7 January 1999 Edition

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Mála Poist

Praise for Balcombe Four



A chairde,

I was very pleased to see the coverage in An Phoblacht (10 December 1998) regarding the `Balcombe Street Four' republican prisoners, now entering their twenty-fourth year of incarceration. I am writing in particular to confirm the paragraph on page 14 in the article by Róisín de Rossa, where it tells of ``the respect that the Balcombe Street POWs won amongst the prisoners in England for the strength of their determination in the face of the deliberate persecution and brutality they faced''.

As an Englishman imprisoned as a result of my support for the Irish republican socialist cause, I consider it a great privilege to have met and known the Balcombe Street Four, who gave me much encouragement, and who had clearly won the respect of other prisoners in their stand against vicious prison conditions.

I must also add that my above remarks also apply to all other Irish republican prisoners I met, a total stand of strength and principle.

The conclusion must be that the Balcombe Street Four have been chosen as political hostages by the British government, and we must demand their immediate release.

Ex Republican Prisoner

Memories of Nana Gildernew



A chairde,

While reading your latest edition on the web I came across your write up of ``Nana'' Gildernew.

I just want to say that in 1992, we were subjected to this wonderful lady's hospitaliy.

We spent nearly a month with her in Eglish (Co Tyrone) and our first experience of Ireland was made richer and more memorable than words can tell through the love and kindness of Nana and her lovely family.

We will always remember her with all the love and affection she so well deserved.

Our only regret is that we didn't get to meet her years before. She deepened our love and respect for all the people of Ireland. God rest her soul.

Sincerely from the bottom of our hearts,

Joh and Irene Bailey, USA

Cearta Gaeilge á séanta/Rights of Irish speakers denied



A chairde,

Tá cearta á shéanadh ar phobal na Gaeilge arís agus an t-athrú go dtí an Euro ar siúl.

Cuireadh bróisiúr faoin Euro i mBéarla amháin isteach inár dtithe cúpla mí ó shoin. Tháinig seo ón ``Euro Changeover Board of Ireland''.

Anois tá fógraí móra sna bpáipéir náisiúnta faoi ``The Euro Converter'', ag tabhairt luach an phunt in aghaidh an euro - i mBéarla amháin arís. Níl aon fhógra i nGaeilge, fiú sna meáin Ghaeilge, gan trácht ar fhógraí dátheangacha sna meáin náisiúnta.

Cá bhfágann seo polasaí dátheangach an Rialtais, gan trácht air chomhurram do lucht na Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta ó thuaidh agus ó dheas. Cén cineál sampla é so do lucht tacaíochta Chomhaontú an Tuaiscirt?

Cén fáth nach féidir leis an rialtas agus eagrais stáit fógrai dátheangacha a úsáid gach uair a mbionn fógraí poiblí agus mór-fheachtais poiblíochta acu le cur os comhair an phobal?

Táimid ag iarraidh ar eagrais agus ranna stáit cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt dúinn mar Ghaeilgeoirí, agus muid buailte leis an mbliain 2000 - fógraí dátheangacha as seo amach le bhur dtoil!

A chairde,

The rights of Irish speakers are being denied once again in the changeover to the Euro.

A brochure explaining the Euro, in English only, was put through all our doors a few months ago. This came from the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland.

Now we see large advertisements in national newspapers about ``The Euro Converter'' giving us the value of the punt against the Euro - also in English only. This information is not available in Irish in the Irish-language media, and of course there are no bilingual ads in the national papers.

Where does this leave the state policy on bilingualism and where is the parity of esteem towards Irish speakers and the Gaeltacht community? Is this a good example from this state to those who support the Northern Agreement?

Why can't government and state agencies use bilingual ads in their public announcements and major publicity campaigns as a matter of course?

We, the undersigned, would like parity of esteem as Irish speakers as we approach the year 2000, and say - bilingual advertisements if you please!

Eibhlín Ní Phriosáin
Aengus O Snodaigh
Cris Ní Choisdealbha
Caitríona Uí Mhuircheartaigh
Tomás O Cuilinn
Séamus O Muineacháin
Una Ní Shéacháin

Aoife Ní Eanaigh

An Phoblacht
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Dublin 1
Ireland