A FERMANAGH unionist councillor has accused Donegal County Council of being ‘degrading’ after it referred to the North as the ‘Six Counties’ in a letter over support for an Irish Language Act.
Members of the Council recently passed a motion supporting the demands from the public for an Irish Language Act, and decided to circulate its decision to all political parties and City and County Councils.
But UUP member, Alex Baird, reacted angrily to the wording of the letter.
“When I read this letter first I wasn’t sure what it was about.
“I do hope that the author has a better command of Irish than they have of English,” he said.
“The letter was pejorative, degrading and disingenuous in the context of the reference to the Six Counties. There’s not much respect, honesty and integrity there, or adherence to the principals of the Good Friday Agreement.
“I wonder how they would feel if we wrote back to the wee Free State Council on the periphery. But I’m not suggesting that we do that.
“They want to write to all city and county councils throughout the country. I’m not sure what country they’re talking about and Fermanagh District Council is neither a city nor a county.”
Sinn Fein councillor, Barry McNally, said the comments of Cllr Baird did not merit a response.
He supported a proposal by his party colleague, Tommy Maguire, to write back to Donegal County Council as a demonstration that the Irish language is strong and being promoted in the district.
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