With the announcement of the GAA's new TV deals, the moving of the Minor finals to TV3 as stand alone fixtures is surely a demotion for the Minor players themselves, as well as the Irish Language. The Minor deciders delivered in the beautiful commentary of Micheál Ó Sé have become part and parcel of All-Ireland final day.
This is the second such demotion in the last number of years for the Minors, with winning Captains not being afforded the chance to deliver a winning captains speech.
Martin Breheny has added fuel to the fire with his views on the Minor showpieces being commentated upon as Gaeilge.
TV3 must break language barrier
By Martin Breheny
Wednesday November 17 2010
Effectively, the GAA are encouraging TV3 to continue with RTE's policy of disenfranchising the majority of people who, for reasons linked with the appalling way Irish has been taught (the fault is with the system, not the teachers), don't understand the language.
I was savaged by some irate readers a few weeks back for suggesting it was wrong to have the International Rules games on TG4 because of the Irish commentary, but here it goes again: it's equally wrong to have the minor finals broadcast in Irish.
It's the height of arrogance to impose the will of the minority on the majority under the spurious pretext of promoting the Irish language. Yes, Irish is our native tongue. It's also a beautiful language which has been betrayed by a stupid approach to fostering it. The figures don't lie and if the majority of people still have little knowledge of Irish, the system of teaching it must be wrong.
Broadcasting the All-Ireland minor finals in Irish doesn't do anything to promote the language, but it does a lot to annoy people who want to enjoy the games with a commentary they understand.
TV3 have a glorious opportunity to end the nonsense and, in the process, multiply their audience figures. My guess is that they'll take it.
- Martin Breheny
Irish Independent
This is the second such demotion in the last number of years for the Minors, with winning Captains not being afforded the chance to deliver a winning captains speech.
Martin Breheny has added fuel to the fire with his views on the Minor showpieces being commentated upon as Gaeilge.
TV3 must break language barrier
By Martin Breheny
Wednesday November 17 2010
Effectively, the GAA are encouraging TV3 to continue with RTE's policy of disenfranchising the majority of people who, for reasons linked with the appalling way Irish has been taught (the fault is with the system, not the teachers), don't understand the language.
I was savaged by some irate readers a few weeks back for suggesting it was wrong to have the International Rules games on TG4 because of the Irish commentary, but here it goes again: it's equally wrong to have the minor finals broadcast in Irish.
It's the height of arrogance to impose the will of the minority on the majority under the spurious pretext of promoting the Irish language. Yes, Irish is our native tongue. It's also a beautiful language which has been betrayed by a stupid approach to fostering it. The figures don't lie and if the majority of people still have little knowledge of Irish, the system of teaching it must be wrong.
Broadcasting the All-Ireland minor finals in Irish doesn't do anything to promote the language, but it does a lot to annoy people who want to enjoy the games with a commentary they understand.
TV3 have a glorious opportunity to end the nonsense and, in the process, multiply their audience figures. My guess is that they'll take it.
- Martin Breheny
Irish Independent