FRESH TAKE: New President’s love of the Irish language could lead to opportunities for Donegal

WHEN Catherine Connolly took the oath of office this week as Ireland’s tenth president, she spoke about unity, change and identity, and about her wish to lead through both Irish and English, with a particular focus on the former.

Her intention to make Irish the working language of the Áras had stirred debate long before her inauguration, drawing praise and curiosity in equal measure. Some see it as a bold step forward for the language, while others wonder how practical it might prove in daily life.
Here in Donegal, where Irish lives through our Gaeltacht communities, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride at seeing the language carried into the country’s highest office.

The idea that official business in the Áras could be conducted through Irish – not just the greetings, but meetings, correspondence and planning – is a significant one and brings excitement.

Visitors to Áras an Uachtaráin have always been welcomed with some Irish, of course. Presidents before Connolly used the language in greetings, speeches and state occasions.

But making Irish the working language of the Áras goes further. It suggests that our native language will be part of the daily rhythm of the presidency, the language in which business is done, not only in which ideals are expressed. That would be a big cultural shift and with it come challenges.
Not everyone working in the Áras will be fluent and the process of ensuring that staff can both converse and operate in Irish will take time, resources and patience.

The State’s own record in making public service roles accessible to bilingual staff has been mixed. Legal and administrative documents, internal communications and even casual workplace exchanges could all need new support if Irish is to be used meaningfully day to day.

But Catherine Connolly has never been one to shy away from a difficult brief. Her political career has shown her to be both balanced and steely, the kind of leader who weighs principle against practicality, and usually finds the right footing between the two.
There’s no reason to think she’ll take on a different persona as president. If anything, her steady approach may be exactly what this ambitious goal requires.

During her campaign and again on Tuesday she spoke often about inclusion. So it’s unlikely she would push an agenda that alienates or excludes those who aren’t fluent. Instead, she seems intent on creating space for Irish to be used naturally, places where people can learn, participate and feel part of something, rather than left outside it.

For Donegal, there are obvious opportunities. Our Gaeltacht colleges and communities are well placed to offer support and training, not just for young people but also for public servants and staff who want to strengthen their Irish.

There is a chance here to connect the symbolic centre of the presidency with the living heart of the language in counties like Donegal.
Language campaigner and TG4 presenter Hector Ó hEochagáin recently described this as “the golden age of the Irish language”, pointing to Irish-medium schools, musicians, and the growing presence of Irish online. He’s right; there’s a buzz and a new confidence about the language now. Irish is cool!

And if the Áras becomes a place where it’s genuinely part of the working day, that confidence will only grow.
Still, it won’t be easy. It’s one thing to speak Irish at formal occasions; it’s another to run an office in it.
The success of any initiative will depend on how it’s implemented. It will have to be done sensitively, gradually, and with an understanding of the realities faced by staff, many of whom have worked there for many years.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see what it means in practice. But one thing seems certain: with Catherine Connolly in the Áras, the Irish language will no longer sit quietly in the corner. It will be heard, respected and, if all goes well, spoken more widely than before.
For our native tongue, surely that’s something to feel positive about. And for Donegal and its Gaeltacht communities that have carried it through the years, it feels like overdue recognition of their steady commitment.

Sabrina Sweeney’s Fresh Take column features every Thursday in the Donegal News.