Screen print on paper
19cm x 28cm
 
This print features the well known Irish proverb “Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste,” which translates as “Broken Irish is better than clever English.”
 
Written in An Cló Gaelach, the traditional Irish typeface, the text honours the visual and cultural heritage of the Irish language while asserting its continued relevance today. The proverb champions effort over perfection, celebrating the act of speaking Irish, however imperfectly, as a meaningful expression of identity, resistance and care.
 
Printed in fluorescent orange ink, the phrase is set within a lush blue baroque frame motif, creating a striking contrast between classical ornamentation and contemporary colour. The bold palette draws the language forward, allowing it to feel both reverent and confidently modern.
 
Proud, encouraging and quietly defiant, this piece is a celebration of linguistic courage, cultural continuity and the living nature of Irish. It serves as an invitation to speak, to keep the language alive.