"Everything that we inherit, the rain, the skies, the speech, and anybody who works in the English language in Ireland knows that there's the dead ghost of Gaelic in the language we use and listen to and that those things will reflect our Irish identity"

This quote by John McGahern speaks to the significance of the Irish identity and its connection to the English language. He stresses that the rain, the skies, and the speech of Ireland are all part of the inheritance of the Irish people. He further states that anybody who operates in the English language in Ireland can acknowledge the influence of Gaelic in the language. This influence is a suggestion of the Irish identity and its value. McGahern is suggesting that the Irish identity is deeply rooted in the language and culture of the nation, which it must be respected and preserved. He is highlighting the importance of maintaining the Irish identity and its connection to the English language. This quote is a reminder of the value of maintaining the Irish identity and its connection to the English language.