[Cymro]

Nope. I never said dont learn Polsih etc, I just don't buy into this "learn Polish as opposed to Irish...." argument. If people wish to learn Polish etc then fine do so, I won't stop you. But, also if you are living in Ireland it is important to learn Irish, Welsh if living in Wales etc. Why?

Its called respect for history, language and culture. It should be normal part of living here. I happen to know a Polish girl who came here to work a few years ago now, and she learnt English as you would expect, but also learnt Welsh to a fantastic standard! She's now fluent - she saw it as a sign of her respecting the linguaitic nature of the country.

Quote:
I would say more Important, if I as a Welshman don't use it, how can I expect people who move in here to see a need to do so?
Yes, I agree. But you must understand that we can't put the cart before the horse. The people don't tend to use it, so we must offer an incentive. Increasing the proportion of people who don't speak Irish is an incentive not to learn it as it is rendered ever more obsolete and pointless.

Many many Irish people can speak it, with wholesale change in the attitudes of the Irish this can be addressed. The nimbers of none Irish is irrelevent for it. In fact a number of non Irish can help it - you tell these people that the Irish language is part of being in Ireland. It's actually easier with immigrants to get them to go to classes because of the ciricles they tend to move in.

Quote:
Don't need to worry, they have plenty of Poles still in their own country,
Are you sure? Most of them seem to be here.....

Well, 38.5 Million people live in Poland. I'm sure they'll manage don't you?

I haven't met any who have any desire to return. All have expressed a desire to stay here.

Well Ireland must have something very special then, because the common things has been that they are herte to get more money then they'll be offski. Is this most of the 38,500,000 people who've told you they want to stay then?

Considering there is no historical prededent for any such thing, what do you base this claim (belief) on?

Don't believe the Imperialists comments that there is no president, there is and its under your nose. Ireland has many cultures and two main languages within itself, are you constantly at war? Nope.

What tongue the immigrants communicate with each other in is largely besides the point

No it isn't In language planning its important that people from all walks of life use it - how do you think the English language, Mandarin etc have got to powerfull? In order for the Irish languaqe in its current position to flourish you need campaigns aimed at both sides, this does work and can actually be beneficial For one thing many of these immigrants have a healthier attitude to intergration and multilingualism than we do (we and I include Irish in this live under the effects of Britishism which said others should change for us as across the world as opposed to the other way round).

There is very little genetically different between Irish and Polish, and English and Welsh and Scottish and French etc. The culture is the defining difference for people - i.e. a Polish person can look the same as an Irish person, in the same way 2 Irish people can look different. If there decendents feel Irish, who are you to say "ai well your faimily where from Warsaw so get lost...."