Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
MadForAds
Propertynews
TUV apologise for calling Irish a 'leprechaun language'
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Hard-line unionist party, The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), has apologised for branding Irish a "leprechaun language".
The TUV led by former MEP Jim Allister is to hold its annual conference today as it tries to build-on efforts to draw support from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
The TUV is a trenchant critic of the DUP decision to share power with Sinn Fein, but had to apologise after issuing a press release attacking the translation of Stormont government documents into Irish.
The party hit-out at news that Sinn Fein's Minister for Education Caitriona Ruane spent £47,062 on Irish translations, but its press release on the issue read: "TUV Blast Leprechaun Language Waste."
The TUV's vice chair Keith Harbinson, in whose name the statement was issued, has since apologised and said no offence was intended.
But the Alliance Party politician who revealed details of the Education Minister's spending by tabling a question at the Northern Ireland Assembly, said the TUV blunder was an embarrassment.
"This was a despicable and deeply immature comment. The TUV have shown their true colours during this episode," said the Alliance Party's Trevor Lunn.
"They tried to cynically use the answer to my question and all they managed to do was embarrass themselves.
"My question was balanced as it asked about both Irish and Ulster Scots translations and the answer was revealing in that there appears to be little demand for Ulster Scots translation services in this Department."
The Alliance Party representative's Assembly question found that between 2007/08 and 2008/09 the figure spent on Irish translation in the Education Department rose from £13,274 to £47,062.
He said: "I am in favour of the promotion of the Irish language but I am also in favour of value for money, and that was what this question is about."
The TUV said it apologised for its 'leprechaun language' comment and said the remark had only served to distract from the party's opposition to Ms Ruane's spending.
Jim Allister is a former member of the DUP who left the party over its decision to enter power-sharing government with republicans.
In June's European election his party was seen to have eaten into the DUP's support base.
Sinn Fein's Bairbre De Brun topped the poll, a first for a republican candidate in Northern Ireland, with 126,184 votes, representing 26% of the first preference votes.
The Democratic Unionists had previously topped the poll in every European election since 1979.
But after Mr Allister won 66,197 votes, representing 13.7% support, the DUP tally dramatically fell.
The DUP won 18.2% support in this year's Euro poll, a major drop from the 32% it won in the previous European election in 2004.
DUP candidate Diane Dodds took 88,346 votes, winning a seat without reaching the quota.
Mr Allister will today use his party conference to underline its opposition to power-sharing and launch its plans for the next General Election.
- Text Size
If you read what 30 somethings in Ireland are saying its how they were forced to learn a nice but useless language at school and would French not be more handy than Gaelic since everyone is talking about leaving that sinking ship known as Ireland?
The TUV are disgusting as we all know what their idea of so-called family values really means, this slip up has them also as bitter and immature.
So do leprechauns really speak English then is that what all the fuss is about?
Posted by Old Knudsen | 20.03.10, 19:26 GMT
MC, hilarious that you seem to think that you are even remotely funny.
"Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP address logged and may be used to prevent further submissions."
I believe BT have a policy for a lot of your comments.
Is that what happened to "Mickey" and the various other anagrams that you used.
Besides, it is difficult for anyone to play any sectarian card seeing that you appear to hold the entire deck.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 10.11.09, 12:02 GMT
Hilarious that my original post was removed! Wonder who complained and on what grounds. Glad that others found a way to quote me. Interesting that they view my comments as sectarian (waspish too!!) rather than a passing observation. Playing the old sectarian card I see. Yawn.
Surprise surprise surprise - that one incident is viewed as merely a "halloween prank" too.
Posted by Mc | 09.11.09, 15:30 GMT
Teanga beatha agus í á labhairt!
(A language lives when it is spoken)
And it certainly is. In many places. The various classes I have attended over the years are always packed out. There are numerous cultural and language festivals taking place all the time over Ireland (north and south) To say it is a dead language is ridiculous and only wishful thinking by those who still, after all these years wish to engage in cultural imperialism. They never will get it.
Posted by In The Name Of The Fada | 09.11.09, 14:47 GMT
"...the usual suspects are getting their knickers in a twist over the amusing description of a dead language here.
Notwithstanding the imbecilic comment that Irish is a "dead language" (with over 1 million Irish people declaring themselves competent in the language in the last census, your definition of "dead" is strange to say the least), if one takes your point to its logical conclusion, the TUV are analogous to a group of Halloween pranksters.
Not many here take your obtuse sectarian ramblings seriously but as regards the latter point, you've hit the nail on the head buddy.
Posted by Serge | 09.11.09, 14:18 GMT
"Shoe's on the other foot now and the usual suspects are getting their knickers in a twist over the amusing description of a dead language here."
With over 500,000 daily speakers, and up to 90,000 living in Gaeltacht communities, that is to say Irish-only speaking areas, how exactly could the language be considered "dead"?
Does a dead language have its own dedicated TV station, talk shows, radio, newspapers et al.?
By your bizarre measurements, should Welsh be considered the same then?
Though you seem to have rather limited capabilities vis-a-vis logic, let me make it crystal clear to you - just because a language is no longer spoken by the majority of a country or region's population, that in no way renders it "dead".
Hence, Basque, Occitan, Catalan et al. are still minority languages, national languages in their own way if you will, that are still very much alive.
Your neverending waspish sectarianism is rather laughable.
Posted by Wolfe Tone | 09.11.09, 13:58 GMT
"I'm reminded how funny everyone found the pictures of the sheep daubed in Irish Tricolours."
That was done as a Halloween prank, are you really trying to insinuate that the TUV issued this press release as a holiday joke?
It seems your reading and, more importantly, reasoning functions are close to redundant, though from a TUV sympathizer that shouldn't surprise anyone.
Posted by Baile Atha Cliath | 09.11.09, 13:48 GMT
What a shocking comment from the person representing the views of the 'Parental Alliance for Choice in Education'.
If this is an official stance then I and many others who have supported them over the years will support them no longer!!!!!
Posted by Shocked Parent | 09.11.09, 13:03 GMT
I'd rather speak a Leprechaun language (and a very much alive one at that) than a Mickey Mouse dialect which masquerades as a language despite not having a dictionary or one single registered native speaker, despite the millions of pounds of taxpayers' money which has been wasted in promoting it.
Still, it was a Mickey Mouse party which made the stupid comment so fair's fair...
Posted by Gerry | 09.11.09, 13:02 GMT
Mc, are you comparing the TUV to a group of no-good bigotted thugs?
Well that's all right then
Posted by Ulysses32 | 09.11.09, 12:50 GMT
Who knows? Maybe Jim Allister could link up with the BNP in the same way the UUP did with the Conservatives.
The behaviour and attitude of the parties do seem very similar.
Posted by Ulysses32 | 09.11.09, 10:25 GMT
Why no mention by the Belfast Telegraph of the origins of the "leprechaun language" quip made by Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, MP,MLA in the Irish News in November 1987?
It seems that Trevor Lunn of Alliance must have erased the quote into the Memory Hole also. There is no apology on record for Mr Wilson's remark.
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 09.11.09, 09:34 GMT
Comments such as Allisters are clearly motivated by deep seated fear, paranoia and a pure, blind hatred. The
He is to be pitied and laughed at as he can't help but display his buffoonery each time he opens his mouth.
Posted by Linguist | 09.11.09, 08:56 GMT
At least Gaelic is an actual language...any expenditure on a language that is no more than a bastardised English (Ulster Scots) is an embarrassment.
ie: Toilets for Ladies
- Ladies
- Mra
- Weemin?
Posted by hope | 08.11.09, 16:34 GMT
Why should the TUV have to apologise?
Ask anyone what the first thing they think of when they think of Ireland and the answer will be 'leprechaun' So if the entire world connects leprechauns with Ireland then why not refer the irish language as 'leprechaun language'?
Posted by Stuart | 08.11.09, 00:21 GMT
Onwards we march North men South men comrades all!!
Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 07.11.09, 19:52 GMT
If Mr Allisters party get into power{ its a very big 'if'} who do they think they will be sitting down with?? Gusty Spence learned the language of the leprechaun and became fluent! What country or planet you are in no one here in England knows!! Its no wonder the people of Ulster cannot move on with the rest of the world whilst people who are misfits band together and form a so-called political party! The days of justifying huge salaries by banging a drum and giving people a Papist threat are over. What is your opinion of the Scots Gaelic=the wee mans language?
Posted by Maggie Irvine | 07.11.09, 19:35 GMT
Nothing more than one would expect from this group of sectarian, fundamentalists
It just shows what a sad place Northern Ireland is when clowns like this can spread their hateful race-tinged propaganda without fear of losing much support, if any at all.
Irish is one of Europe's oldest living languages (far older than English) with only Greek and Latin having a longer literary history. It is Ulster and Ireland's native language and one critical to understanding our shared national heritage. Along with its derivatives, Scots Gaelic (which upwards of 10% of Scottish Protestant settlers spoke on coming to Ireland) and Manx, Irish has played an instrumental role in the literary and political history of these islands.
The attempts by this band of backward simpletons to denigrate it only further marginalizes them in the minds of rational-thinking voters.
A "leprechaun" language indeed.
Posted by Serge | 07.11.09, 15:15 GMT
The mask slips although not for the first time, the TUV remind everyone that they are a backward intransigent bunch of bigots that have nothing to offer society let alone Unionism. What does TUV stand for? 'Totally Useless Voice' I think
Posted by shane | 07.11.09, 13:33 GMT
If leprechauns existed they'd undoubtedly be gaelgoirí and probably have more political nous than the TUV.
They should really be concerned about the amount of money spent on the promotion of a bumpkin dialect of English called Ulster-Scots.
Posted by Jason | 07.11.09, 04:11 GMT