Le heagla mhór go mbánófar an t-oileán, tá agóid eagraithe ag muintir Thoraí don tseachtain seo chugainn. Beidh ionadaithe Thoraí i mbun agóide taobh amuigh den Dáil i mBaile Átha Cliath ar an Chéadaoin, an 14ú Feabhra, ón 10r.n. ar aghaidh. Tá siad ag iarraidh ar lucht tacaíochta a theacht amach agus a bheith i láthair fá choinne a 11r.n.

Tá Roinn na Gaeltachta ag tairiscint seanbhád farantóireachta do mhuintir Thoraí atá os cionn 40 bliain d’aois. Bád seanchaite atá ann nach bhfuil fóirsteanach don fharraige idir Toraigh agus an mhórthír, a bhfuil cáil uirthi as a bheith thar a bheith garbh. Tá sé ráite fiú ag teaghlaigh áirithe ar an oileán go bhfágfaidh siad an t-oileán mura gcuirtear seirbhís cheart farantóireachta ar fáil.

Ag labhairt dó fán agóid, dúirt urlabhraí de chuid Misneach, Seanán Mac Aoidh:

“Tá fíor-chontúirt ann go ndéanfar dochar as cuimse do phobal atá ar phobal Gaeltachta chomh láidir agus atá le fáil sa tír. In aimsir seo na héigeandála pobail agus teanga sa Ghaeltacht, buille go cnámh a bheadh i mbánú Oileán Thoraí. Ní féidir ligint dó sin tarlú.”

Lean Mac Aoidh leis:

“Tá ionadaithe phobal Thoraí ag iarraidh ar lucht tacaíochta, lucht na Gaeilge agus muintir na tíre i gcoitinne a theacht amach ag an agóid ar an 14^ú lá. Cath atá anseo, chan amháin ar son todhchaí Oileán Thoraí ach ar son todhchaí na Gaeltachta agus tuath na hÉireann i gcoitinne!”

Chríochnaigh Mac Aoidh:

“Beidh Misneach i láthair ag an agóid ar an Chéadaoin le tacaíocht a thabhairt do phobal Thoraí. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach go dtiocfaidh Gaeil agus duine ar bith eile a bhfuil dáimh acu leis an oileán agus leis an Ghaeltacht amach. Seo an t-am leis an fhód a sheasamh ar son todhchaí na Gaeltachta agus tuath na hÉireann.”

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Protect the Community of Oileán Thoraí!

For fear of the island being abandoned, the people of Oileán Thoraí have organised a protest due to be held next week. Representatives from Toraigh will be protesting outside the Dáil in Dublin on Wednesday, the 14^th of February from 10am onwards. They are asking supporters to come out and to be present for 11am.

Roinn na Gaeltachta (the Department of the Gaeltacht) is offering the people of Toraigh an old ferry boat that is over 40 years of age. This worn out boat is not suitable for the sea between Toraigh and the mainland which is famously rough. Certain families on the island have said that they will leave Toraigh if a proper ferry service is not provided.

Speaking about the protest, Misneach’s spokesperson, Seanán Mac Aoidh, said:

“There is a real danger that untold damage will be done to this community, that is one of the strongest Gaeltacht communities in the country. In this time of crisis in the Gaeltacht, both social and linguistic, the abandoning of Toraigh would represent a huge blow. That cannot be allowed to happen.”

Mac Aoidh continued:

“Representatives of the Toraigh community are asking supporters, Irish speakers and the people of the country in general to come out to the protest on the 14^th. This is a battle not just for the future of Toraigh but for the future of the Gaeltacht and rural Ireland in general!”

Mac Aoidh concluded:

“Misneach will be present at the protest on Wednesday to support the people of Toraigh. It is very important that Gaels, and anyone else who has an affinity with the island and with the Gaeltacht, come out. This is the time to stand up for the future of the Gaeltacht and rural Ireland.”