Statement in solidarity with Irish speaking communities in the six counties fighting for their language rights.
Tugann Páirtí Cumannach na hÉireann a lántacaíocht do ghníomhaithe An Dream Dearg agus cuireann siad a ndlúthpháirtíocht leis na mílte agóideoirí in iúl a bheidh ar na sráideanna ar ‘An Lá Dearg’ i mBéal Feirste ar an 21ú Bealtaine. Meastar go mbeidh na mílte feachtasóirí, maisithe i ndath dearg, ar shráideanna Bhéal Feirste an deireadh seachtaine seo, le dul i mbun feachtais ar son reachtaíochta don Ghaeilge.
Beidh comrádaithe ó chraobhacha Betty Sinclair agus ó mhórcheantar Bhéal Feirste de Pháirtí Cumannach na hÉireann ar na sráideanna agus iad gléasta i ndath dearg, leis na agóideoirí, ag éileamh go gcuirfí Acht na Gaeilge i bhfeidhm láithreach do Thuaisceart Éireann.
Bhí Páirtí Cumannach na hÉireann chun tosaigh i gcónaí ar son aitheantas agus cosaint chuí do theanga dhúchais na hÉireann agus tá muid chun tosaigh lenár mbeartas dátheangach a chuirtear i bhfeidhm ar fhoilseacháin, ar mheirgí feachtais agus ar ábhair pholaitiúla.
Molaimid gníomhaithe tiomanta ‘An Dream Dearg’ as a ndíograis gan staonadh chun Feidhmeannas Stormont agus Rialtas na Breataine a choinneáil cuntasach as a dteip ar chomhlíonadh na ngealltanas agus na gcomhaontuithe a tugadh do phobal na Gaeilge ón bhliain 2007 i leith.
Dúirt Gearóid Ó Macháil, Cathaoirleach de Chraobh Betty Sinclair agus mórghníomhaí ar chearta teanga:
“Níl an ghlúin nua Gaeilgeoirí sásta a thuilleadh leithcheal stáit agus údaráis áitiúila a ghlacadh i gcoinne cainteoirí Gaeilge agus a dteaghlaigh. Ní mór freastal ar chearta chun teacht ar sheirbhísí poiblí i nGaeilge ar nós clubanna óige, áiseanna fóillíochta, seirbhísí leighis agus cúirte, mar is cearta diúltaithe iad na cearta a gcuirtear moill orthu!
“Tá teachtaireacht an-díreach do Rialtas na Breataine againn agus go deimhin don DUP agus do dhaoine eile a leanann ar aghaidh ag crosadh agus ag cur bac ar chearta teanga – is é sin go leanfaimid orainn ag tabhairt ar na sráideanna, ag tacú agus ag eagrú ár gcearta.
“Níl cainteoirí Gaeilge sásta go gcaithfí leo mar shaoránaigh den dara grád inár dtír féin a thuilleadh. Tá sé in am againn ár dteanga dhúchais a chosaint faoin dlí.
“Leanfaimid orainn ag dul i mbun feachtais agus ag eagrú go dtí go mbainfear amach ár bhfís maidir le todhchaí níos cuimsithí agus níos caoinfhulangaí agus sochaí bunaithe ar chearta a thugann meas ar chách.
“Tá súil againn gur lá iontach é Dé Sathairn. Beidh ceol agus píosa cóisir sráide ann, atmaisféar féile. Beidh péinteáil aghaidheanna mar aon le himeachtaí teaghlaigh ar siúl .
“Nuair a shroichimid Lár Chathair Bhéal Feirste beidh daoine óga againn go háirithe, as ár scoileanna agus ár gclubanna óige, ag labhairt faoin tábhacht a bhaineann le cearta teanga agus seirbhísí dóibh.
“Beidh ceol agus imeachtaí ar siúl thart ar 2:30pm i Halla na Cathrach agus mar sin tá muid ag súil le lá iontach agus tá muid ag iarraidh ar gach duine dearg a chaitheamh, dath ár bhfeachtas”.
The Communist Party of Ireland offers its full support to the activists of An Dream Dearg and expresses solidarity with the thousands of protestors taking to the streets on ‘An Lá Dearg’ in Béal Feirste on 21st May. Thousands of campaigners adorned in red are expected on the streets of Belfast this weekend to campaign for Irish language legislation.
Comrades from both the Betty Sinclair and Greater Belfast Branches of The Communist Party of Ireland will be on the streets, dressed in red, with the protestors, calling for immediate implementation of an Irish language rights act for the north of Ireland.
The Communist Party of Ireland has always been to the fore in advocating for due recognition and protection of the native language of Ireland and we lead the way with our bilingual policy applied to publications, campaign banners and political materials.
We commend and salute the committed activists of ‘An Dream Dearg’ for their relentless determination in holding the Stormont Executive and the British Government to account for their failure to fulfil pledges and agreements made to the Irish language community since 2007.
Betty Sinclair Branch Chairperson and leading Irish language rights activist, Gearóid Ó Machail stated:
A new generation of Irish language speakers is no longer willing to tolerate state and local authority discrimination against Irish speakers and their families. Rights to access public services in Irish such as youth clubs, leisure facilities, medical and court services need to be accommodated immediately, because rights delayed are rights denied!
“We have a very direct message for the British Government and indeed for the DUP and others who continue to veto and block language rights – that is we will continue to take to the streets, advocate and organise for our rights.
“Irish speakers are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens in our own country. It’s time our native and indigenous language was protected in law.
“We are going to keep on campaigning and organising, until our vision of a more inclusive and tolerant future and a rights based society that respects all, is finally achieved.
“We hope for a great day on Saturday. There’ll be music and a bit of a street party, a festival atmosphere. There’ll be face painting and family events.
“When we get to Belfast City Centre we’ll have young people especially, from our schools and youth clubs, speaking about the importance of language rights and services to them.
“There’ll be music and events at around 2:30pm at City Hall, so we are hoping for a brilliant day and we are asking everyone to wear red, the colour of our campaign”.
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