IRISH people with names in their native language have taken to Twitter to vent their frustration over their actual names not being used.
Earlier this week a movement on Twitter called #NílSéCgL (Níl sé ceart go leor) erupted as Irish speakers shared their frustrations over the prejudice of others who didn't understand why they spoke Irish by cleverly swapping out Irish for another language.
Dia dhaoibh! Can we do a thing where we repeat things that are often said about Irish speakers, but replace Irish with another language? #nílsécgl
— Ciara Ní É 🏳️🌈 'knee YAY' (@MiseCiara) January 14, 2018
-And you talk to your girlfriend in German? Really?
-Well we met through German
-That's fuckin' mad!
(Is it? Is it really? 🙄)#nílsécgl— Stiofán Ó Briain (@Ob_OBrien95) January 14, 2018
However, a common theme emerged: the lack of understanding around Irish given names.
On the topic of names, let's not forget the classic of "that's such a lovely name, what's that in English?" 🙃🙃🙃
— Kev (@Kevin_J96) January 14, 2018
Oh you use your name in French? (As though it's an affectation, and not, you know, my name.)#nílsécgl
— Caitríona Nic Góráin (@snastablasta) January 14, 2018
'You're just being difficult...'
What do you mean your name doesn’t translate to English! Of course it does, it’s Maureen. You’re just being difficult. #nilsecgl
— MuireannNicAmhlaoibh (@MuireannNic) January 14, 2018
PhoneHun:Ah that's O'Sullivan isn't it..
Me: No, sorry. It's Ní Shúilleabháin. N-Í S-H...
PhoneHun: ah yeah but that's it in French. I'll put down O'Sullivan.
Me: please don't, that's not my real name. It's Ní Shúilleabháin on my birthcert.
PhoneHun: *prints O'Sullivan* #NílSéCGL— Aoife Ní Shúilleabháin (@Aoifva) January 14, 2018
Could you just gimme your name in English there or does it have to be in Polish? #nílsécgl
— Emma Ní Chearúil (@gingeripod) January 14, 2018
#nílsécgl. American woman to me, “what’s your name again?” Me, Donal. American woman “ And what do you like to be called?” Me, Donal.
— Gaeltacht Colorado (@ColoradoPaddy) January 15, 2018
"Sorry, we got your file mixed up with another Jenny Malone". Eh, maybe we wouldn't have this problem if you used my actual name? #nílsécgl
— Jenny Ní Mhaoileoin (@JNiMhaoileoin) January 18, 2018
#nílsécgl @MiseCiara For 8 years living in Dublin, giving my name for ANY medical appointment.. Nurse: 'What's that in English' Me: 'Emm, well it's always been in Irish ' 😟 Nurse 'Yeah, but what is it in English' 😒 Doctor 'So your one of those, what is it in english?' 🙁😰😧
— PopUpGaeltachtLDN (@PopUpGLDN) January 18, 2018
“I’m not even going to try to say this...” when being called for an appointment #nilsecgl
— MuireannNicAmhlaoibh (@MuireannNic) January 14, 2018
But as one user Niamh Rua pointed out: "Well we all learned how to say Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't we?
*This is a an actual quote from the Welsh-speaking Hollywood actor Ioan Gruffudd, when he was asked why he didn't take a different stage name for Hollywood. *
"Well we all learned how to say Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't we?"#NílSéCGL @MiseCiara— Bean Ruadh | Nıⲁṁ Ní Ruⲁꝺ̇ (@Bean_Ruadh) January 14, 2018
