First Ulster Scots Letter appears in local press!

[Donagh]

I wonder will they be proposing the same for the 75k Irish language speakers in the six counties?

They might do if these people existed anywhere outside of the SF press office.

Knowledge of Irish by persons over the age of 3 (2001 Census):

    * Understands spoken Irish but cannot read write or speak Irish: 36,479
    * Speaks but does not read or write Irish: 24,536
    * Speaks and reads but does not write Irish: 7,183
    * Speaks, reads, writes and understands Irish: 75,125
    * Has other combination of skills: 24,167
    * No knowledge of Irish: 1,450,467

[SammyG]

I wonder will they be proposing the same for the 75k Irish language speakers in the six counties?

They might do if these people existed anywhere outside of the SF press office.

Knowledge of Irish by persons over the age of 3 (2001 Census):

    * Understands spoken Irish but cannot read write or speak Irish: 36,479
    * Speaks but does not read or write Irish: 24,536
    * Speaks and reads but does not write Irish: 7,183
    * Speaks, reads, writes and understands Irish: 75,125
    * Has other combination of skills: 24,167
    * No knowledge of Irish: 1,450,467

All sounds good until you dig a bit deeper and realise that being able to say slainte or caed mille failte counted as speaking and understanding. FFS by that measure I'm fluent.

[Donagh]

I wonder will they be proposing the same for the 75k Irish language speakers in the six counties?

They might do if these people existed anywhere outside of the SF press office.

Knowledge of Irish by persons over the age of 3 (2001 Census):

    * Understands spoken Irish but cannot read write or speak Irish: 36,479
    * Speaks but does not read or write Irish: 24,536
    * Speaks and reads but does not write Irish: 7,183
    * Speaks, reads, writes and understands Irish: 75,125
    * Has other combination of skills: 24,167
    * No knowledge of Irish: 1,450,467

All sounds good until you dig a bit deeper and realise that being able to say slainte or caed mille failte counted as speaking and understanding. FFS by that measure I'm fluent.

Sammy I could have quoted the total figure of 167k but restricted my comment to the 75k how speak the language. Now the point is clear, if the 57k in Scotland (according to the census) get a tv service, they why not the 75k in the six counties?

Incidentally if you want to dig a bit deeper and find an Irish language speaker you could try one of the following Irish-medium schools in the six counties:

Bunscoil an Chaistil
Scoil an Droichid
Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh
Bunscoil an Iúir
Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche
Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin
Bunscoil Cholmcille
Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain
Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh
Scoil na Fuiseoige
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste
Gaelscoil Uí Néill
Gaelscoil an Lonnáin
Gaelscoil an Damba
Gaelscoil Éadain Mhóir
Gaelscoil na bhFál
Gaelscoil na Móna
Bunscoil an Traonaigh
Gaelscoil na gCrann
Coláiste Feirste
Bunscoil Ard Mhacha
Bunscoil Naomh Prionsias
Bunscoil Eoin Baiste
Bunscoil Naomh Pádraig
Bunscoil Naomh Colmcille
Gaelscoil Phádraig Naofa
Gaelscoil Mhuire
Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig
Bunscoil Naomh Cainneach
Bunscoil Naomh Bríd
Coláiste Bhríde
Meanscoil Chaitriona
Gaelscoil na Daróige
Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach

[GweylTah]

I see the BBC is proposing to launch a dedicated digital television service for the 58k Gaelic speakers in Scotland:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/consult/open_consultations/gaelic.html

I wonder will they be proposing the same for the 75k Irish language speakers in the six counties?

Everyone who quotes the number of Irish speakers up-North seems to quote different figures for usage.

Is there a genuine need, or is it just a demand?

[The Subbie]

Is there a genuine need for tele readers to read this type of drivel or just a demand ? Lest we forget and all that We exist indeed

[Gnevin]

I wonder will they be proposing the same for the 75k Irish language speakers in the six counties?

They might do if these people existed anywhere outside of the SF press office.

Knowledge of Irish by persons over the age of 3 (2001 Census):

    * Understands spoken Irish but cannot read write or speak Irish: 36,479
    * Speaks but does not read or write Irish: 24,536
    * Speaks and reads but does not write Irish: 7,183
    * Speaks, reads, writes and understands Irish: 75,125
    * Has other combination of skills: 24,167
    * No knowledge of Irish: 1,450,467

How can you understand but not speak a language?

[behind the wire]

id say of the 58k gaelic speakers in scotland there wouldnt be many fluent speakers. im just estimating but i would probably say there are more fluent irish speakers per head in the 6 counties than there would be scottish gaelic speakers in scotland. most of them probably as limited in scots gaelic as i am in irish. good to see traditional languages being revived though.

[Orior]

Gulpin is a great word , right up there with Hallion .

I once met an Australian woman whose surname was Hallion. It defo an Irish slang word for some bad person from hell, and is not ulster scots.

[Fiodoir Ard Mhacha]

good to see traditional languages being revived though.

aye, aan new wans bean made up an awl like.

[nifan]

every time i hear ulster scots promoted as a serious language i dont know whether to laugh or cry.

Its simply a dialect and accent, which is then written phonetically.

[Rossfan]

I recently hd reason to look up the website of the Dungannon/South Tyrone Council. While on it i looked at their Ulster Scotch version    Hilarious.
It's the Sooth Owenslann/Rathgannon Cooncil and it " taks in an airt o 315 squarr km, frae the broo o Lough Neagh tae tha Fermanay mearin an alang tha mairches o tha Coontie Ronelann"

I was goig to say you couldnt make it up  but obviously someone has 

[never kickt a ball]

How can you understand but not speak a language?

I can understand Ulster Scots but can't speak it unless like Ziggy when I'm drunk . At least we have a new name for the moderators - big heid yin.

Come on Mods. I dare you. Change your names to big heid yin1.

[Hurler on the Bitch]

I recently hd reason to look up the website of the Dungannon/South Tyrone Council. While on it i looked at their Ulster Scotch version    Hilarious.
It's the Sooth Owenslann/Rathgannon Cooncil and it " taks in an airt o 315 squarr km, frae the broo o Lough Neagh tae tha Fermanay mearin an alang tha mairches o tha Coontie Ronelann"

I was goig to say you couldnt make it up  but obviously someone has 

Ref: Sooth Owenslann (Tir Eoin) ... is that Eoin O' Neiil referred to? Jesus H Christ....! Now delving into Irish history to invent a language... Imagine the planters in the lowlands of Scotland being told that there was prime land in Ulster in a place called 'Sooth Owenslann' ..... I'd imagine the response after "Whae da Fick?" would have been "Shurrrly ya meane Dungannon ye wee fickin Daftie!"

[Orior]

SammyG,

Most people can also bless themselves in Irish, can you?