Irish language is not equivalent to the Orange Order

I am rather stunned by David McDowell's effort to equate the interests of a particular fraternal order with the responsibility to maintain one of the world's oldest living languages ('˜If Irish is recognised in NI then unionism must be so in south', May 22).

I am further stunned by his suggestion that any European government in this 21st Century should feel obligated to officially fund such an order which overtly practices sectarian discrimination.

Irish is a language, not a closed society. It is a skill which is attainable by all.

Is mise, le meas,

Daithí Mac Lochlainn, Rúnaí (Secretary), Cumann Cháitlín agus Thomáis Uí Chléirigh, Brooklyn, New York Branch of Conradh na Gaeilge