Let's face it, one of the easiest ways to initiate a rip-roaring debate among your peers is to question the validity of the Irish language in modern society, and watch as normally mild-mannered people dig their heels in and argue the toss over the first official language of the Republic.
While a number of us admit we barely have cúpla focal after 12 years learning the language, others insist it's up to us to keep the Irish language alive – a difference of opinion which really came to the fore on social media over the past week.
With 62 Irish-language translator positions currently available with the EU, Publicjobs took to Facebook to remind potential candidates that the deadline for these 'well remunerated positions' was looming, and it's definitely rubbed a number of people up the wrong way.
Commenting on the position which boasts a salary of approximately €52,000 per year, one Facebook user wrote: "Waste of money that could be well spend somewhere else,"
"What's the point, we speak English in Ireland everywhere – schools, work, pubs, doctors, hospitals…unless everyone starts speaking Irish, it is a total waste of money on translations."
"The Irish language is an integral part of our heritage," argued another. "Although it is not as widely spoken as I would like it to be I hear the cúpla focal spoken almost every day at work. I think it's very important to do everything we can to keep it alive."
Cited as a 'great entry point into different careers within the European Union', social media users have taken umbrage with the suggestion that those fluent in the language will have better options in the future.
"Only problem is the people who get the jobs will be connected and have the pull. A lot of the best candidates won't be considered because of their background," argued another.
Insistent that the debate has more to do with the actual job and less to do with the language, another wrote; "It's not about reading and speaking Irish"
"It's about paying people to do a pointless job; no Irish MEP needs anything translated into Irish, since they all speak fluent English. That is a cynical abuse of EU taxpayer's money."
The post has been inundated with comments since it was published last week with debate continuing to rage on Facebook today.
