Presidential candidate Jim Gavin reveals his grá to speak more ‘as Gaeilge’

In a country where most adults are not fluent in their native tongue, no-one should be ashamed that they don’t have better Irish, the Fianna Fáil candidate for president of Ireland has said.

Earlier this week, Jim Gavin addressed the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in, which this year was held in the Rochestown Park Hotel.

Stopping on his way out the door to head to the National Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly, the former Dublin GAA manager gave The Echo the first print interview of his candidacy.

Last month, Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly, who has the backing of the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and some Independents, said she “takes for granted” that any candidate for the presidency would be able to speak Irish.

Mr Gavin said he had, like many people in this country, had lost most of his Irish over the years since he completed his education, but, he added, he intended to do something about that, regardless of the outcome of next month’s election.

“I’m not a fluent Irish speaker. I’ve lost confidence in my ability to speak Irish,” he admitted.

“Like a lot of people, I studied in primary and secondary school. I went to the Gaeltacht in Gaillimh, but I’ve lost that, and whether I become the president of Ireland or not, I still have an aspiration to improve my Irish.”

But is not being a fluent Irish speaker something to be ashamed of, especially for a presidential candidate?

“Not at all, I use it as best I can in my daily language, and I think we’re getting a lot better at having that confidence even if you only have the cúpla focal,” Mr Gavin said.

The other confirmed presidential candidate at the time of writing, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, has said she improved her Irish during her time as Gaeltacht minister, but had not used it much since.

Mr Gavin said he was a “proud member” of the Áras Cronáin centre in his native Clondalkin and he said he would endeavour to speak the language during the campaign.

He added that he was inspired by young people showing such pride in their native language.

“Certainly people in their teens or early 20s, they’ve got great passion for the language.

“Definitely, the Dublin football team that I managed, I’d say half the players spoke Irish, and they were proud to do so.

“So there definitely is a revival of as Gaeilge in the country, and that confidence gives me the confidence to improve my Irish.”

Asked about his taste in music, Mr Gavin said that although he has a grá for Thin Lizzy and U2, he had “grown up” with the Tulla Céilí Band and the Kilfenora Céilí Band.

“I have a huge affinity for traditional music, just because of mum and dad, really. My dad was a great singer, God rest him.

“In 1995 I had the good fortune to play in the Dublin team that won an All-Ireland, but two weeks prior to that the Siege of Ennis was danced in my kitchen in Clondalkin,” he said.

“I was turfed out of my bed to make room for the people who had travelled down from Clare.”