cheekycapt,
Wasn't just me then! How many hours of my life did I spend listening (or not as the case may be) to that bloody language being shoved down my throat year after year. Back in my day you had pass the bugger in the Leaving to actually get an overall pass (whatever the hell that meant). The fact that I and a good number of my school buddies could ace every maths and science subject under the sun was irrelevant to the Gaeilge mafia who ran the Dept. of Education back in those days.
Ironic thing is now I would actually like to be able to speak Gaeilge. But any thoughts like that when I was a youth were beaten out of me through utter tedium.
Good old days my arse.
Anyway for you youngsters out there I'm sure no such barrier will appear. The last time Aer Lingus recruited I believe they did actually employ one or two non-Irish residents. But the vast majority were from Ireland (north and south).