Unionists criticised for Irish language stance

Unionists criticised for Irish language stance

6 November 2013

A SINN Fein politician has called on unionists across the district to “embrace” the use of Irish language on Down Council signs and stationery.

The appeal by councillor Éammon Mac Con Midhe comes after the

DUP’s Billy Walker said he has stocked up on local authority stationery to avoid using new Irish language headed notepaper.

Councillor Walker said he’s “angry” at the Irish language being “forced” upon him following the recent introduction of Down Council’s bilingual policy.

It’s a view shared by a number of the local authority’s unionist members who have challenged a recent agreement for a new Down Council logo which will include the name of the council in Irish.

Councillor Walker placed an order for notepaper before the new changes came into force, but councillor Mac Con Midhe insists that the Irish language is something everyone shares and that it should not be politicised nor feared.

He continued: “It is unfortunate that unionist councillors seem intent on discriminating against the Irish language in Down District, especially given the fact that the use of Irish is on the increase in the north every year.

“We have seen recently a number of loyalists and unionist members of the community taking it upon themselves to embrace the Irish language and it’s time that the mainstream unionist parties also do so.”

Councillor Mac Con Midhe said the Irish language, regardless of political views, “is something that we all share in our heritage and should not be politicised.”

He declared: “Many unionists have found out through census records that at one stage in the past their family actually used Irish and English.

“The use of Irish by Down Council is a welcome progression and there is no attempt to force this down the throat of the unionist representatives. It is up to them to lead by example and show the unionist community that they have nothing to fear from the Irish language at all.”