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THE NEW JUNIOR minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht has admitted his language skills may not quite be up to honours level.
Donegal Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh was confirmed today as Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs — and his job includes a ‘special responsibility’ for Gaeltacht matters.
Surely having more that a mere cúpla focal would be a primary requirement for such a role, one would think?
Maybe. But McHugh says he won’t be letting his lack of Irish hold him back.
Speaking to Donegal’s Highland Radio, he admitted his grasp of the teanga was “not great”.
But that’s because I haven’t been using it for a number of years.
“Obviously like a number of people we went to school, we did primary school, we did Leaving Cert and we tried to learn Irish the whole way through.
My conversational Irish certainly wouldn’t be great, that said.
However, he stressed that he was keen to learn, and was willing to “immerse myself in the language now that I’ve got this particular portfolio”.
Fianna Fáil TD and former Gaeltacht Affairs minister Éamon Ó Cuív said he was “shocked and disappointed” that the Taoiseach had chosen someone who is not a fluent speaker.
“Having fluent Irish should be an absolute prerequisite for a Minister with responsibility for the language; without it they cannot adequately carry out their duties in Gaeltacht Affairs,” Ó Cuív said in a statement.
He added that it showed the Government’s “total disinterest” in the the constitutional position of the language.
After Ó Cuív raised the issue in the Dáil this evening, Enda Kenny said that McHugh will take a refreshers course in the Irish language.
Meanwhile, a Government spokesperson said McHugh’s lack of Irish skills was simply “reflective of the fact that so few of our politicians speak Irish”.
“I don’t think Joe McHugh is going to be found wanting in fighting for the cause. But it is a fact that not any of our politicians can speak Irish,” the spokesperson said.
- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell
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He didn’t look too happy to see Kathryn
That ban gardai looks up for it……
Phwoar!
Poor bast*** had every culchie in the county trying to get a selfie. Must be head wrecking.
Kathryn broke wind.
It would seem I have been misusing the phrase “up in arms”… I didn’t realise it meant generally happy.
*up in arms 1. Fig. in armed rebellion. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The entire population is up in arms. They are up in arms, ready to fight. 2. Fig. very angry. (Fig. on {2}, but without weapons. *Typically: be ~; get ~.) Wally was up in arms about the bill for the broken window. I am really up in arms about what happened. No misuse occurred…on your part.
Grammar Ally
It might look harmless but do you know how distracting it is trying to do your job when dozens of beautiful women want to meet out and take selfies. It’s not easy being Tweety.
Haha… Will ya go on out of that !!. If it was raining boobies you would end up sucking your thumb ;)
Love how Le Blanc is just looking the other way in the selfie with Kathryn Thomas :)
Don’t generally get off on this type of stuff but that looks like great fun.
Some great selfies. (Did I just say that – Jesus what’s wrong with me)
Kenmare is a great town.
Valerie, look up the meaning of ‘up in arms’
Totally wrong use of “up in arms”. It indicates anger, not appreciation!
Should be “welcomed with open arms” rather than “up in arms”!
I’d say he’s knee deep in clunge
Irish people must be the most gullible,arse licking people on the planet.Makes me sick,especially women…so naive and pretentious…lol
Why were they not immediately introduced to the Healy-Rae’s?
F€ck sake…. That Kathryn Thomas wan just has to get her mug in everywhere….and it’s not even an RTE production.
The new top gear will be terrible. Looking forward to what amazon are going to do with jeremy and co.
Cork me ass. The dirtiest hole in Ireland (Genus McCullough, circa 1988).
Kerry is a shite hole of a place,, they should of come to cork
Maybe Kerry people would know the difference between “Of” and “Have”.
Matt Le Joey should of used his hand double with Cathryn
Cork me arse. The dirtiest hole in Ireland (Genus McCullough, circa 1988).
I call that “Kenmare Style”
‘I call that “Kenmare Style”‘
I call that “Kenmare Style”
Cork with a small c !
I call that “Kenmare Style”
I see they STILL haven’t fixed that ‘up in arms’ headline!
“Up in arms”. Cambridge dictionary definition: “to be very angry.”
Did they not teach you that in writin’ skool?
Kerry people will be up in arms with that headline.
Kenmare Shtyle more like… they’re easy pleased…if I saw him id keep walking.
I call that “Kenmare Style”
God bless the labourers , mentality and actuality. Pity the gravedigger for both rich and poor.
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