Republican News · Thursday 6 March 2003

Belfast celebrates its Irish language at City Hall

Belfast will recognise the contribution of the Irish language community to the city on Thursday 6 March at 7.30pm when Mayor Alex Maskey will entertain representatives of Irish language groups in the Mayor's parlour.

Mayor Maskey, e chain bears the Irish language phrase, Lámh Dearg Abú, has some Irish himself and will be using his 'cúpla focal' on the night.

Janet Muller of POBAL, one of a number of groups involved in organising the event, says that the get together is a very welcome recognition of the role Irish speakers have played in Belfast since the city was founded.

"From its very inception, Irish speakers have played a prominent role in the social, cultural, and economic life of Belfast and of course the very name of the city comes from the Irish Béal Feirste," she said.

"Belfast is certainly now the capital of the Irish language revival and with plans to set up a Gaeltacht Quarter in the west of the city, it will be taking an ever bigger leap forward shortly."

The recent census figures, which showed more than 60,000 people in Belfast have some competence in the Irish language, are further evidence, says Janet, of the rapid growth of the language in the city.

"The setting up of a small Irish language estate on Shaws Road in 1968 was really the launchpad for the modern growth of Irish in the city. And it's timely that just this year another six families have taken up residence.

"With over 2,000 children in Irish medium schools in Belfast and with a higher profile than ever before, we can look forward to the Irish language and the Irish language community playing a greater role than ever in the city in future years."