Polish as Irelands Third Offical language?

Osiol,

You have failed in comprehending why English is spoken on a day to day basis (even though it is the second national language) though reasons have been outlined already in my post.

The fact is that 41% of the population in the Republic can speak Irish. Not Polish. And the level of Irish used on a day to day basis is likely to vary little with Polish.

Also, Irish is not just spoken in a 'few areas in the West.' There are many Gaeltacht villages and towns up and down the West of the country, the south-west, and the north west; each in three provinces of Connacht, Munster, and Ulster (not all of Ulster is in Northern Ireland). Also, the Ring region in Co. Waterford in the south east is a Gaeltacht area, as well as the Ráth Cairn region in north Leinster.

Outside of this there are thousands of Gaeilscoileanna (Irish primary schools) and Gaelscoil Colaiste (Irish high school) where subjects are taught in Irish and children are required to speak in Irish at all times, even during lunch hour. (Interesting that we have five Polish primary schools already in Ireland).

So many Polish do not even visit outside Dublin city. For those than haven't even been to Dublin, it is better to research something and know what you are talking about first i guess.

Johan, everything is enjoyable when consumed in moderation. I often thought some Irish people consumed too much drink and cultivated the Irish stereotype, but I see many Polish men even more heavily intoxicated and looking to start fights with everyone on the streets of Dublin. And quite often it seems they think they can come to another country and spread physical and verbal racist and homophobic abuse at people. If you don't want to live in a free democratic society free for Catholic/Christian brainwashing, go to never never Kaczynski land (thats gone now hopefully). It is disgusting - and it is these people who give the Polish a bad name.

Java, as pointed out already, Ireland has a first, second and third language. An addition would be a fourth language. As said before, there is no mandate for this. Plus, there was no such mandate when thousands of Irish went to work for AIB/WZBK bank in Poland years ago.

Change was inevitable in Poland and I'm glad people had the courage to vote for this, not like the Irish who voted with their pocket and kept Dirty Bertie in government. So, we will have to wait and see how quick change will transform Poland and entice people back, if at all. Whether change happens or not there, the Irish economy is now waning and will be a less attractive place for Poles to come and work in a few years. So, soon, the numbers of Polish people here will dwindle somewhat and, although there is no actual motion or mandate to make Polish a fourth national language here, it would be less likely anyway.

I for one enjoy this new injection of culture. This is the first time since the Vikings that Ireland has been 'invaded' to mass and rapid extent of an alien culture and 'genetic stock.' This is enriching on so many levels, and I'm enjoying my own exploration of the Polish folk culture and ancient pre-Christian traditions.

As Truth and others have pointed out there is no mandate for such a constitutional change which would be required in order to make Polish an official language. In order for the constitution to be changed a referendum would have to be held and thats not going to happen. I think the journalist who proposed this is more interested in getting his and his newspapers name in the spotlight with a view to boosting his circulation.

Just regarding some of the other points raised here, I would agree that the Irish economy is now faltering and following Tusks victory I would guess that 2009 will be the year that many Poles begin to head home. The construction industry, which has been the engine of our economic growth, is in a state of near collapse as we are now in the throes of a property crash. Things are going to get a lot worse before they begin to get better and unemployment is likely to rise steeply next year. It is likely that Ireland will have a higher level of unemployent than Poland by 2009.

I would also disagree with suggestions that Poles are somehow badly treated in Ireland. Maybe its different in England but Poles are the employees of choice for many business people here now. My girlfriend is Polish and she has told me many times that her Irish boss wont employ working class Irish girls as he sees them as less trustworthy and of lower calibre than Polish. When they come into the shop to enquire about work their CVs invariably end up in the bin. Also, in the part of Dublin where I live, the drug addicts and homeless people on the streets are exclusively Irish while the Poles and other foreigners go about their daily business around them. Im sure that there have probably been some instances where Poles have got a rough time in work but for the most part I feel they are very well regarded here in Ireland.

As for Polish as an official language, Im afraid thats a non-runner.

Hey, now don't generalize. I'm American and I believe in Diversity. The U.S.A does not have an official language and it has never had one. The reason is because we are so diverse. We believe that everyone should get recognized for who and what they are. We aren't perfect but we are here and so we make the best of it. Why do you need someone to recognize who you really are, screw them, its there loss not yours-be prous of who and where you come from.