DUP Irish speaker: Act would do nothing for language - senior member wants lessons

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Monday, 26 February 2018 00:05

Ciarán Ó Coigligh - Irish language professor and DUP member.

Q Radio News

With a war of words raging over claims about an Irish Language Act at Stormont, an unlikely DUP member is having his say ...

Ciarán Ó Coigligh is a Dublin-based Irish language professor who says he's joined the DUP because of the party's pro-life views and Christian ethos.

Sinn Fein is committed to securing an Irish language act but Dr. Ó Coigligh says while he wants to see Irish promoted here there's no need for an Act...

The professor has a Catholic/nationalist/republican background, but he's a DUP convert thanks to South Down MLA Jim Wells...

Dr. Ó Coigligh would like to see more members of the DUP speaking Irish and says a senior member has just approached him about becoming fluent in the language...

So, who's the senior member?

Dr. Ó Coigligh joined the DUP last year but had connections before that with Jim Wells and thinks he's been a surprise vote-winner for the Assembly member in parts of his constituency...