Eircom League and the Irish Lanaguage

**dcfcsteve** · 23/10/2007, 11:32 AM

I watch quite a bit of the Welsh Premier League on S4C, and am constantly impressed by how many people involved in Welsh football speak Cymraeg.

I know the country has a 20% Welsh-speaking population (weighted more towards younger age groups though), but it seems that about half the Managers in the league, and quite a few players, can speak the language fluently.

It's not just that S4C only favour teams with Welsh speaking management - they interview across a lot of teams, and mostly based upon who's doing well in the league, yet they seem to have little problem finding Welsh speakers. When you take out the fact that there are quite a few English Managers and players in their league, it really is impressive.

Then contrast that to the EL coverage on our own native-language channel. Unless I'm wrong, I don't think I've seen a single manager or player interviewed as Gaeilge by TG4 whilst screening games. In terms of commentators it looks like Charlie McKeever is the only soccer man in the country with more than a cupla focal. The contrast is immense, and shows how far behind Welsh the Irish Lanaguage is in terms of ensuring its survival/progression.

Does anyone know of any Irish speaking managers or teams in the league..?

**bohsmug** · 23/10/2007, 11:37 AM

Fireman Farrelly can speak Irish.

**dcfcsteve** · 23/10/2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by bohsmug

Fireman Farrelly can speak Irish.

You 'avin' a giraffe....?

**el punter** · 23/10/2007, 11:40 AM

Yeah Farrelly did an interview as Gaelige last season iirc

League legend Terry Eviston used to be the right hand man for the TG4 commentaries (TnaG as it was then). Always found him easier to understand as his Gaelige accent had plenty of Dublin in it.

**Dodge** · 23/10/2007, 11:41 AM

No, Farrelly is fluent. I've seen him interviewed as gaelige

**Patrick Dunne** · 23/10/2007, 12:29 PM

Ciaran Foley (Galway United)

**DRDoc** · 23/10/2007, 12:41 PM

i noticed at a few pats games the pa guy used a bit of Irish every now and again - maybe just the teams name though -cant be sure

The euro game i think

**Sam_Heggy** · 23/10/2007, 12:50 PM

James Gallagher (Finn Harps)
Totally get your point though, but not just players and managers, I wish I could speak fluent Irish. The systems in place in Wales is far superior to that in our schools. It's our national language and in all honesty, how many of us on here can speak fluent Irish?

**harpskid** · 23/10/2007, 1:03 PM

Our Chairman John Campbell is also a fluent speaker.

**Lim till i die** · 23/10/2007, 1:07 PM

Originally Posted by Patrick Dunne

Ciaran Foley (Galway United)

That's cheating

He's actually from the Aran Islands

**S�C** · 23/10/2007, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by Sam_Heggy

James Gallagher (Finn Harps)
The systems in place in Wales is far superior to that in our schools.

Wouldnt say that TBH...but thats a whole other issue.

The LOW teams come mainly from Welsh speaking areas anyway (mainly North and West Wales) with many of the anglophone area teams playing in the English leagues although Cardiff do have a piece in their programme in Welsh every week and have a few token references to Welsh much like the Pats PA guy does (used to do?)

At Cork City one of the PA announcers and Farrelly can speak fluent Irish outside of that dont really know many more

**CollegeTillIDie** · 23/10/2007, 1:39 PM

Alan O'Neill is also fluent in Gaeilge he is now the Under 21 goalkeeping coach.
Not sure about any other managers, coaches but there should be one or two players floating about the League who can do it.
UCD's media relations officer is fluent in Gaeilge.

**Kildare Lad** · 23/10/2007, 6:53 PM

I speak fluent Irish, and have written an article or two as gaeilge for Kildare County programmes.

Fiachra McArdle has a bit of Irish

**sonofstan** · 23/10/2007, 7:18 PM

Farrelly went to Col�iste Mhuire, which, up to a few years ago was one of the few scoileanna lan gaeilge in the city - there's plenty more now, so its possible that a few younger players might have better irish - though considering how few are fluent as b�arla.....

**Bucky-O'Hare** · 23/10/2007, 7:20 PM

Comparing Welsh with Irish is comparing chalk and cheese! Welsh is the first language for a very large chunk of that country where people only speak English when they have to! and away from those areas many people can speak it fluently. Of course many managers are going to be able to speak it!

**Paddyfield** · 23/10/2007, 7:45 PM

TnaG as it was then, had a feature about Galway United ten years ago. The only player that could speak Irish was Fergal Coleman who is from Dublin.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 23/10/2007, 8:11 PM

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

TnaG as it was then, had a feature about Galway United ten years ago. The only player that could speak Irish was Fergal Coleman who is from Dublin.

Whose father is from Galway.Fergal used to play for UCD he went to an all-Irish school in Dublin before that.

**el punter** · 23/10/2007, 8:39 PM

I sent an email to TG4 when they announced they were covering a heap of games live. I asked them to give us a translation of several common football expressions which we could put on the walkthechalk site to help those of us who's Gaelige is modest at best. It would have been a bit tongue in cheek with a few funny ones thrown in, but they never replied for whatever reason.

I'd still like to do it so if anyone (ahem, Kildare Lad) cares to volunteer their lingual expertise and help us out 'twould be appreciated.

**micls** · 23/10/2007, 8:43 PM

Originally Posted by el punter

I'd still like to do it so if anyone (ahem, Kildare Lad) cares to volunteer their lingual expertise and help us out 'twould be appreciated.

If you want to send me a list il give it a go. Would be fluent enough and work in a gaelscoil so can get a bit of help if im stuck

**Kildare Lad** · 23/10/2007, 8:45 PM

Originally Posted by el punter

I sent an email to TG4 when they announced they were covering a heap of games live. I asked them to give us a translation of several common football expressions which we could put on the walkthechalk site to help those of us who's Gaelige is modest at best. It would have been a bit tongue in cheek with a few funny ones thrown in, but they never replied for whatever reason.

I'd still like to do it so if anyone (ahem, Kildare Lad) cares to volunteer their lingual expertise and help us out 'twould be appreciated.

Yep Id be interested to help, could possibly get some of my school to help too. PM me with the details.