Presbyterian interest in Irish language died when it was hijacked by violent nationalists

Yet again, the Alliance Party is supporting Sinn Fein/IRA in Belfast council.

Going by this, it will not be too long until they have set up shop in republican areas. It would be an awful shame if any unionist ever aided and abetted the Alliance Party by giving them their support in the upcoming council elections.

Mr Long quoted his Presbyterian background in trying to justify supporting the Irish language. However, the current Alliance Party leadership is at odds with many aspects of Irish Presbyterian teaching and the Westminster Confession of Faith.

To attempt to pick out former historical members of Presbyterianism in Ireland to justify his party’s sidings with Sinn Fein/IRA is grasping at straws.

He mentioned a small minority of Presbyterians involved with the Irish language in early days. However, once Presbyterians saw the Irish language was hijacked by violent nationalists to be used for resistance against the British presence, interest soon died away.

It was also used for evangelism to the Irish speaking people in the likes of the west of Ireland. To try to use former members of the Presbyterian Church to justify them supporting an Irish language act at the behest of Sinn Fein/IRA is laughable if not so serious.

Remember this is the same Alliance Party who were responsible for removing our national flag from the City Hall along with other support for the Sinn Fein/IRA wish list.

John Mulholland, Doagh