Proinsias Ó Mianáin, one of the foremost activists for Irish language rights since the 1970’s has died at the age of 81.
Originally from Derry, he spent 12 years of his life in the Gaoth Dobhair Gaeltacht with his family.
He was one of the founding members of Cearta Gael in the early 70’s – a protest group demanding language rights in the courts system and in schools in Gaeltacht areas, as well as Irish only on road signs in Gaeltacht areas.
He made national headlines in 1984 when he opposed the use of English in a local mass, read by then local priest Fr. Michael Sweeney in Cnoc Fola in Co Donegal.
In 1978 in a district court in An Bun Beag Co Donegal le demanded to have a case heard in Irish only without the use of an interpreter.
Judge John Clifford denied him this and on appeal in Letterkenny Circuit Court Judge David Sheehy imprisoned him for contempt of court – an order which was later deemed by the High Court to be illegal.
Ó Mianáin and Cearta Gael staged pickets on Judge Sheehy’s courts as part of a campaign against court hearings in Irish only being denied in Gaeltacht juristictions.
Ó Mianáin was also involved in a campaign to have Irish language road signs in the Gaeltacht. Almost 300 road signs in English only were destroyed as part of the campaign .
It was in July 1984 when he attracted national attention when he opposed the use of English in the local mass. The controveresy that ensued stirred much local tension. Subsequently, he was not allowed by several local people to enter the church grounds to attend mass.
In October 1984 he had to be brought to hospital after he was attacked by 3 local youths while making a call from a public phone booth in Bun a’ Leaca in Gaoth Dobhair . The three youths later admitted the attack and were given probation. Mr Ó Mianáin left Gaoth Dobhair later that year and returned to his native Derry.
In January 1985, he was sentenced by Judge John Neilan in Dungloe District Court to 2 months in prison for disrupting the Mass in Cnoc Fola and causing trouble to Father Michael Sweeney. Once in prison Mr. Ó Mianáin started a hunger strike demanding to be released.
Among those who demanded his release was fellow Derryman, John Hume, leader of the SDLP as well as various Irish language groups.
After 2 weeks on hunger strike he was released by order of the High Court.
He is survived by his wife Róis, sons Pádraig and Gearalt and daughters, Róisín and Nóirín.
