A lack of Irish-speaking schools is taking choice away from children, according to comedian and Gaeilgeoir Kayleigh Trappe.
The 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant was speaking during a discussion on Upfront with Katie Hannon, where the issue of how the language is taught was debated.
Ms Trappe told Upfront with Katie Hannon there is a need for more Gaelscoils.
"It’s a case of supply and demand," she said.
"I hail from Monaghan and I know that – I was on the board of management for five years there – the numbers are just constantly increasing.
"My sister was expecting a child, and she had the child enrolled in a Gaelscoil before she was even born just to make sure she got a place.
"I know there’s such a need and want for the language".
Ms Trappe said it is important that learning starts from a young age.
"If we’re hoping that people are fluent in the language it all starts from the schools and the schools need to be provided – especially when you have the chance to send them to a primary school but don’t have the chance to send them to a secondary school.
"It’s like the choice is being taken away from them.
"I think if we were to have more choices in that situation, then we wouldn’t need to worry about the fact that they’d keep it up because they’d be able to progress through that."
Watch: Upfront with Katie Hannon's discussion on the Irish language
Ms Trappe, who is a former teacher, said the language needs to be approached in a more positive way.
"I was a senior infant teacher for years, I wasn’t teaching in a Gaelscoil but I used Irish all day, every day and the kids knew no different.
"They came out the other end with such a positive outlook on it."
Ms Trappe said the younger children are the quicker they will take up the language.
"If we’re having this negative approach all the time and giving out (about) should it be compulsory, should it not be – the children are hearing these things and it’s like ‘money see, monkey do’.
"If they know no different, they will pick up the language so fast – they’re like sponges".
'A matter of choice'
The issue of rising exemptions in Irish schools was also debated.
The number of students with an exemption from learning the language has risen from 9% in 2017/2018 to 13.5% - or 55,660 students - in 2023, according to a Freedom of Information request released to The Irish Times.
Students educated abroad made up roughly half of these.
Exemptions from the study of Irish are granted on three grounds: students who received education abroad up to age 12; students who experience significant literacy difficulties and those who experience a high level of multiple and persistent needs that are a "significant barrier" to their engagement in their learning and school life.
Commentator Eamon Delaney told the show we have to change how it is taught.
"Where I've come at (on) this issue over the last few years – and indeed decades - is it has to be voluntary, it has to be a matter of choice," he said.
"Having mandatory street signage in Irish as well as English, or having all official documents in the two languages - with plans to do more of that from what I understand – or forcing people not to have opt-outs at school is not the way to go".
"It’s not effective, it’s never worked, we’ve been at this for 100 years… I don’t feel any less Irish for not speaking Irish".
Mr Delaney said Ireland’s multiculturalism is also something to consider.
"It’s a dated idea that we have an obligation as a nation to revive the language."
"It comes from the era of De Valera when it was also about ending partition and getting everyone to work on the land – how did those work out?
"We’re having people coming (to Ireland) from all nationalities around the world and it’s tough enough to get them to speak English and work in English.
"We’ve got to engage more with Europe because of what’s happening with Trump in the US – so get people to learn German and French and Chinese as well as Irish".
Mr Delaney said optional Irish could see people doing it with enthusiasm "rather than feeling you have to do it".
Mr Delaney suggested that translating documents and place names into Irish is not getting more people to speak the language.
"I have a big issue with Éamon Ó Cuív, the previous minister, when everything was going to be put in Irish as well as English in the belief that somehow through osmosis we would start then speaking Irish – why would that happen?
"If you're on the Luas or the DART in Dublin and you hear the announcement made (in Irish) you don’t think, 'There’s some Irish, I must try and learn more Irish.’
"I just don’t think it happens otherwise you would hear people speaking Irish on the streets or on the buses and quite frankly I don’t hear it".
'Important to be progressing'
Former Minister for the Gaeltacht Seán Kyne told the show he believes the current approach is working.
"I think it's refreshing to hear on the DART or on the Luas 'Na Ceithre Cúirteanna’ or ‘Margadh na Feirme’ or whatever.
"I think that’s refreshing – what’s wrong with it?"
"The promotion of the language outside the Gaeltacht is important – the Gaelscoilana, the Gaelcholaiste across the country".
Senator Kyne acknowledged that a target to have 20% of public sector recruits proficient in Irish by 2030 will likely be missed.
"I brought in the 20% (target), I didn’t promote the deadline of 2030 to be honest about it but that came about during the debate and the subsequent minister.
"I doubt that will be reached," he said.
"But it’s important to be progressing towards that and to reach that objective."
'Failed experiment'
Columnist Brenda Power says she believes the whole approach to the language has failed.
"We have been 100 years of compulsory Irish – it is clearly a failed experiment," she said.
"It hasn’t worked.
"We’re here talking about whether public servants should be able to speak Irish – the very fact that we are having this discussion is proof that it has failed."
Ms Power said there should be an emphasis on oral Irish.
"The fact that it has been taught for so long and so intensively to so little avail – the definition of insanity being do the same thing over and over again and expect different results," she said.
"We’re not having people leave school as we ought to at 13 or 18 able to have a five minute conversation – that is a failure of any teaching of a language".
Ms Power said Irish should first be taught as a spoken language.
"My own view (is) handing an Irish language textbook to a four or five-year-old is a disaster.
"For the first few years, I’d say even up to the age of 12, it should be a spoken language.
"It should be taught in the same way as you learned English".
'A new sense of patriotism'
Lauren Whelan has 1.7 million followers on TikTok and posts videos in both Irish and English.
"I went to a Gaelscoil and a Gaeltacht, I did all my exams and everything through Irish and I’ve always loved the language," she told Upfront.
"Growing up as well a lot of my friends went to regular English-speaking schools and it kind of disappointed me that I wasn’t able to talk to them in Irish."
Ms Whelan said she believes as more Irish people travel they want to embrace the language.
"I just think as well because so many young people are travelling abroad - they’re all emigrating going to the UK (and) Australia – people are feeling a new sense of patriotism and they want to embrace their culture more so they don’t lose it."
Ms Whelan believes she is gaining more followers because of her use of the Irish language.
"I have a lot of American followers and they really love it.
"A lot of American people love the Irish language and they love Irish people and they like to see what Irish culture is actually about".
Ms Whelan says she "hopes" a renewed interest in the Irish language is not just a trend.
"I think more people want to embrace their language and I hope that’ll continue to grow as people stay and leave as well".
"I don’t know if it’s because of Kneecap and how well Irish celebrities are doing in the media right now but I do think it’s here to stay and I hope it is anyway".
Watch Upfront with Katie Hannon on Monday at 10.35pm on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player.
