George Chittick Irish language comments ‘pathetic and embarrassing’ – Ó Muirí | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

George Chittick Irish language comments ‘pathetic and embarrassing’ – Ó Muirí

Sinn Féin councillor Barra Ó Muirí said the comments by Orange Order leader George Chittick regarding Protestants learning the Irish language were ‘nothing more than an attempt at bullying people’.

Sinn Fein’s Barra Ó Muirí

Speaking to Newry Times, Councillor Ó Muirí said, “Clearly George Chittick fails to understand that the Irish language belongs to everyone.

“It is encouraging that sections of the Protestant community have embraced the learning of the language and have not felt it would dilute their unionist or British identity. What this leading Orangeman is clearly attempting to do is to bully those Protestants into giving up the Irish language.

“The language is there for everyone and no amount of backward looking and ignorant comments will change that.

He added, “Fortunately I would say that George Chittick does not speak for the wider Protestant community and that his comments will be seen more as pathetic and embarrassing than showing any form of leadership.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=39119

Posted by on Feb 6 2014. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

1 Comment for “George Chittick Irish language comments ‘pathetic and embarrassing’ – Ó Muirí”

  1. Éamonn Ó Gribín

    Given that SF has used the native tongue as a weapon in their so called war, perhaps we should not be in any way surprised by Mr Chitticks statement!

    If SF were to start trying to repair the damage that it has inflicted to the good standing of our language, then this would be a welcome development.

    The Gaelic language is part of our common heritage on this island and in Scotland.
    The majority of Gaelic speakers are Scots and of the Protestant denominations.
    The saying ‘Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam’, applies equally to Scotland as it does to Ireland. Iindeed, the ‘land of the Gael’ has been defined as extending from the north of Scotland to the southern tip of Ireland (from Caithness to Kerry).

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