Language Freedom Movement

The Language Freedom Movement (Irish: Gluaiseacht Saoirse Teanga) 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.^[1]^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[3]

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.^[3]^[4] It was advertised by a poster with a cartoon depicting the "Gaelic language policy" as a well-fed cow sitting atop the educational system.^[5] The meeting was chaired by broadcaster Gay Byrne.^[5] About 2000 people turned up, though most of them seemed opposed to the organisation.^[3]^[5] Opponents taunted the organisers by waving Union Jacks at them and singing "God Save the Queen".^[3]^[5] 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.^[3]^[5] 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.^[3]

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.^[6]

Irish language writer Máirtín Ó Cadhain and Mick Ryan (the IRA O/C of Dublin) were involved in the disruption of the meeting.^[7]^[8]^[5]

References

^ John B Keane, The Guardian, 31 May 2002, retrieved 8 June 2009
^ Wars of Words: The Politics of Language in Ireland 1537–2004, Tony Crowley, Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-19-927343-X, 9780199273430
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g From Language Revival to Survival, Donncha Ó hEallaithe, anghaeltacht.net, originally published in Mac Murchaidh, Ciarán (2004). Who Needs Irish?: Reflections on the Importance of the Irish Language Today. Veritas Publications. ISBN 1-85390-777-4., citing Tobin, Fergal (1984). The best of decades: Ireland in the nineteen sixties. Gill and Macmillan.
^ A New History of Ireland, T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin, Francis John Byrne, William E. Vaughan, Art Cosgrove, Dáibhí Ó Crónin, p.445
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Fallon, Donal (6 February 2019). "Flying Fists, Union Jacks, and the Launch of the Language Freedom Movement". Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
^ Dáil Éireann - Volume 225 – 29 November, 1966 Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^ Exam success: clever people are not always the intelligent ones, Con Houlihan, Sunday Independent, 23 September 2007, retrieved 1 July 2009
^ Johnston, Roy (2003). Century of Endeavour: A Biographical and Autobiographical View of the 20th Century in Ireland. Academica Press, LLC. p. 203. ISBN 9781930901766.

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

[1] John B Keane, The Guardian, 31 May 2002, retrieved 8 June 2009

[crowley-2] Wars of Words: The Politics of Language in Ireland 1537–2004, Tony Crowley, Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 0-19-927343-X, 9780199273430

[doe-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g From Language Revival to Survival, Donncha Ó hEallaithe, anghaeltacht.net, originally published in Mac Murchaidh, Ciarán (2004). Who Needs Irish?: Reflections on the Importance of the Irish Language Today. Veritas Publications. ISBN 1-85390-777-4., citing Tobin, Fergal (1984). The best of decades: Ireland in the nineteen sixties. Gill and Macmillan.

[4] A New History of Ireland, T.W. Moody, F.X. Martin, Francis John Byrne, William E. Vaughan, Art Cosgrove, Dáibhí Ó Crónin, p.445

[di-donal-flying-fists-union-jacks-and-the-launch-of-the-language-freedom-movement-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Fallon, Donal (6 February 2019). "Flying Fists, Union Jacks, and the Launch of the Language Freedom Movement". Dublin Inquirer. Retrieved 15 February 2021.

[6] Dáil Éireann - Volume 225 – 29 November, 1966 Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine

[7] Exam success: clever people are not always the intelligent ones, Con Houlihan, Sunday Independent, 23 September 2007, retrieved 1 July 2009

[8] Johnston, Roy (2003). Century of Endeavour: A Biographical and Autobiographical View of the 20th Century in Ireland. Academica Press, LLC. p. 203. ISBN 9781930901766.

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