled in Irish medium education, says De Spáinn. Conradh na Gaeilge suggests an overall skills-based policy for the teaching of Irish from preschool to University which would ensure the students' competency in using the language.
A recent plan to support the teaching of Irish in English medium schools has failed to address exponential rise in students being granted the 'elephant in the room', De Spáinn said.
Dúirt sé nach fiú pleananna nua a chur i gcrích go dtí go dtéann scoileanna agus An Roinn Oideachais i ngleic le fadhb mhór na ndíolúintí.
