People are talking about the language barrier. There is no such thing. Pat and I met in Spain, so we speak Spanish (check it out here, just ignore the pictures…:). I grew up in Germany, so I speak Spanish to our ‘kids’. Pat speaks English (why English?) to them. They got their primary and secondary education through Irish, so (most) speak Irish to their friends. The kids speak German to my family, English to Pat’s family. Pádraig was regularly giving out about those people living for decades in Ireland and not speaking a word of Irish, looking at me with a twinkle in his eyes.

Yesterday, around 10,000 people demonstrated for their right to speak their language in their country. Not in Kenya, not in Tibet, but in Dublin. People said they could not go to doctors who spoke their language, they could not buy medicine in pharmacies where employees spoke their language. The language commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin resigned in protest over the failure by Government to implement legislation protecting the rights of Irish speakers.

i guess the Irish government doesn’t see Irish as the ‘language of enterprise’, doesn’t believe Irish is attracting foreign investment, doesn’t see that it brings in money. Last summer, the news were packed with reports about all these wonderful entrepreneurs filling up Dublin hotel beds attending the web summit, while hardly a word was lost about thousands of Irish people having immense fun at the Oireachtas in Killarney.

Language matters. In our family, Pádraig is the only one speaking German to me. He knows how much it matters to me. Over the past months, I have learned how much Irish matters. Lá Mór na Gaeilge – every day.

Today was another for Pádraig getting ready for his big day. Nothing special, but in relatively good form, judging by the numbers: blood pressure, pulse, oxygenation. He seems to have a bit of a problem with his indigestion, but that is hopefully something that will pass soon. Fifth day without the Thekla, probably a mixture of a bad stomach (not a good idea to sit outside with that) and it being Sunday (a bit more complicated to get enough staff involved).

There will be a Lá Mór for Pádraig one day. The day we have been waiting for. And when it comes, we’ll have forgotten all this waiting and worrying.

Just in case you missed today’s Coffee morning at Aideen Cassidy’s, here is it – when did they start baking, I wonder? It looks fantastic!

Last, but not lease, we heard from friends that Scoil Mobhi in Glasnevin, Pádraig’s primary school, did some fundraising during their recent cake sale. – I still remember when I first went into the school: it was amazing. The atmosphere there was incredible. You couldn’t have met nicer teachers, kids, and parents. We were so lucky our kids had the privilege to spend some of their most formative years there, because what they learned there (and I am not talking about maths or geography primarily here) has been staying with them ever since. With Pádraig, well, I am convinced he discovered his love for Irish here.

No language barrier. (If only people were prepared to respect the fundamental and universal human right of people to communicate in their language.)

In fact, no barrier. (If only people were prepared to respect the fundamental and universal human rights of people, if only there was justice and equality and peace.)

Today’s German Music Tip
Frida Gold, Liebe ist meine Rebellion (2013) – Not a German song originally, but nonetheless…
What’s hot
Cup Cakes
What’s cold
Apathy
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Raucher sterben nicht an Lungenkrebs, sie erfrieren draussen vor der Tür. (From a German postcard.)

Twitter: @forPadraig
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http://www.caringforPadraig.org
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