MISNEACH le Feargal MacIonnrachtaigh

Le Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh

Bhí fuinneamh spreagúil agus atmaisfeár déarfach le mothú ag an chruinniú poiblí a d’eagraigh díograiseoirí teanga i mBáile Átha Cliath an tseachtain seo caite. Fograíodh go raibh grúpa úr feachtasaíochta tagtha ar an tsaol agus aidhm acu guth radacach a sholáthar do phobal na Gaeilge in Éirinn.

D’éist timpeall leathchéad daoine liomsa féin is an staraí iomráiteach Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh ag caint ar na modhanna streachailte is oiriúnaí d’athghábhail na Gaeilge sa mhílaois úr. Bhí plé fonnmhar ina dhiaidh i measc an tslua agus ba shoiléir go raibh aontas forleathan ann go bhfuil gearrghá le gluaiseacht Gaeilge atá neamhpléach ar mhaoiniú stáit, is saor ón pholaitíocht pháirtí.

Is nuair a roghnaigh na díograiseoirí teanga an t-ainm MISNEACH, gur léirigh siad ómós don siombálachas agus polaitíocht chumhachtach a craobhscaoil na ceannródaithe cróga a chuaigh roimpú.

Nuair a bunaíodh MISNEACH sna seascaidí le Máirtín Ó Cadhain et al i lár baire agus ag fógairt go neamhbhalbh gurb ionann ‘athghabháil na Gaeilge agus athghabháil na tíre’, bhí se le tuiscint go soiléir go raibh siad toilteanach dushlán an dá stát a ghlacadh maidir leis an teip leanúnach i dtaobh athréimniú na Gaeilge agus cothrom na féinne don Ghaeltacht.

Léirigh siad le gníomh radacach go dtiocfadh splanc mhisnigh á spreagadh sa chéad ghlúin eile agus brú déarfach a chuir ar an húdárais beart a dhéanamh de réir a mbriathair. Thaispeáin siad gur ón bhun aníos a thagann na forbairtí is suntasaí in athbheochan na teanga.

Spreag siad baicle de Ghaeil óga feirsteacha ó Chumann Chluain Aird a bhunaigh Gaeltacht Uirbeach agus scoil dá gcuid féin ónar eascair an t-atbhbheochan pobalbhunaithe sna sé contae. Bhí mána an Cadhanaigh i gcluasa Ghaeil Óga na Gaeltachta, chomh maith, nuair a bhunaigh siad staisiún Raidió dá chuid féin is iad ag náiriú Rialtas an tSaorstáit chun freastal ar mhianta is cearta phobal na Gaeilge.

Bíodh is fhogair Rialtas an saorstáit ‘polasaí cuimsitheach’ i leith na Gaeilge frí stráitéis 20 bliain don teanga, don chéad uair i stair an stáit, bréagnaíodh na committmintí láithreach le ciorruithe tromchúiseacha ar bhuiséad Údarás na Gaeltachta; cuíchoiriú ar eagraíochtaí Gaeilge; moladh ón Rialtas chun oifig an choimisinéara teanga a dhúnadh mar oifig neamhspleách agus a cúraimí a bhogadh chuig oifig an Ombudsman agus deireadh a chur le deontas  na nÁbhar Oidí a bhí ag freastal ar chúrsaí tumoideachais 3 seachtaine sa Ghaeltacht.

Sa Staitín tuaisceartach, tá se feicthe ag pobal na Gaeilge go mion minic nach raibh ach ‘aer te’ sa ‘ré úr’ ar gealladh dúinn leis an t-íosmhéid cosanta, tacaíochta agus forbartha don teanga taobh istigh de theorainneacha an tionscadail réitithe coimhlinte a d’eascair ó phróiseas na síochána anseo ó thuaidh. Áit a gcaiteár le Gaeil mar shaoránaigh den dara grad is bhagrófaí ar Chomhairle daonlathach go gcaillfídís maoiniú stáit ón Bhord Turasóireachta murach go bhfuil comharthaí turasóireachta i ‘mBéarla amháin’. Áit a ndiúltófaí seirbhisí taistíl do lucht an Ghaeloideachais beag beann ar athbhreithniú cúirte a chuir iachall ar an Fheidhmeannas ‘dualgas reachtúil’ s’acu i leith na teanga a chomhlíonadh.

Tugann an comhtéacs reatha seo spás soiléir do ghrúpa feachtasaíochta a bhéas sásta guth s’acu a ardú, dlúthphairtíocht a léiriú le Gaeil faoi chois agus na ceisteanna deácra a chur nuair atá is gá.

D’aontaigh díograiseoirí an cruinnithe i mBáile Atha Cliath, áfach, nach mbeidh an modheolaíocht feachtasaíochta a d’oibir sa seascaidí oiriúnach don mhílaois úr.

Ní mór don chur chuige a bheith oscailte, solúbtha agus meallacach don chead ghlúin eile a bhéas in ann lorg cruthaitheach s’acu féin a mhúnlú don teanga s’againn agus don todchaí s’againn.

 There was an inspiring energy and positive atmosphere at the public meeting organised by language enthusiasts in Dublin last week. It was announced that there was a new campaigning group with the aim to provide a radical voice for the Irish language community in Ireland.

More than fifty people listened to me and well known historian; Aindrias Ó Cathasaigh discuss the suitable methods for the recovery of the Irish language in the new millennium. There was an eager discussion after among the crowd and it was apparent that there was a wide acceptance that there is a dire need for an Irish language movement independent of state funding and non-party political.

Language enthusiasts played homage to the powerful symbolism and powerful politics that the strong leaders before them propagated by namingthe group MISNEACH.

When MISNEACH was established in the 60s with Máirtín Ó Cadhain et al declaring that the recovery of the Irish language equalled the recovery of the country, it was clearly understood that they were willing to challenge the state with regards to the constant failure regarding the progression of the Irish language and Gaeltacht.

They showed that you could inspire a spark of courage in the next generation with a radical act pressuring the authorities to follow through on their promises. They showed that the most important developments in the revival of the Irish language come from the bottom up.

They inspired a group of young Belfast Gaels from the Cluain Ard Club that established their own urban Gaeltacht and school that inspired a community based revival in the six counties. Ó Caidhain’s motto was in the ears of young Gaeltacht Gaels as well when they established their own radio station to shame the southern Government into addressing the needs and rights of the Irish language community.

Despite the Government in the South announcing “comprehensive policies” for the Irish language through the language’s 20 year strategy, for the first time in the history of the state, the commitments were proved false at once with severe cuts to the Gaeltacht Authorities’ budget; rationalization of Irish language organisations; the Government’s recommendation to close the language commissioner’s office and move the commissioners responsibilities to the Ombudsman’s office and to end the funding for teachers attending three week immersion education courses in the Gaeltacht.

In the north, it is apparent to the Irish language community all to regularly that it is only hot air regarding the “new era” where protection, support and development for the language is promised within the boundaries of the conflict resolution project that developed from the peace process here in the North.  It is a place where Gaels are treated as second class citizens and the democratic Council threaten that they will lose state funding from the Tourist Board if the tourist signs aren’t in English only, a place where travel services are refused to children receiving an Irish medium Education.

This modern context provides a place for a campaigning group that will be happy to elevate their voice; stand in solidarity with suppressed Gaels and to ask the hard questions when needed.

Enthusiasts at the meeting in Dublin agreed however, that the campaigning methodology utilised in the 60’s will not suit the new millennium.

An open, flexible and sensory approach is needed for the next generation of Gaels to form their own creativity for our language and our future.