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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 1d

Some of them are up until all hours shouting, you’d worry for them

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 1d

Did I do it

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 1d

What we need is a republican president who is dedicated to reaching the end goal of republicanism.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 1d

Some yanks out doing over time with the shovel this morning I see.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

I mean it’s not a requirement that you come from being a TD or senator. My issue is that there’s tokenism attached to wanting a president who speaks Irish and not caring about language rights. Language learning is really hard for all sorts of reasons, even with resources.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

There is a bit of that - it’s typically based around the same thing, whereby two vowels together is a little hard to pronounce so you add a consonant. “Sa oifig” becomes “san oifig”. But no one wouldn’t understand “sa oifig”!

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

Yes, you’re gonna be fine 🥰 good luck!

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

Once you learn the rules it’s really consistent and straightforward. English has much more complex pronunciation! I think people have cultural hangups rather than the language itself being particularly hard. But it depends. If you’re monolingual, learning any language as an adult is really hard.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

I see your little cartoon this morning but I also remember this carry on from May 1st, 2020.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

Yes I think that’s fine but I honestly wouldn’t expect it. I worry that the emphasis on a cúpla focal for a lot of politicians allows them to perform Irishness without ever bothering to be concerned about language rights. Use the cúpla focal, but also cast a light on the issues.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

It’s giving “go raibh maith agat Ceann Comhairle” during Seachtain na Gaeilge and promptly forgetting Irish exists for another year.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

Commentary from outlets saying it’s necessary for a president to have Irish yet never reporting on the Gaeltacht housing crisis or underinvestment into the language is giving tokenism. You want a president who can perform Irishness, not a president who platforms language rights

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 8d

Very this! Very this! I mean language learning is hard and takes a long time but if you have the resources at your disposal and sights on a role where you think it’s important to speak Irish well then get enrolled! Write off that expense! Do the obair bhaile!

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 9d

I do, however, think that Being Sound™ and having a Big Dog™ should absolutely be a prerequisite

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 9d

I don’t think that speaking Irish should be a prerequisite for being the president? Like yes it’s very nice and a benefit. But language learning is a privilege denied to many. And I think you can very quickly get into what it means to be Irish and who is excluded from that.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 12d

Yer one who couldn’t get on the ballot this morning:

Screenshot of a drill tweet that says “and another thing: im not mad. please dont put in the newspaper that i got mad”

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

Here are the recommendations (in a nutshell).

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

Several interpreters noted that it was important to have a partner who made good money in order to survive. And this is a job that is legally mandated under the ISL Act. These are highly skilled professionals. And they are barely surviving. They deserve more.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

But interpreters face major systemic barriers. They are deeply underpaid. As freelancers, often their income isn’t recognised enough to qualify for a mortgage. There is no opportunity for promotion. In a female dominated profession there is only statutory parental leave.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

You get to be part of the most meaningful parts of people’s lives: childbirth, weddings, parties, funerals. You’re there and you are able to make a difference every single day.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

Some findings:
Interpreters LOVE their job. I cannot stress that enough. It is a meaningful, challenging, varied, connected job. You can be interpreting someone applying for a bank loan in the morning, interpreting a swim lesson in the afternoon and a live comedy gig in the evening.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

I was really privileged to be able to do this research and to speak to interpreters about their lived experiences. I’ve worked with interpreters for years but you rarely get a chance to shift the focus to them and their lives.

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 13d

For those of you interested, this research report on barriers to studying and working as an ISL interpreter is available now, done in partnership with the Irish Deaf Society and @ihrec.bsky.social Also available in ISL format at the link
www.irishdeafsociety.ie/publications...

A photo of the Summary Report booklet for research titled “Barriers to studying and working as an ISL interpreter: Developing an evidence base in order to launch a campaign to increase the number of ISL interpreters in Ireland”

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 21d

When really, what needed criticism was the cast of Dev as a perpetual auld fella and leaving out the fact that he was a perfectly evil monster without the need for a concocted story about a handsome hitman

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Dr Gearóidín McEvoy @garodean.bsky.social · 21d

I have had the great privilege of authoring this report on barriers for ISL interpreters and I’ll be presenting at its launch next week in Dublin. Attendance is free and the event has ISL and English interpretation You can register attendance at the link www.eventbrite.ie/e/report-lau...

Report Launch: Barriers to studying and working as an ISL Interpreter

Launch of a research report funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Grant Scheme 24-25

www.eventbrite.ie

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