In 1873, A Scottish professor of many languages, including scottish gaelic by the name of John S Blackie, had made his first trip over to Ireland to experience the " máṫairṫeanga" mother tongue of Scottish gaelic to find that, here in Ireland hardly anyone spoke the language. So, when he got back to Scotland, he had written a letter to the archbishop of Tuam at the time, John mac Hale. Asking him why.? Here is the bishops reply back to him, on why that was the case. A fascinating read and a glimpse into what our people had went through and why we today, find our language is once more dying..