An Indian man who is travelling around Ireland by bike trying to promote the Irish language, visited Derry this week.

Raj Khan, originally from Bangladesh, arrived in the city by bike on Wednesday afternoon and called to Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin to see how Irish is promoted in Derry. Yesterday he was officially welcomed to the city by the Mayor of Derry, Councillor Paul Fleming.

Raj is on a three week-tour of Ireland, encouraging people to use whatever Irish they have on a daily basis. He left Dublin on November 16th and has been touring towns and cities across Ireland promoting Irish ever since.

Raj arrived in Ireland in 2002 and, after watching a demonstration on Dublin calling for Irish to be officially recognised as working language of the European Union, he developed an interest in the language.

A short time later, while working as a cycle courier, he was delivering a package to the Foras na Gaeilge office in Dublin, he was encouraged to start learning and promoting Irish. ‘I’ve lived in Ireland for seven years now and I’m constantly taken aback at how few people speak Irish on a daily basis. I’m trying to encourage Irish people to use their cúpla focal whenever they get the chance. Language is central to our identity and fundamental to our uniqueness,’ he said.

Raj also said he now feels at home among the Irish language community in Ireland. “I am dedicating this trip to Foras na Gaeilge and all the Gaeilgeoirí who I’ve always found so welcoming. I have found my home among the Irish speaking community and I hope that by going on this trip I can raise awareness of the importance of using the Irish language,” he said.

Derry Journal
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