https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2025/1001/1536369-belfast-irish-language/
Belfast City Council has passed a new policy over the usage of the Irish language, despite opposition by unionists.
The policy aims to remove barriers to the use of the Irish language in public life, promote the learning of Irish, support the promotion of Irish through its facilities, programmes and events and take resolute action to promote and protect the Irish language across its own public-facing services.
It also includes a pledge for the council to adopt a dual-language approach to signage at all its facilities.
The policy comes with a two-year implementation plan and is expected to see a new identity and logo designed.
Meanwhile, the erection of street signs of Irish will continue to be handled via the council's existing Dual Language Street Signs Policy.
A motion to exempt staff uniforms from the policy was defeated by 42 votes to 17.
The policy was passed with the support of Sinn Féin, the SDLP, Alliance, People Before Profit and the Green Party – while the DUP, UUP and TUV voted against it.
Sinn Féin councillor Tomás Ó Néill described a "historic moment" for the council, and "putting Béal Feirste back into the city, not just in our logo".
He described "one of the most progressive Irish language policies that we've seen on this island".
"Thousands of people attend Irish language classes on a weekly basis and there are an estimated 50,000 across the city with varying degrees of Irish," he said.
"The Irish language community here is thriving, it's at the heart of our communities right across Belfast and we should be doing all we can to support that growth."
His party colleague councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly said the policy will have an "unbelievable impact" and will "shine a positive light on the city on the world stage".
However DUP councillor Sarah Bunting questioned a lack of clarity around what the policy will mean and how much it will cost.
She said some council staff are alarmed at the prospect of having Irish language words on their uniform and apologised to them for the lack of clarity.
"The ordinary folk of this city just want one thing, value for money on the rates they pay," she said.
"Instead this council is spending money like it's going out of fashion on a fantasy project with little return while crying poverty because we can't afford the basics that the city needs and deserves."
Ms Bunting also queried the cost of the policy, and claimed there were "no clear figures, no transparency, no honesty", and queried whether the council "would rather bankroll a culture war than deliver basic services".
Alliance councillor Michael Long said his party is backing the policy because it is "right" and described "something that is positive".
"We are supporting minority languages rights for an indigenous language," he said.
"It's the same as what happens in other parts of the United Kingdom, whether that's Wales or Scotland or Cornwall, and I believe that it's important that we celebrate the diversity within our community."
He also said the policy is a framework, and will cut what he described as the "continual bickering" he said the council saw at every monthly meeting around the Irish language.
TUV councillor Ron McDowell said the policy will be "resisted to the utmost", and suggested there may be a legal challenge to it.
by FabulousDirt9254
16 comments
Go hiontach!
Sarah bunting “would rather bankroll a culture war than deliver basic services” if our indigenous language offends you enough for you to think it’ll start a culture war, that’s probably because you’re invading on our land!
Go hiontach ar fad!
This isn’t an issue anywhere else in the world. Even in Cornwall they have Cornish dialect on everything. NZ, Wales etc. all the same. The unionists are so fragile they see this as a hostile takeover. They seem to forget it is the island of Ireland after all.
Progress at last!
Good to see them pass legislation that removes a sea border for language rights
I’m catholic so certainty not anti irish language. However like all things here this is a classic case of themuns vs otheruns.
With budgets and funding being at all time low, as opposed to starting to retrofit every bit ofl council clothes/ vans/signs etc why not implement the changes on all new orders going forward as opposed to wasting money and retrospectively changing things. If say a new council van is being bought-Do the new SOP with irish language but dont start doing it on older vehicles.
As for the ulster-scots thats another waste of time-Its more a colloquial accent like ballymena/cork than an actual proper language-Stop weaponising it
Remember a debate a few years back, it was that DUP tool Dean McCullough who petulantly whined ‘Well maybe we’ll start petitioning to have Ulster-Scots signs everywhere’ as if it was some huge ‘Gotcha’ and another councillor just told him right back he’d be more than welcome to do, no-one would be stopping him or against anyone doing that and his wee face just crumpled.
Cannae hack a bit of equality those sectarian fools.
Fantastic news
The good people of Belfast are sick and tired of people stopping them and gibbering in Gaelic because they don’t know where they are.
Yay! This is good! The Irish language is part of our land and culture.
Every other country is allowed to embrace their native language, why not us ☺️
Ma níl tú ag iarraidh an cinneadh seo, ar ais ar an mbád leat agus focail leat abhaile go dtí an 17u haois
“value for money on the rates they pay” Y’know bigger bonfires.
The cost of these policies is a valid question whether you like it or not. Without a breakdown on the cost of updating uniforms, street signs, logos on council assets etc there is no point in encouraging this. If it was free to do all of this then by all means change what you want but it’s not free and the bill will be footed by other public services.
Biligualism everywhere here in Wales. The Wales in the UK. Their arguments make no sense.
Belfast city centre has gone to shit over the past 12 years, the council need to focus on delivery for the city instead of wasting public resources on pet projects
Comments are closed.