how come people are not willing to speak irish in public?
371047
It's not so much that people are unwilling to speak Irish - many many people can't speak it at all, even if they learned it in school. Many people have memories of Irish "being beaten into them", or being "forced down their throat", so its no wonder that the language has never caught on when the teaching methods in many cases were so poor. So, when someone speaks Irish to them, it can be embarrassing for people if they don't know what the other person is saying. \n\nAlso, you have the situation where you are speaking to someone who knows Irish, but they might be embarrassed to speak it for fear of making a mess of it. As with all languages we can normally comprehend far more words than we can speak, so understanding something and speaking it are two very different things. \n\nFinally, there is often little point making the effort to speak Irish to someone when you can make your point far more quickly and far easier in the English language, with little danger of them not understanding what you are saying. In the end all languages serve as a mode of communication, and to communicate, almost by definition, you need the active participation of more than one person. \n\nI will say finally well done. It is a beautifully rich language and very much a part of our heritage, and when you can meet like-minded people it can be great fun talking to them "as gaeilge". \n\nI'm Irish, and formerly I was a pretty good Irish speaker. I would be a little bit rusty now though.
788359
I'm not from Ireland but I have a rich breed of Irish blood in my tribal veins. Grandparents of both sides were born there and my maternal grandmother was born there. She was booked on the "TITANIC" to come over to Canada but traded in her ticket for some obscure French liner because her boyfriend was a steward on that ship! Often wondered about that! You know? the what if? question!?\n It is a wonderful land and when you go there do enjoy yourself. If you ever get to the blarney stone? Don't kiss it!
610618
Yes.\nRight now, while they're young enough I can still influence them, we are learning Irish.  I use Pimsleur for the kids, and then I am studying using a book and tape system.  It's working fairly well, however, this is nothing like learning French or Spanish.  There is no frame of reference within the English language for pronunciation of Irish Gaelic.\n\nThe reason we are learning Irish is because of our Irish heritage and the fact that there are only 50,000 speakers of this language left.  If I don't teach my children the lyrical tongue of their mothers, it will die.  It's also an extreme intellectual exercise for me, hopefully putting off Alzheimer's for a couple more years.  ;)\n\nWhen they reach high school age, they know they can pick whatever language they feel will serve them in the future.  But I wanted them to learn Irish first.  Anything else will be a piece of cake after that.
606179
All accents and dialects are fascinating to me. There are some that really jar, but often that's more down to the character of the speaker than anything else.\n\nAccents from cities tend to be harder, harsher relatives of the surrounding rural accents.  The rural accents are usually softer and more pleasing (to my ear, at least).  So, yes, I love the Irish accents (from all parts of Ireland) but tend to dislike the Dublin and Belfast accents; I like the Scots accents, especially from the Isles, but am not so fond of the Glaswegian accent.  Edinburgh is a special case - I am not sure whether I like or dislike it.\n\nWhen it comes down to it, I don't really object to any accent - I think all should be cherished and encouraged!
83018
It seems that Indians sound almost Irish when they learn English.  The way they roll the r's is more Spanish, however.
286865
Because they want to get in everyone's faces about their gayness.  Just look at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York.  You do not see banners saying "Irish-American Animal Lovers" or Irish-American Headbangers" or "Irish-Americans Who Watch Cartoons" or anything else like that, because the parade is not about any of those things.  But the gays think they should have their own banner, so the attention will be focused on them.
935379
1.6million people in Ireland have fluency in Irish, however only 350,000 use it day-to-day.  This is increasing and Irish is being made an official EU language, so if the government make a proper effort with the aid of the social partners we should be able to get that 1.6million people speaking it every day.\n\nAs for if i know any of them, yes I do.  My mother and her family are fluent in Irish though dont use it much anymore.  I am living in Galway on the west coast at the moment and I hear Irish spoken a good bit.\n\nIrish is getting a massive revival with a national tv station TG4 as well as an explosion of Gaelscoileanna(primary schools taught completely in Irish)
310409
I don't consider myself to be of Irish descent, although I probably have more Irish ancestors than a lot of people. (My region was settled mainly by Irish immigrants "back in the day.") Face it, people want to have some kind of ethnic heritage other than just generic American, whatever it may be. Hmmm, I don't really know, so I'll make an educated guess. Mexican? Nah, I don't look Mexican. Or Italian, for that matter. German? I think my name's too normal. Normal? Hey, it's probably from somewhere in the U.K. or Ireland! And didn't great aunt Mildred mention something about someone coming over from Dublin in 1902? Why, I bet...\n\nI'm probably overstating a little, but you get the point.
87901
LOL at what Dba said. I was following the question well until "Irish People" was thrown in there. Ok, there is nothing wrong with you, and if these Irish people think so, then these Irish people should worry about themselves. Maybe those Irish people enjoy watching it like millions of others, but it's totally fine if you don't like it. It's your choice..tell them to deal with it.
223690
Several reasons.\n\n1.  People are afraid of what they don't know or understand.\n\n2.  They are insecure and it helps to belittle other people.\n\n3.  They are taught to be racist by their families.\n\n4.  They want to fit in with everyone else.\n\nETC.....\n\nGood for you for not liking that kind of behavior.
1001453
OK abc here is a serious answer to your question. We live so far away from everywhere else (even south America and/or Canada for most of the US) that we just have not had the experience. I'm think i am more knowledgable than most ppl i know, on Europe anyway, since my in-laws are from Liverpool and one of my good friends and her hubby are Irish, but i don't think most ppl in the US even know a person that is from another country (that is not a S. Am country). I know if you live in Englad, Germany, Spain, Italy ect...you can fly to another country in a matter of a few hours and it is fairly cheap. Honestly most Americans would love to be able to visit (can I stay at your house lol) but it is to expensive. I think this goes along with the education question. Its not that we don't learn our history, it is just much easier to remember something if you have visited the place (i can give you quite a detailed account of the Alamo) or if your family was involved (Revolution, cilvil war). If you are wondering if we learn about the daily habits (such as food perference, job opportunities, fashion) of the modern English at school no we don't, but I really don't think that it would be the job of the school to teach this.\n\n\nI also think that the reason we love accents is because we rarely hear them! We would sit and listen to someone from England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia all day....you guys are really popular here lol\n\nI was wondering about the nationalities of the users on this site...is there a way to see that?
1185901
Because that's the way we pronounce it in Glasgow!\n\nhello hello we are the Celtic Bhoys!\n\nThe Glaswegian slag is like a different language. I left Glasgow 16 years ago and when I go home it's hard to pick up what some people are saying!\n\nLoL XxX
230990
You can understand what someone is saying with an Irish accent.
141942
I was in Ireland last year and I loved the smoking ban. I realize that many like to smoke, but the smoke effects all. The pub life was much more enjoyable than previous visits. The smokers that complain the loudest are just not being reasonable towards others. They can go outside and smoke if it is that important to them.
583682
I also hear a lot of half Irish, half Italian, half Scottish and half Hispanic.\n\nThe questioner is clearly half witted.
713907
There may be some, perhaps many, who are anti-Mexican immigration because of racism. If you look, however, at the history of the US there is always a back-lash whenever there is large scale immigration by one particular group. There was a time when it was anti-Irish. There were signs that actually said "now hiring...no Irish". It seems to be the way many people respond whenever they are faced with an increasing population that is different than there own. Yes, we Irish were accused of breeding out of control, taking jobs away from "real Americans" and all the rest. I'm sorry the debate has taken on such racist overtones. I support Mexican immigration, legally, but I do understand why many feel they have to cross illegally. I'm also sorry there are so many racists out here.
594178
Because of the abuse that religious elitists have done, people have a gag reflex about tongues.  Some have made it to be a sign of superiority, and that those that do not speak in tongues are inferior.  \n\nThat is abusive and people should not tolarate it.\n\nHowever, lets not pretend that every knee-jerk reaction is justified.