Language Freedom Movement
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Hiberno-English The Language Freedom Movement (Template:Langx) was a political organisation founded in 1966 that was opposed to some aspects of the state-attempted revival of the Irish language in the Republic of Ireland. The organisation had the backing of several notable Irish-speaking writers including Séamus Ó Grianna ("Máire") and John B. Keane.<ref>John B Keane, The Guardian, 31 May 2002, retrieved 8 June 2009</ref><ref name="crowley">Wars of Words: The Politics of Language in Ireland 1537–2004, Tony Crowley, Oxford University Press, 2005, Template:ISBN, 9780199273430</ref>
Concerns
Examinations
At the time the organisation was formed, if a student failed the Irish paper in their Leaving Certificate, they were deemed to have failed the whole exam.<ref name="doe"/> This requirement was abolished in 1973, although students are still obliged to study Irish as part of the Leaving Certificate programme and a pass is required for Irish students entering almost all Irish universities (but not for foreign students). In 1974, Irish was removed as a requirement for entry to the civil service.<ref name="doe"/>
Textbooks
Significant changes in the Leaving Certificate maths curriculum were reflected in two new textbooks produced by the Irish Christian Brothers. However, material for the new honours (higher-level) syllabus was offered only in a government-subsidised book in Irish while the pass (lower-level) material was published in English. The situation continued for several years until affordable alternative textbooks eventually became available.
Mansion House meeting
The organisation held a meeting in the Mansion House in Dublin on 21 September 1966.<ref name="doe"/><ref>A New History of Ireland, T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin, Francis John Byrne, William E. Vaughan, Art Cosgrove, Dáibhí Ó Crónin, p.445</ref> It was advertised by a poster with a cartoon depicting the "Gaelic language policy" as a well-fed cow sitting atop the educational system.<ref name=di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement/> The meeting was chaired by broadcaster Gay Byrne.<ref name=di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement>Template:Cite news</ref> About 2000 people turned up, though most of them seemed opposed to the organisation.<ref name="doe">From Language Revival to Survival, Donncha Ó hEallaithe, anghaeltacht.net, originally published in Template:Cite book, citing Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement/> Opponents taunted the organisers by waving Union Jacks at them and singing "God Save the Queen".<ref name="doe"/><ref name=di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement/> As John B. Keane got up to speak, one man seized an Irish Tricolour from the table used by the organisation, shouting that the flag should not be displayed at such a meeting.<ref name="doe"/><ref name=di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement/> A fight involving ten men broke out and calm was only restored when the LFM agreed to four of their opponents speaking at the meeting.<ref name="doe"/>
The Gardaí were also present at the meeting. At the request of the organisers, Patrick Byrne TD had asked the Garda Commissioner to ensure law and order prevailed.<ref>Dáil Éireann - Volume 225 – 29 November, 1966 Template:Webarchive</ref>
Irish language writer Máirtín Ó Cadhain and Mick Ryan (the IRA O/C of Dublin) were involved in the disruption of the meeting.<ref>Exam success: clever people are not always the intelligent ones, Con Houlihan, Sunday Independent, 23 September 2007, retrieved 1 July 2009</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement/>
See also
References
Further reading
External links
- Clip of RTE 7 Days report from 1967 (Windows Media Player). News report on the Language Freedom Movement public meeting at the Mansion House.
- James Hardiman Library Archives - G44 - Language Freedom Movement - archive of materials from 1966 to 1974 held at NUI Galway